Neu!
Posted by: greeny on 05 June 2003
Having bought Neu75 several months ago, I bought Neu this last weekend.
Neu75 I think is superb, every track being good, and 3 tracking in particular being superb, so I had high hopes for Neu (I read a review a while ago suggesting Neu! and Neu75 were better than Neu2).
Well what a disapointment!. On first listen it's rubbish;
Track 2.. Is like being sat in a bar at Heathrow airport with planes (and UFO's) flying overhead.
Track 4 .. Just seems to be a recording of someone rowing a boat!
Track 6 .. is unlistenably bad, sounding like some child playing on a guitar his dad singing along as if humming to a baby. Unspeakable pathetic.
The other 3 tracks are OK in a monotonous repetative sort of way, but are only as good as the poorer tracks on Neu75.
Worst thing is I payed good money for this.
Is this what I would expect from 'Can' or are we talking more like Neu75?
Neu75 I think is superb, every track being good, and 3 tracking in particular being superb, so I had high hopes for Neu (I read a review a while ago suggesting Neu! and Neu75 were better than Neu2).
Well what a disapointment!. On first listen it's rubbish;
Track 2.. Is like being sat in a bar at Heathrow airport with planes (and UFO's) flying overhead.
Track 4 .. Just seems to be a recording of someone rowing a boat!
Track 6 .. is unlistenably bad, sounding like some child playing on a guitar his dad singing along as if humming to a baby. Unspeakable pathetic.
The other 3 tracks are OK in a monotonous repetative sort of way, but are only as good as the poorer tracks on Neu75.
Worst thing is I payed good money for this.
Is this what I would expect from 'Can' or are we talking more like Neu75?
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by the other nickc
weird... I was just about to put a thread up asking for krautrock recommendations 
so not 'neu' then greeny?!
so not 'neu' then greeny?!
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by greeny
Well I would definately recommend Neu75 (the Black cover one), but not Neu1 (white cover orangey pink Neu!).
I'd also be interested in any 'Can' recomendations and how they compare with Neu and Kraftwork.
I have a couple of Kraftwork albums (Trans Europe Express and RadioActive), I think these are OK but not up to Neu75 standards.
I'd also be interested in any 'Can' recomendations and how they compare with Neu and Kraftwork.
I have a couple of Kraftwork albums (Trans Europe Express and RadioActive), I think these are OK but not up to Neu75 standards.
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by Lo Fi Si
Have a look at this:
http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=38019385&m=8881943483&r=9491966483#9491966483
I would try the earlier Can stuff or the 2CD Anthology
Simon
http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=38019385&m=8881943483&r=9491966483#9491966483
I would try the earlier Can stuff or the 2CD Anthology
Simon
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by Kevin-W
Greeny
Neu! is good (Hallogallo!), but not as good as Neu! 75, which is a masterpiece. Neu! 2 has a couple of good tracks, such as Fur Immer, but apparently they ran out of money midway through recording so had to resort to "arty" jokes like slowing down some songs to 16rpm and speeding up others to 78rpm. THere are some dodgy semi-legal live boots out there but avoid 'em like the plague, they're rubbish!
As for Can, well... where does one begin? They are one of the greatest groups ever to exist. They also possessed, in Jaki Liebezeit, the greatest drummer of all time. People used to slag him off for being metronomic, like a machine, but, as one of the other members of the group said, "Machines have humanised qualities... Jaki's drumming has none".
A good place to start is the 2-Cd Anthology on Mute/Spoon.
After that, these are the albums I (personally) recommend are as follows:
1. Future Days (one of the best albums ever made. Period).
2. Tago Mago
3. Monster Movie [most of this is on the Anthology]
4. Soundtracks
5. Ege Bamyesi
6. Unlimited Edition
7. Delay 1968
8. Soon Over Babaluma
9. Saw Delight
There are others, with are all worth trying, but avoid "Out Of Reach" like the plague - it's crap, as the band admit.
All their albums are out on CD, but vinyl versions are quite difficult to find and often quite expensive. Their BBC Sessions CD is deleted, but is well worth tracking down, as is the Can Box, which contains a book (not very good), video (awesome) and double live CD (occasionally brilliant, and available seperately). The Sacrelige album of reixes is a bit of a waste of time (apart from UNKLE's brill remix of Vitamin C from Ege Bamyesi).
I'd be most interested to learn how you get on (I love hearing from fellow Cannites, old and new).
Kevin
Neu! is good (Hallogallo!), but not as good as Neu! 75, which is a masterpiece. Neu! 2 has a couple of good tracks, such as Fur Immer, but apparently they ran out of money midway through recording so had to resort to "arty" jokes like slowing down some songs to 16rpm and speeding up others to 78rpm. THere are some dodgy semi-legal live boots out there but avoid 'em like the plague, they're rubbish!
As for Can, well... where does one begin? They are one of the greatest groups ever to exist. They also possessed, in Jaki Liebezeit, the greatest drummer of all time. People used to slag him off for being metronomic, like a machine, but, as one of the other members of the group said, "Machines have humanised qualities... Jaki's drumming has none".
A good place to start is the 2-Cd Anthology on Mute/Spoon.
After that, these are the albums I (personally) recommend are as follows:
1. Future Days (one of the best albums ever made. Period).
2. Tago Mago
3. Monster Movie [most of this is on the Anthology]
4. Soundtracks
5. Ege Bamyesi
6. Unlimited Edition
7. Delay 1968
8. Soon Over Babaluma
9. Saw Delight
There are others, with are all worth trying, but avoid "Out Of Reach" like the plague - it's crap, as the band admit.
All their albums are out on CD, but vinyl versions are quite difficult to find and often quite expensive. Their BBC Sessions CD is deleted, but is well worth tracking down, as is the Can Box, which contains a book (not very good), video (awesome) and double live CD (occasionally brilliant, and available seperately). The Sacrelige album of reixes is a bit of a waste of time (apart from UNKLE's brill remix of Vitamin C from Ege Bamyesi).
I'd be most interested to learn how you get on (I love hearing from fellow Cannites, old and new).
Kevin
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by Kevin-W
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin-W:
Greeny
I forgot to add that both Kraftwerk and Neu! were heavily influenced by Can. Also, members of Neu! played on Kraftwerk's first two albums (both of which are very rare and very different from the stuff for which they are famous).
Kraftwerk are extraordinarily good, but nowadays they seem more intent on preserving their legacy than producing anything new. They are possibly the most influential group of all time after the Beatles - ironic that a group of ascetic Germans have so profoundly influenced black music, but that's a thread in itself.
Kevin
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by Not For Me
Can - Start with Cannabalism I, as that gives a good cross section
Tago Mago is thier best work - haunting, groovy, beaty.
Neu! - Michael Rother of Neu! had a good solo career, try Chronicles I as a sampler
Klaus Dinger te other half of Neu! died recently, great shame.
I have a lot of the half live Captain Trip bootleg CDs, like Neu! 4 , and Kevin is right, the quality is varies from dodgy to hopeless, so steer clear unless a dedicated fan.
Also investigate the masters, and the only ones still going, Faust, albums such as So Far, Faust, Tapes and new things like Patchwork etc. But if you don't like the eccentricity of Neu! 2 you might not like Faust.
As far as Krautrock is concerned, it has the benefit of being the genre of the greatest album ever recorded in the history of man, 'Intermedia Life Action' by Conrad Schintzler. He also appeared on the first Tangerine Dream album - Electronic Meditation.
There is a series called 'Krautrock Achives' on CD, which cover a lot of ground like Guru Guru, Brainticket, Jane, Grobshnitt, Novalis, Eroc, etc.etc.
For a good background read, the book 'Crack in the Cosmic Egg' written by the brothers Freeman. They know thier stuff, given that they run the Utilma Thule prog/kraut record shop in Leicester.
DS
OTT - Curb your Enthusiasm (the Funniest thing on TV)
Tago Mago is thier best work - haunting, groovy, beaty.
Neu! - Michael Rother of Neu! had a good solo career, try Chronicles I as a sampler
Klaus Dinger te other half of Neu! died recently, great shame.
I have a lot of the half live Captain Trip bootleg CDs, like Neu! 4 , and Kevin is right, the quality is varies from dodgy to hopeless, so steer clear unless a dedicated fan.
Also investigate the masters, and the only ones still going, Faust, albums such as So Far, Faust, Tapes and new things like Patchwork etc. But if you don't like the eccentricity of Neu! 2 you might not like Faust.
As far as Krautrock is concerned, it has the benefit of being the genre of the greatest album ever recorded in the history of man, 'Intermedia Life Action' by Conrad Schintzler. He also appeared on the first Tangerine Dream album - Electronic Meditation.
There is a series called 'Krautrock Achives' on CD, which cover a lot of ground like Guru Guru, Brainticket, Jane, Grobshnitt, Novalis, Eroc, etc.etc.
For a good background read, the book 'Crack in the Cosmic Egg' written by the brothers Freeman. They know thier stuff, given that they run the Utilma Thule prog/kraut record shop in Leicester.
DS
OTT - Curb your Enthusiasm (the Funniest thing on TV)
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by ejl
quote:
All their [Can's] albums are out on CD, but vinyl versions are quite difficult to find and often quite expensive
There are some good quality vinyl re-releases now out of Cannibalism I, Tago Mago, and Monster Movie.
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by J.N.
Yawol!
Neu 1 has more consistently good tracks, but '75' is worth it, if only for the magnificent, hypnotic phasing/flanging of 'E-Musik'
Here we hear, embryonic Michael Rother; who will later produce some beautifully melodic krautrock in his first three solo offerings:-
'Flammende Herzen' 'Sterntaler' and 'Katzenmusik'
Thanks for the reminder.
Neu 1 has more consistently good tracks, but '75' is worth it, if only for the magnificent, hypnotic phasing/flanging of 'E-Musik'
Here we hear, embryonic Michael Rother; who will later produce some beautifully melodic krautrock in his first three solo offerings:-
'Flammende Herzen' 'Sterntaler' and 'Katzenmusik'
Thanks for the reminder.
Posted on: 06 June 2003 by throbnorth
La Dusseldorf are really good - bought it at about the same time as Neu 1, and on the whole prefered it [not sure if available on CD though]. Neu have gained enormous stature for their prescience, which is absolutely understandable, but listening nowadays apart from a 'well, fancy that!' response, I find much of the other stuff listed [esp. Amon Duul 2] more actually enjoyable. Unusually, they have a sense of humour.
I've also got a little place in my heart for the demented Nina Hagen, who might be regarded as Rammstein's auntie, but it's probably a slightly different place from your more usual Krautrock.
uberthrob
I've also got a little place in my heart for the demented Nina Hagen, who might be regarded as Rammstein's auntie, but it's probably a slightly different place from your more usual Krautrock.
uberthrob
Posted on: 06 June 2003 by Kevin-W
Throb
You are right - La Dusseldorf's first, which was on Radar Records, is fab - esp the title track ("La Dusseldorf") and "Silver Cloud". Subsequent albums weren't as good.
I remember was was briefly reissued on a dodgy semi-legal CD (remastered straight from vinyl at very low volume), but as far as I can remember it's never been properly reissued, either on CD or vinyl, which is a pity, as my copy's had it.
Kevin
You are right - La Dusseldorf's first, which was on Radar Records, is fab - esp the title track ("La Dusseldorf") and "Silver Cloud". Subsequent albums weren't as good.
I remember was was briefly reissued on a dodgy semi-legal CD (remastered straight from vinyl at very low volume), but as far as I can remember it's never been properly reissued, either on CD or vinyl, which is a pity, as my copy's had it.
Kevin
Posted on: 07 June 2003 by Ron The Mon
If you like Neu!, have all their
records, and want the modern equivalent, buy some Young Gods records. Their best
album, IMO, is T.V. SKY.
Better yet, go see the Young Gods in
concert.
They are Swiss and heavily influenced by the whole Krautrok scene.
Ron The Mon,
Young Gods Freak (and Neu! Fan)
records, and want the modern equivalent, buy some Young Gods records. Their best
album, IMO, is T.V. SKY.
Better yet, go see the Young Gods in
concert.
They are Swiss and heavily influenced by the whole Krautrok scene.
Ron The Mon,
Young Gods Freak (and Neu! Fan)
Posted on: 07 June 2003 by Not For Me
Ron,
Yes, good idea - The Young Gods are deserving of much attnetion. I got a new CD by them last month, so it is good to see that there is more output available.
Another lot to follow up is the other 90's krauters, Die Krupps. Yhey started off industrial, like Stalylwerk Symphonie (I know, I can't spell). Play this 45rpm 12" at 33 and get a real taste of grind. They went a bit metal mental, and did a Metallica tribute record, which was still good, but went even more mainstream metal and lost my attention.
I am a huge fan of new German music like Another Rother, Pole, Kriedler, the Cologne scene, (Air Liquide, Kan, Wlaker, Bophoc C, the Modernist, Burger, Ink etc.) the Electrolux label etc etc.
Anyone got any more post-prog German music recommendations ?
DS
OTD - Celcius & Candela - Wrong (German trance)
Yes, good idea - The Young Gods are deserving of much attnetion. I got a new CD by them last month, so it is good to see that there is more output available.
Another lot to follow up is the other 90's krauters, Die Krupps. Yhey started off industrial, like Stalylwerk Symphonie (I know, I can't spell). Play this 45rpm 12" at 33 and get a real taste of grind. They went a bit metal mental, and did a Metallica tribute record, which was still good, but went even more mainstream metal and lost my attention.
I am a huge fan of new German music like Another Rother, Pole, Kriedler, the Cologne scene, (Air Liquide, Kan, Wlaker, Bophoc C, the Modernist, Burger, Ink etc.) the Electrolux label etc etc.
Anyone got any more post-prog German music recommendations ?
DS
OTD - Celcius & Candela - Wrong (German trance)
Posted on: 09 June 2003 by the other nickc
Greeny/Kevin W/Lo Fi Si/Nick/David/Everyone!
Picked up 'Future Days' on the way home on fri. Had a bit a 'damascus experience' halfway through the first track. I now want to give up my job and just listen to Can.
Nick
Picked up 'Future Days' on the way home on fri. Had a bit a 'damascus experience' halfway through the first track. I now want to give up my job and just listen to Can.
Nick
Posted on: 09 June 2003 by Kevin-W
the other nick c
Glad to hear about your damascene conversion to the Cannite sect. Believe me, you won't be able to stop now you've started! So what's your verdict on Future Days?.
David, Ron The Mon
Agree re Young Gods. I saw them live at Dingwall's in Camden in 1989 just after L'Eau Rouge came out, and it was like witnessing the Big Bang. Agree re the best LP being TV Sky. They're not really Krautrock though, they're Swiss.
David: Die Krupps – ace. By a strange coincidence I was listening to "Stahlwerk Symphonie" only the other day - a mini-masterpiece. There are also some quite good remixes of it, by people like Frontline Assembly, Solar Enemy, etc.
Then there are other early 1980s Krautrockers like the mighty DAF, Einsturzende Neubauten (I was at the infamous 1984 ICA gig-stroke-riot) and Holger Hiller.
Kevin
Glad to hear about your damascene conversion to the Cannite sect. Believe me, you won't be able to stop now you've started! So what's your verdict on Future Days?.
David, Ron The Mon
Agree re Young Gods. I saw them live at Dingwall's in Camden in 1989 just after L'Eau Rouge came out, and it was like witnessing the Big Bang. Agree re the best LP being TV Sky. They're not really Krautrock though, they're Swiss.
David: Die Krupps – ace. By a strange coincidence I was listening to "Stahlwerk Symphonie" only the other day - a mini-masterpiece. There are also some quite good remixes of it, by people like Frontline Assembly, Solar Enemy, etc.
Then there are other early 1980s Krautrockers like the mighty DAF, Einsturzende Neubauten (I was at the infamous 1984 ICA gig-stroke-riot) and Holger Hiller.
Kevin
Posted on: 09 June 2003 by the other nickc
Kevin W
'Future days'
I've not been this excited about an album for sooooo long.
Apparently this album was made in 1973?!.
Sounds fresh as a daisy to me.
Track one is just monumental. The drums are too forward in the mix, the japanese guys voice is barely audible but the effect is magical. The percussion just grooves the whole thing along; kind of soothing and exciting at the same time.
Moonshake is very addictive.
Really into tracks two and four as well. Didn't think I'd ever be into these long meandering, slightly jazzy, pieces but (unlike a lot of prog rock stuff) it's just NOT boring.
Obviously a huge influence on the likes of The Fall, Radiohead and countless other bands.
Only problem is a lot of stuff is going to seem rather lame in comparison. Hey ho, i'm off to buy 'Ege Bamyesi'.
Nick
[This message was edited by the other nickc on MONDAY 09 June 2003 at 15:27.]
'Future days'
I've not been this excited about an album for sooooo long.
Apparently this album was made in 1973?!.
Sounds fresh as a daisy to me.
Track one is just monumental. The drums are too forward in the mix, the japanese guys voice is barely audible but the effect is magical. The percussion just grooves the whole thing along; kind of soothing and exciting at the same time.
Moonshake is very addictive.
Really into tracks two and four as well. Didn't think I'd ever be into these long meandering, slightly jazzy, pieces but (unlike a lot of prog rock stuff) it's just NOT boring.
Obviously a huge influence on the likes of The Fall, Radiohead and countless other bands.
Only problem is a lot of stuff is going to seem rather lame in comparison. Hey ho, i'm off to buy 'Ege Bamyesi'.
Nick
[This message was edited by the other nickc on MONDAY 09 June 2003 at 15:27.]
Posted on: 09 June 2003 by steveb
Can-Future Days
Great to hear new converts to the delights of Can. I can still remember the impact the albums had on me after 30+ yrs !!. A review of the time for Future Days
, NME ( Ian McDonald), just says, forget the krautrock tag and listen. At that time krautrock was out on the fringes and up for ridicule, nice that a true critical reappraisal has shown how influential the sound was.
Simply an artifact of the 'primitive' recording process they were using at the time, 4 Track recorded and mixed live, little scope for edits and remixing. The long piece Bel Air/Spare My Light was recorded with drums too forward as well and band not altogether happy but had to stick with it as it was essentially a 'live' piece and felt the performance could not be bettered.
Cover shows link to all things ESP, during OGWT performance the studio clock stopped, unheard of in the BBC.
Enjoy discovering the delights of Krautrock, there is so much to listen to.
Steve
Great to hear new converts to the delights of Can. I can still remember the impact the albums had on me after 30+ yrs !!. A review of the time for Future Days
, NME ( Ian McDonald), just says, forget the krautrock tag and listen. At that time krautrock was out on the fringes and up for ridicule, nice that a true critical reappraisal has shown how influential the sound was.
quote:
The drums are too forward in the mix,
Simply an artifact of the 'primitive' recording process they were using at the time, 4 Track recorded and mixed live, little scope for edits and remixing. The long piece Bel Air/Spare My Light was recorded with drums too forward as well and band not altogether happy but had to stick with it as it was essentially a 'live' piece and felt the performance could not be bettered.
Cover shows link to all things ESP, during OGWT performance the studio clock stopped, unheard of in the BBC.
Enjoy discovering the delights of Krautrock, there is so much to listen to.
Steve
Posted on: 09 June 2003 by Not For Me
Deutsch Amerikanische Freudschaft
As I mentioned in the 'last albums you bought' thread, DAF are back!
The new material so far is a CDS 'Der Sheriff', It contains the usual twanging bass lines and spoken German vocals and tub thumping beats. So, if you liked old DAF, this may suit.
It appears to me war-related, with a sub title 'Anti-Amerikanisches Lied'
It includes a remix by VNV Nation, who appear to be keeping the EBM flag alive all on their own.
What is the concensus on the previous solo material from Gabi Delgado and Robert Gorl? O.K., but far from essential.
DS
ITC - V/A Battery Park Cologne 3.0
As I mentioned in the 'last albums you bought' thread, DAF are back!
The new material so far is a CDS 'Der Sheriff', It contains the usual twanging bass lines and spoken German vocals and tub thumping beats. So, if you liked old DAF, this may suit.
It appears to me war-related, with a sub title 'Anti-Amerikanisches Lied'
It includes a remix by VNV Nation, who appear to be keeping the EBM flag alive all on their own.
What is the concensus on the previous solo material from Gabi Delgado and Robert Gorl? O.K., but far from essential.
DS
ITC - V/A Battery Park Cologne 3.0