Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Rarely Head: Kluster - Electric Music and Texts



Kluster (not to be mistaken with the later band Cluster) were an early short-lived German band (1969-71)  whose music was an amazingly early example of industrial and noise music. Members were Wolfgang Seidel, Klaus Freudigmann, Conrad Schnitzler, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. "Closer to avant-garde and noise than space, it shows the influence of Schnitzler on early Kluster material with forbidding violin lines, heavily distorted organ, and an assortment of tape effects leading the way for several minimalist guitar workouts." (Allmusic.com) Most members would later produce other Krautrock music in different ensembles, but - with maybe the exception of Schnitzler - were never as radical as they were here.
While researching this entry I have noticed that the late Schnitzler did reunite Kluster only a few years ago. So I'll be checking the new music out, which may result in another entry.

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