Traces Of Tracks

Harmonia '76 - Tracks And Traces

Ripped from a compact disc album released on Gronland Records (CDGRON 102) in 2009. Originally recorded in 1976, the legendary line up of Brian Eno, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Michael Rother gathered to record sessions at Harmonia's countryside retreat. Those of you who grabbed the BBC Krautrock documentary a few years ago will have seen footage of this collaboration. Allegedly the tapes were though lost and it took until the mid-nineties before they were eventually released.

1 Welcome
2 Atmosphere
3 Vamos Companeros
4 By The Riverside
5 Luneburg Heath
6 Sometimes In Autumn
7 Weird Dream
8 Almost
9 Les Demoiselles
10 When Shade Was Born
11 Trace
12 Aubade

Schlager Nicht

Krautrock - The Rebirth Of Germany

Here's a nice quality capture of the excellent BBC4 documentary looking at the roots and development of the German music phenomena (it's not a genre after all), from the early days of Amon Düüll (and dubious Baader Meinhoff links), Can and Faust, through to early Kraftwerk, Neu!, Cluster, Harmonia and later Kraftwerk. It  includes fascinating chats with a few main players including Michael Rother, Holger Czukay,  Dieter Moebius, and Wolfgang Flür. There is an impromptu performance by Faust, and a few interjections from Iggy Pop (whilst drilling a coconut!). The documentary ends with a look at Krautrock's influence on subsequent music and quite rightly exposes Brian Eno, who clearly should have given Harmonia a great deal more credit in the development of his own solo career, and also Bowie's transition from glam to über-cool euro-rock. The video is in the mastroka (MKV) format which will playback nicely in 720P on most media drives, or on desktop freeware such as VLC. Enjoy!

In Harmonium

Cluster - Zuckerzeit

It seems logical to follow the last post with the third Cluster album (it's the only one I have) and it has been widely recognised as their most important and influential. Hans Joachim Roedelius and Deiter Moebius were masters of the electronic art and their influence can be heard far and wide from diverse bands such as Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle and early Human League to more commercial acts like New Order, Soft Cell or Depeche Mode.

Ripped from a compact disc reissue of an album originally released on Brain Records (BRAIN 1065) in 1974 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.
1. Hollywood
2. Caramel
3. Rote Riki
4. Rosa
5. Caramba
6. Fotschi Tong
7. James
8. Marzipan
9. Rotor
10. Heiße Lippen

Haus Musik

Harmonia - Musik von Harmonia

Much less melodic than the sophomore Deluxe, the debut Harmonia album lies deeper in the roots of minimal synth music. The tags of krautrock and progressive rock are likely to scare off those who would otherwise enjoy their work. Like Cluster and Neu! (from whom form the band), they are a pleasant surprise to those who discover this music nearly forty years on.

Ripped from a compact disc reissue of an album originally released on Brain Records in 1974 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

1. Watussi
2. Sehr Kosmich
3. Sonnenschein
4. Dino
5. Ohrwurm
6. Ahoi!
7. Veterano
8. Hausmusik

Sweet Harmony

Harmonia - Deluxe

For lovers of analog electronic music everywhere. I was tempted to dig out more Dinger, but thought this would be more appropriate Michael Rother went on to make some fine music after Neu! and his collaborations with Herrs. Meobius and Roedelius are spectacular. Deluxe has to be one of the most essential albums from the seventies (it's influence can be heard in music for decades after), but its relative obscurity and limited distribution has kept it from a wanting audience.

Ripped from a compact disc reissue of an album originally released on Brain Records (BRAIN 1073) in 1975 to high quality lossless FLAC.

1. Deluxe (Immer Wieder)
2. Walky-Talky
3. Monza (Rauf und Runter)
4. Notre Dame
5. Gollum
6. Kekse