Writing this on the train, but this is hitting me harder than I'd expected. I probably have had more affection for Roedelius' music over the years – in part because of his gift for melody and in part because of his story.
But Moebius is no less a monumental figure—in Krautrock, electronic music and in electronic sound design more broadly—that this feels like a particularly big loss. He had an exceptional ear for texture (i.e., Double Cut) and a fabulous sense of humor (i.e., his tracks on Zuckerzeit).
He was also an essential member of a loose collective—K/Cluster obv. but also including Conny Plank, Michael Rother, Brian Eno, Mani Neumeier, among others—that proved a certain kind of collaborative, even communal approach to music making was not only still possible in the wake of the 60s but could be quite groundbreaking artistically. Reading Eno's comments on what it was like to record w Harmonia in Forst and the rustic environment he and HJ had created there was eye-opening (for Eno as well) and an amazing contrast in many ways to the decidedly electric nature of the music.
In many ways, the generous, adventurous spirit of his artistry is as important a part of his legacy as the music itself.
RIP.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 22 July 2015 21:21 (eight years ago) link
Well said
RIP
― Brad C., Wednesday, 22 July 2015 21:23 (eight years ago) link
Especially sad, this release was just announced July 17:http://www.harmonia1973.com/
― in an awkward manor (doo dah), Tuesday, July 21, 2015 6:23 AM (Yesterday)
ilxor geeta is writing the liner notes for it. I think she told me that she had a chance to re-interview Moebius recently about it.
― sarahell, Wednesday, 22 July 2015 21:31 (eight years ago) link
yeah she posted this -- https://twitter.com/geetadayal/status/623551285401227264
― tylerw, Wednesday, 22 July 2015 21:36 (eight years ago) link
ha i'm not on twitter
― sarahell, Wednesday, 22 July 2015 21:36 (eight years ago) link
Well I didn't see Native Teen Idol's spotify list before I did my own - but here's a spotify playlist of every album on the service that Moebius was a part of, including Cluster, Harmonia, and innumerable collaborations over the last 45 years. It's not exhaustive—Spotify just doesn't have everything, including some obvious stuff—but it's still close to 24 hours of music.
http://open.spotify.com/user/scottpgwp/playlist/4DzuDbkDVkgs0tG4tJlec9
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Thursday, 23 July 2015 04:21 (eight years ago) link
So sad here, too. Moebius was my favorite synth player by far because he was so focused on sound color and bringing sounds to life. He loves those weird sounds. Each and every one. I particularly admire the kinda intricate and always-changing miniature aspect to most all his work from Zuckerzeit on. Relentlessly psychedelic stuff, for me much more so then most music labelled as such. I counted 31 cds that I own featuring the man last night. I rate at least a half dozen as life-affirming masterpieces. There is a secret part of me that wishes all music were a little more like the music of Moebius. And there is an equally secret part that is glad no other music actually is like his. Dieter Moebius stands alone, even amongst his very worthy peers.
For the record, I think Moebius + Tietchens from 2012 or so is really good and special, I've been listening to it a lot recently, dude went out at the top of his particular game!! Low key, insidiously abstract, spacious and quirky.
― liam fennell, Thursday, 23 July 2015 12:19 (eight years ago) link
http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/jul/22/dieter-moebius-five-classic-recordings
website link to Geeta Dayal piece
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 July 2015 14:47 (eight years ago) link
(i count six)
― koogs, Thursday, 23 July 2015 15:39 (eight years ago) link
the Moebius & Tietchens CD is ridiculously good
― Milton Parker, Thursday, 23 July 2015 16:06 (eight years ago) link
Awesome geeta pieceI had no idea he designed the cover for Musik Von Harmonia?!? I'm guessing he did the zuckerzeit art as well then?
― Jon not Jon, Thursday, 23 July 2015 16:23 (eight years ago) link
Don't think so.
― Possibly Fingers (Tom D.), Thursday, 23 July 2015 16:27 (eight years ago) link
how did I miss this
thanks for the Moebius/Tietchens recommendation
― sleeve, Monday, 27 July 2015 23:49 (eight years ago) link
This is a really nice picture (among many others) of Moebius alongside Roedelius. Also: ;_;
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CK987MAWwAIBnbj.jpg
― EDB, Tuesday, 28 July 2015 02:34 (eight years ago) link
Would have voted repeatedly for Zero Set. As important as E2-E4 to today's music, even if presaged by later Can and Eno & Byrne in places.
― Trigger warning: (Sanpaku), Friday, 14 August 2015 21:10 (eight years ago) link
Anyone have opinions on his OST for Blue Moon?
― Corn on the macabre (Jon not Jon), Friday, 14 August 2015 21:12 (eight years ago) link
>even if presaged by later Can and Eno & Byrne in places.
Czukay was working on early mixes for 'Movies' at Conny's around the same time he played bass on the two Cluster & Eno records, and they all definitely heard each other's works in progress so all of these records are pretty much all in the family
― Milton Parker, Friday, 14 August 2015 21:25 (eight years ago) link
Ummmm, "Zero Set" is from 1983.
― The Tony Hart Land (Tom D.), Friday, 14 August 2015 21:37 (eight years ago) link
Ignore that, misread Sanpaku's post! Soz. Plank played on "Der Osten ist Rot" of course.
― The Tony Hart Land (Tom D.), Friday, 14 August 2015 21:39 (eight years ago) link
New to Spotify, an album from Moebius Story Leidecker called "Familiar". Is this a reissue, or something new pulled from the vaults?
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 6 October 2017 12:10 (six years ago) link
The latter, it seems: New Album from the Moebius Story Leidecker - sessions. October 6th 2017.
― willem, Friday, 6 October 2017 12:17 (six years ago) link
More info on the Bureau B website: http://www.bureau-b.com/msl.php
― willem, Friday, 6 October 2017 12:22 (six years ago) link
the album he did with Wobbly/Jon Leidecker right before he died is really fucking good, I just listened to it three times in a row
― flappy bird, Saturday, 16 February 2019 22:46 (five years ago) link
Sure would be cool to know how that record got made ...
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 22 February 2019 05:40 (five years ago) link
finally listening to Zero Set and here are my first two thoughts
1) this is exactly what I was hoping My Life in the Bush of Ghosts was gonna sound like
2) Mouse on Mars may have taken a lot of ideas from this record
― frogbs, Sunday, 21 November 2021 03:43 (two years ago) link