Neu!

[soundsweird]

I have 4 Neu albums (and a tribute album), the 2 Harmonia albums, Rother's first 3 solo albums, and La Dusselldorf's first 2 albums. My favorites are the 3rd Neu album, the 2nd Harmonia album and Rother's 2nd solo album.

[the winter tree]

Steve Hillage sampled NEU on the opening cut of one of the System 7 CDs. I didn't realize this until I watched a BBC doc on "Krautrock". I can't remember the name of the NEU song but it's got a great flowing groove.

[Mythos]

Neu! 1 and Neu! '75, but all 3 are flat out classics.

This!

[spacefreak]

It took me around 10 years to understand the first two La Düsseldorf albums, since I've purchased them in 1979. Glad I didn't sell them upon first impression. Now they're up almost at the same level with Neu. Motorik classics.

In the late 90s, Thomas Dinger formed 1-A Düsseldorf and released a series of more experimental albums with the japanese Captain Trip label. Very rewarding tranced-out listens...

[per anporth]

I already had Neu! & Neu 75!, but tis thread has sent me scurrying off for Neu II - I did what was suggested, & download side 1, & the two original cuts from the single, from side 2. What I would say is that Fur Immer may represent the very quintessence of what Rother & Dinger were about (much more so than the more celebrated [I believe] Hallogallo, from Neu! 75). So, I'd definitely recommend that, if you're checking them out, you don't ignore this album.

All that said - I do think that Dinger's side of Neu! is my favourite 20 minutes of music from these astonishing years of creativity in German music - I just love how Rother & Dinger are so clearly *just* managing to hold it together, despite their mutual antipathies towards each other, & the music that each other are trying to make - & the constant spinning off & coming back together, the can't do it with you/can't do it without you dynamic that fuels their collaborations.

[Steve F.]

What I would say is that Fur Immer may represent the very quintessence of what Rother & Dinger were about (much more so than the more celebrated [I believe] Hallogallo, from Neu! 75). So, I'd definitely recommend that, if you're checking them out, you don't ignore this album.

Thanks! I agree completely and that was what I was trying to get across.

[Scrotum Scissor]

It took me around 10 years to understand the first two La Düsseldorf albums, since I've purchased them in 1979. Glad I didn't sell them upon first impression.

Yes, I agree; they appear quite bland dull on first listen, especially after the wonder that was Harmonia.

[Steve F.]

P.S. For 15 bonus points for the truly obsessive among you (hand shoots up) what were Klaus Dinger's last words, on his deathbed, to his wife?

[NogbadTheBad]

P.S. For 15 bonus points for the truly obsessive among you (hand shoots up) what were Klaus Dinger's last words, on his deathbed, to his wife?

This one I know, but only because you told me.

[Modry Effekt]

[per anporth]

Thanks! I agree completely and that was what I was trying to get across.

Sorry Steve - I meant to quote/acknowledge your original post.

I'd also support all the positive comments about the two Harmonia albums - both of which are excellent in my view.

I've got the first La Dusseldorf lp - it hasn't quite clicked for me on early listens - but, based on this thread, I'll definitely give it another go!

[mellotron storm]

It took me around 10 years to understand the first two La Düsseldorf albums, since I've purchased them in 1979. Glad I didn't sell them upon first impression. Now they're up almost at the same level with Neu. Motorik classics.

In the late 90s, Thomas Dinger formed 1-A Düsseldorf and released a series of more experimental albums with the japanese Captain Trip label. Very rewarding tranced-out listens...

It took me a while to appreciate La Dusseldorf and Harmonia, they're just different from what I considered Krautrock at the time. Playful and light while i'm more into the darker, heavier stuff like Amon Duul II. One I just got recently is Cluster's Zuckerseit which reminded me of the Harmonia/La Dusseldorf style right away. Maybe i'm wrong as I just quickly sampled the start of several tunes.

[mellotron storm]

P.S. For 15 bonus points for the truly obsessive among you (hand shoots up) what were Klaus Dinger's last words, on his deathbed, to his wife?

Okay enough with the suspense already, what did he say?

[Modry Effekt]

[Modry Effekt]

Silver Apples - I Have Known Love (1969)

[Steve F.]

Okay enough with the suspense already, what did he say?

"Don't tell ANYONE!"

(His death went unreported for several weeks....)

[NogbadTheBad]

"Don't tell ANYONE!"

(His death went unreported for several weeks....)

Followed by Steve laughing uproariously in my personal experience

[Modry Effekt]

[Modry Effekt]

Followed by Steve laughing uproariously in my personal experience

Steve is a wizard

[Trane]

It took me a while to appreciate La Dusseldorf and Harmonia, they're just different from what I considered Krautrock at the time. Playful and light while i'm more into the darker, heavier stuff like Amon Duul II. One I just got recently is Cluster's Zuckerseit which reminded me of the Harmonia/La Dusseldorf style right away. Maybe i'm wrong as I just quickly sampled the start of several tunes.

For some reasons, Harmonia clicked no problems first time I heard theuirt two albums (but this was substantially later than when I heard Cluster, Neu!, and Can). It's like Kraftwerk, if I love the first three and appreciate Autobahn (that was my first exposition to that type of Krautrock, at the time of release >> I'd only heard AD II beforehand), I've got more issues with what came afterwards. This type of electro-pop was rather repulsive for me in the 70's & 80's ... I'd say I started digging it a bit in the 80's some of it, via Can (tghough I woudn't call their music electro-pop for second), than Neu! and Cluster (well Kluster at first)

However LA Dusselcorf never clicked with me... (well last time I tried was about 10 years ago >> so a re-visit might be due)

[tom unbound]

Interview with Michael Rother

http://astronautapinguim.blogspot.co...el-rother.html

A friend just sent me this. Lots of history from the early days, and then a great (2010?) interview. WOW !

[strawberrybrick]

I am happy at the recent interest in Neu. What does everyone think has caused the rise in Neu consciousness, not just at PE but elsewhere?

Neu! always had a cache of fans from the 90s indie scene, be it Stereolab, Laika, even Wire went all "k word" after their third album 154. And it was quite a pleasure to see Rother in 2010 with Steve Shelley from Sonic Youth. Great show, they really did it all proud.

Note of caution. Some of Dinger's stuff on Captain Trip is brilliant. Some of it crap. Fortunately for all of us, Herbert Groenemeyer sat Rother and Dinger down and go the Neu! catalog finally released. I also love the Rother version Neu! 86 of their 4th album, which is my ringtone, always tickles me when it rings!

[Modry Effekt]

Sorry I can't edit all my useless posts.I let the mods to a job

[zombywoof]

Okay, I bought the debut based on your recommendations. Listening to Hallogallo after a long stressful day at school. This is great; exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!!

[arturs]

Neu! always had a cache of fans from the 90s indie scene

As a grad student in the 90s in Ann Arbor, I used to hang out sometimes at a couple of the CD stores. Most of the hipsters who worked at those places loved Neu! along with Kraftwerk, Can and AD. So, for at least a period of time, Neu! was very much a hip and trendy band in a way that little else in prog has ever been since the 70s. Maybe still now?