Cluster

Cluster was one of the pioneering electronic music groups which popped out of Germany's electrical grid in the late 1960's. While Kraftwerk motored down the Autobahn, and Tangerine Dream used sequencers to explore the subconscious mind, Cluster sought out the secret musical language of factory machinery.

Cluster took form in the late 1960's as Kluster, and consisted of Konrad Schnitzler (known to some as Con), Dieter Moebius, and Hans Joachim Roedelius. After the recording of one extremely rare LP, Schnitzler left for further musical explorations, and "Kluster" evolved into "Cluster". The resulting unit of Moebius and Roedelius would prove itself to be very durable and innovative. Before long, their reputation was such that Brian Eno opted to make two recordings with the group. Cluster also merged with Michael Rother (of NEU! and early Kraftwerk fame) to form Harmonia, which Brian Eno dubbed "the world's most important rock group".

Cluster's compositions cover a broad portion of the experimental electronic musical spectrum. The music is sometimes a sonic tint, sometimes a nineteenth century dreamscape superimposed on the present, sometimes sounds like electrons pondering the course of their orbits, and at other times resembles a factory playing its own music, cloaked by the secretiveness of night.

Albums

Cluster 71                                sky 047 (LP)      1980

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius, Connie

               Plank;  recorded in Hamburg, January 1971   

        15:43

         7:42

        21.32

   

 

Cluster II                                Brain 1006 (LP)   1972

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius;  recorded

               in Hamburg, January 1972

        plas (6:00)

        im suden (12:50)

        fur die katz' (3:00)

        live in der fabrik (14:50)

        georgel (5:25)

        nabitte (2:40)

 

 

Zuckerzeit                                Brain 1065 (LP)   1974

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius;  recorded

               in Forst, 1974

        Hollywood (4:40)

        Caramel (3:00)

        Rote Riki (6:10)

        Rosa (4:08)

        Caramba (3:55)

        Fotschi Tong (4:15)

        James (3:18)

        Marzipan (3:15)

        Rotor (2:38)

        Heisse Lippen (2:20)

       

 

sowiesoso                                 sky CD 3005       1976

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius;  recorded

               in Forst, 1976

        Sowiesoso (7:17)

        Halwa (2:47)

        Dem Wanderer (3:47)

        Umleitung (3:25)

        Zum Wohl (6:50)

        Es war einmal (5:25)

        In Ewigkeit (7:10)

 

 

Grosses Wasser                            sky Cd 3027       1979

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius;  Peter 

               Baumann (extra percussives on "Grosses Wasser");  

               recorded in Paragon Studios, Berlin, 1979

        Avanti (4:44)

        Prothese (2:04)

        Isodea (4:03)

        Breitengrad 20 (4:04)

        Manchmal (2:05)

        Grosses Wasser (18:38)

 

 

Curiosum                                  sky 063 (LP)      1981

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius;  recorded

               in Wien (Vienna), May, 1981

        Oh Odessa (3:15)

        Proantipro (7:30)

        Seltsame Gegend (8:00)

        Helle Melange (3:45)

        Tristan in der Bar (3:00)

        Charlic (4:40)

        Ufer (8:40)

 

 

Other related works--------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Moebius + Roedelius, "Apropos Cluster"    curio-1 (CD)      1990

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius;  recorded

               in Blumau, 1989 - 1990

        Grenzganger (7:19)

        Emmental (3:17)

        Gespiegelt (6:49)

        Falls (2:48)

        Appropos Cluster (21:49)

 

Work with Brian Eno---------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------

                                

 

Cluster & Eno                             sky-cd 3010       1977

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius, and Brian 

               Eno, with Holger Czukay on "Ho Ronomo", and Okko 

               Bekker and Asmus Tietchens on "One";  recorded in

               Conny's Studio, June 1977

        Ho Ronomo (5:07)

        Schone Hande (3:03)

        Steinsame (4:06)

        Wermut (3:20)

        Mit Simaen (1:26)

        Selange (3:30)

        Die Bunge (3:45)

        One (6:06)

        Fur Luise (5:04)

                                        

 

Eno Moebius Roedelius, "after the heat"   sky-cd 3021       1978

   personnel:  Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Roedelius, and Brian 

               Eno, with Holger Czukay on "Tzima N'arki";  

               recorded at Conny's Studio, 1978

        Foreign Affairs (3:30)

        The Belldog (6:16)

        Base & Apex (4:29)

        Tzima N'arki (4:30)

        Luftschloss (3:10)

        Oil (4:12)

        Broken head (5:25)

        Light Arms (1:29)

        The Shade (3:08)

        Old Land (4:10)

                       

 

Both Moebius and Roedelius have also recorded numerous solo 

albums.


--

                   --- Daniel M. Dumych ---                     

                -: ad520@freenet.buffalo.edu :- 

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