Neu 1975 - Neu > Reviews > One of KrautRocks Finest Moments

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Great Krautrock
Disadvantages:	Need To Be In teh Right Mood

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

NEU! Were at the forefront of the Krautrock movement in the early 70's and have been credited as influences on the likes of Sonic Youth, Stereolab, The Sex Pistols and David Bowie as well as the current electronic movement. And the site http://www.astralwerks.com/neu/ goes on to say

"Neu! Created a new kind of rhythm that bridged the gap between rock n roll's syncopation and dance music's four-to-the-floor beats. Neu's music is simple, natural, creating evocative soundscapes that are stimulating rather than tranquilizing. Sugarcoated melodies are balanced upon driving almost hypnotic beats."

For a change the record company spiel is absolutely spot on.

NEU! Comprised of former members of Kraftwerk, Klaus Dinger (Stimme, Prekussion, Gitarre, Klavier and Orgel) and Michael Rother (Gitarre, Piano, Synthorc, Elektronik and Stimme), and I am not sorry about the use of German her it adds something to the description. On this album they were augmented by legendary sound engineer Conrad Plank (Tontech Nik) and Thomas Dinger and Hams Lampe both on Schlagzeug.

By the time of this release Klaus and Michael both had different ideas about the direction that NEU! should take, so they reached a compromise. Side one was played in the "traditional" NEU! Style with Klaus playing Drums and on side 2 Klaus switched to guitar and vocals with Hans and Thomas playing drums simultaneously (1). This difference of opinion also was a major factor in their break up after this album.

But enough waffle let me take you down cause I am going to……………………………… slap it in the CD player and wax lyrically about how great this album and band is. Sorry that did not scan very well

Seite 1 opens up with ISI a simple piano motif leads the melody counter pointed by an eerie synthesizer. Simple repetitive drumming adds to the laid back atmosphericness of the song as does a simple rhythm guitar being played. The song is haunting and eerie with an obvious degree of improvisation here as the tune winds its was around your head. Totally evocative stuff here and a fine example of less is more is in operation here. SEE LAND Follows this number with a distant haunting and eerie bass guitar playing in the background, with simple percussion. Some atmospheric electric guitar is added as the laid back drums kick in. Once again haunting, eerie and evocative are all words that can be easily used to describe this ambient soundsacpe as it gradually builds in intensity, listen to it with the lights out on your own matey boy.

Seite 1 finishes off with Leb Wohl starting off with waves crashing on the beach and a haunting piano so quiet you almost can't hear it. You can see their influence on modern ambient artists such as Marconi Union and Sigar Rios here. The atmosphere the song creates is heightened by the spaces in the music. As the song progresses other instrumentation is gradually added at volumes so low you cant here and you have to work hard at listening to it. This has the effect of dragging you deeper into the sound which is what is intended. A lone unintelligible vocal adds to a feeling of dislocation and isolation.

Seite 2 starts off in start contrast to Seite 1 with the proto-punk tribalism of Hero. Starting off with a rhythm guitar strum then the lead guitar and drums break in. the double drumming adds a tribal element to it, and Klaus's vocal sounds primal and enraged. The song is repetitive and hypnotic but unlike the atmospheric material on side one it is a lot more immediate. Even though this is a dramatic change in style it is provides a contrast to seite 1 and provides a counterpoint to it which is welcome. "E-Music" is segued effortlessly into this via the drums and additional layers of synths are added as this improvisational piece takes shape. During this piece studio jiggery pokery is utilized to change the sound textures, but it still has a raw primal hypnotic feel to it, and is sorta reminiscent of their contemporaries Can who would Jam for hours. The song gradually peters out to the atmospheric like pieces on the first side with added sinisterness and backwards guitar just on the edge of hearing. Seite 2 and the album finishes off with After Eight which treated us to some bowie-ish proto punk, but with w laidback and slightly sinister feel to it.

There you have it the final in a series of three classic NEU! Albums recorded in the early 70's. It is not to everyone's tastes it even split their own fan base at the time, but for old punks with open minds and those of you with an interest in modern ambient electronica it is a fascinating and rewarding listen. The only drawback is the price these albums fetch in the shops being around £17, so I'd suggest a good old trawl around eBay first.

(1) Source: = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neu%21_%2775