CLUSTER: I have fallen in love with this band, please help

hey Stephen. thanks for posting.

original track order and everything! can hardly wait for volumes 2-3-5. especially 3.

awesome, had no idea these were in the works

I am told by the record label Bureau Buskies that they will definitely do all the Selbstportrait volumes up to vol. 6.

4 and 6 are already with 1 and 2 just coming out now, and 3 and 5 to follow in 2011.

looks like they're redoing cluster II as well? guess the water label has gone under [ba-dum-tsssshhhh]

i'm all confused now. i have Selbstportraits I, II, III, and VI. what is IV? and V?

http://www.discogs.com/Roedelius-Wenn-Der-S%C3%BCdwind-Weht/master/28323
http://www.discogs.com/Roedelius-Flieg-Vogel-Fliege/release/1426718

mentioned nowhere on the packaging -- no one realized these albums were IV & V until he put out another one in 1990 and called it VI.

I, II, III & VI are all archival 70's recordings from Forst, some of the themes ended up reworked on the studio albums. I suspect IV & V were new recordings, but that he later decided were in the older style and so retroactively annointed them. they definitely sound different than the other new solo recordings on Sky from 78-84.

oh! thanks! i do have those two too. anyhoo, kudos to Bureau for reissuing all of these.

And not forgetting the wonderful Selfportrait volumes 7 to 8 (7 = Ahead of the Wind, 8 = Introspection) these were recorded much later on after year 2000 and are digital rather than analogue but they have the same small scale intimacy and warmth, plus added colours and textures.

I really like this one a lot. I caught their performance in NYC last year and it was pretty magical.

For those who might be interested, here is a haiku-style poem about Cluster's Grosses Wasser that was reproduced on the sleeve of the Water label's CD-rerelease of the album:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stepheniliffe/5208523107/in/set-72157624709969408/

Discovered the Moebius/Plank/Neumaier record Zero Set today.
Enjoying the tracks that are up on youtube.

Here's a new and lengthy review of the classic Moebius/Plank Rastakraut Pasta:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stepheniliffe/5051492108/in/set-72157624709969408/

“In Conny’s hands, his mixing desk became
a sophisticated instrument,” says Petrus Wippel.

“He customised it with a quad stick so he could pan any
instrument left and right, as well as dry and wet, with one
fingertip, and make it fly through time and space.”

should come standard

Ah. I was listening to Jardin Au Fou just this evening. Such a lovely record. It is nice to see some appreciation for it earlier in this thread.

Here's a lengthy text about the Harmonia Eno 76 album Tracks and Traces:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stepheniliffe/5377752168/

i want to start a Zuckerzeit vs. Sowiesoso poll but i don't know if enough people here have heard those albums
besides, Sowiesoso should win in a landslide!

you are underestimating ILM.

for real

Curiosum vs. Metz 23-9-77 poll

i'm not sure how many of the above posters post anymore? I know Cluster is spoken very highly of but they're nowhere as well known as Neu! or Can

ok, ok, the real reason is that i have made too many polls lately

but seriously, Sowiesoso is amazing, did these guys do anything else like it?

There are moments that echo Sowiesoso spread throughout Moebius' and Rodelius' respective discographies.
Like this tune has that vibe imo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKr2rfheAAM

Roedelius is playing at a small club here in town next month, very curious to see what that'll be like.

thats a sweet tune Trip

go Geeta

http://blog.frieze.com/interview-dieter-moebius/

i want to start a Zuckerzeit vs. Sowiesoso poll but i don't know if enough people here have heard those albums

lol @ this

tbf I think a lot of those posters left but yeah lets do it

36 votes: CLUSTER / Moebius & Roedelius solo & group recordings 1970-1986 poll

almost started Moebius solo poll. there is no Moebius solo thread.

Cluster II, the one with the stars on the cover, we made with Conny Plank. It was all very big improvisations, and we recorded it in Hamburg. We didn’t have a lot of time, because it was not our studio. I think we made it in one night, or something like that.

good interview

there is that 15 minute track 'Live In Der Fabrik' on Cluster II, so probably not quite all in one night. but yeah these guys had this music on tap, those early records are incredible

yes, sweet interview! I would love to participate in a Moebius solo thread or poll, I think I have almost all the albums. The other poll had way too many great albums so it was impossible to really get any worthwhile results IMO.

thanks for reading, guys! glad this is finally up, so i can focus on the next Big Frieze Piece, which also involves germany & the 1970s & electronic music

germany & the 1970s & electronic music

<3

(plz to link on ILX when up, thank you)

saw Moebius live a year ago and he seemed genuinely touched that people (and a pretty young crowd) came out and were into it - seemed like a super nice guy

(plz to link on ILX when up, thank you)

i will! if you liked the moebius piece you will love the next one - it incorporates some quotes from moebius & also new insights from eno & many other people i'm talking to for it - it's a real labor of love along the lines of the conrad schnitzler piece i did a few months back

geeta, are these pieces heading in the direction of a book? b/c that would be nice

ha!

from what i've heard, a book on krautrock is already in the works with a major publisher & it's not by me

but i wouldn't want to write a 'krautrock' book per se but something more specific

For those of you who might be interested, I have posted the entire Kluster / Cluster / Harmonia / Roedelius discography here - along with the album reviews here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stepheniliffe/sets/72157624709969408/

Best wishes, Stephen Iliffe (author of Painting with Sound - the life and music of Roedelius)

Qluster?

new lp sounds great on first listen

a fourth one already? yikes

being a return to analog synth sound design, these are some of the most casually listenable Roedelius CDs in a long time; they're pretty and floaty, like new age versions of the first three Kluster records. but as unedited improvs, with no tunes, there's not much to hang on to once they're over. I'd probably love this live.

wait, who is Qluster

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Qluster

Lauschen very synthy, yes. i had a quick listen to one of the others (Antworten) online and it was more acoustic piano.

The updated complete album reviews of Cluster/Harmonia/Roedelius albums is now available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stepheniliffe/sets/72157624709969408/with/5209118924/

are you any relation to April Iliffe, formerly of the Legendary Pink Dots?

wow, can't wait to read these

I have to rep for the first two Selbsportrait volumes, extremely pretty pastoral stuff. Roedelius is a true genius.

Digging around spotify tonight thinking about Moebius led me to check in with Roedelius - did not realize Qluster just put out a new album a couple of weeks ago, Taten: http://open.spotify.com/album/3aJzfWhyzzkk8ixFTF6xlg

er, Tasten

What is this "Cluster" tour notice for an April show in MA I just got in my Songkick? Qluster?

He says on Facebook he will tour "all around the world!" in 2016, but the only April listing now is in Belgrade.
https://de-de.facebook.com/Roedelius/