Cluster
Cluster in 2007 (photo courtesy of Hans-Joachim Roedelius)
Background information
Origin	Berlin, Germany
Genre(s)	Kosmische Musik Krautrock Electronic music Experimental music Ambient music
Years active	1971-1981 1989-1997 2007-present
Label(s)	Philips, Brain Records, Sky Records, York House Records, Curious Music, Gyroscope, Purple Pyramid, Captain Trip
Associated acts	Kluster Harmonia Conny Plank Brian Eno Moebius & Plank Aquarello Tempus Transit Moving Cultures
Website	Myspace: Roedelius/Cluster Roedelius: Official Website
Members
Hans-Joachim Roedelius Dieter Moebius
Former members
Conny Plank

Cluster is a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Krautrock is a generic name for the Experimental music scene that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s especially in Britain Krautrock is a generic name for the Experimental music scene that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s especially in Britain Electronic music is music that employs Electronic musical instruments and Electronic Music technology in its production Experimental music is a term introduced by composer John Cage in 1955 Ambient music is a Musical genre in which sound is more important than notes In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Philips Records is a Record label that was founded by Dutch electronics giant Philips. Sky Records Musikverlag was a Hamburg, Germany based Independent record label specializing in Krautrock / Kosmische Musik and York House Recordings, also known as YHR or YHR Tapes was a small British independent label which released 31 original cassettes of Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson 's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles -based Independent record label. Kluster was a German Krautrock or experimental musical group whose work often resembles later Industrial music. Harmonia is a Krautrock supergroup from Germany. They formed as a collaboration between Michael Rother of Neu! and Hans-Joachim Roedelius Konrad "Conny" Plank (frequently spelled Planck) ( May 3, 1940 in Germany – December 18, 1987 in Cologne Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (born 15 May 1948 commonly known as Brian Eno (ˈiːnoʊ is an English Musician, producer The duo of Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank was an offshoot of Cluster that recorded five albums between 1979 and 1986 Aquarello was a musical group which blended Ambient music and jazz Hans-Joachim Roedelius ( Hans-Joachim Rödelius, born October 26, 1934 in Http//www Dieter Moebius ( Dieter Möbius, born 1944 in Switzerland) is a German / Swiss experimental / Krautrock / ambient / Konrad "Conny" Plank (frequently spelled Planck) ( May 3, 1940 in Germany – December 18, 1987 in Cologne Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Experimental music is a term introduced by composer John Cage in 1955 Electronic music is music that employs Electronic musical instruments and Electronic Music technology in its production Ambient music is a Musical genre in which sound is more important than notes They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved Cluster has been active since 1971, releasing a total of 13 albums. Events February 5 - Eric Burdon & War disbanding They never performed togeather again until April 21 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall Musician, writer and rock historian Julian Cope places three Cluster albums in his Krautrock Top 50^[1] and "The Wire" places Cluster's self-titled debut album in their "One Hundred Records That Set The World On Fire". Julian Cope (born Julian David Cope on 21 October, 1957) is an English rock Musician, Author, Antiquary ^[2]

After a decade long hiatus Cluster reunited in April, 2007. This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007 They were selected to perform on June 15, 2007 at the opening of documenta 12, a major exhibition of modern and contemporary art held every five years in Kassel, Germany. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. documenta is an exhibition of modern and Contemporary art which now takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which Art objects (in the most general sense meet an Audience. History of Modern art Roots in the 19th century Although modern Sculpture and Architecture are reckoned to have emerged at the end of the nineteenth Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. Kassel (until 1926 officially Cassel) is a city situated along the Fulda River in northern Hessen, Germany, one of the two sources of the ^[3] In late 2007 Cluster performed at concerts across Europe^[4] and will return to the United States for the first time since their 1996 First Encounter tour in 2008. ^[5]

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Core members 1.2 Collaborators 1.3 Musical style 2 History 2.1 1971 - 1972 (Early works) 2.2 1973 - 1976 (Harmonia and Zuckerzeit) 2.3 1976 - 1979 (Eno and critical acclaim) 2.4 1980 - 1981 (Curiosum) 2.5 1982 - 1989 (Solo Projects and Other Collaborations) 2.6 1989 - 1997 (Later works) 2.7 1997 - 2007 (Second hiatus) 2.8 2007 - Present (Second Reunion) 3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums 3.2 Live albums 3.3 Compilation albums 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

Overview

Core members

• Hans-Joachim Roedelius (1971-present)
• Dieter Moebius (1971-present)
• Conny Plank (as musician, 1971, as composer 1971-1972, as engineer/producer 1971-1978)

Collaborators

• Brian Eno (1977-1978) - synthesizer, vocals
• Holger Czukay (1977-1978) - bass
• Asmus Tietchens (1977) - synthesizer
• Okko Bekker (1977) - guitar
• Peter Baumann (1979) - producer
• William Roper (1979) - engineer
• Joshi Farnbauer (1980) - percussion
• Stanislaw Michalik (1990) - bass
• Felix Jay (1996) - producer
• Tim Story (1996-1997) - producer/engineer
• Hiroshi Okunari (1996) - engineer, Osaka
• Bond Bergland - guitar (1996)
• The Brain (1996)
• Russ Curry (1996) - engineer
• Paul Fox (1996) - engineer
• Tommy Johnstone Grenas (1996) - musician

Musical style

Cluster's musical style has varied greatly over the years, ranging from Kosmische Musik to Experimental Music on early albums, to rhythmic Krautrock or Progressive Rock on Zuckerzeit and After The Heat, to New Age or Ambient Music on many tracks in the middle to late '70s, to truly avant-garde or industrial on Live In Vienna. Hans-Joachim Roedelius ( Hans-Joachim Rödelius, born October 26, 1934 in Http//www Dieter Moebius ( Dieter Möbius, born 1944 in Switzerland) is a German / Swiss experimental / Krautrock / ambient / Konrad "Conny" Plank (frequently spelled Planck) ( May 3, 1940 in Germany – December 18, 1987 in Cologne Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (born 15 May 1948 commonly known as Brian Eno (ˈiːnoʊ is an English Musician, producer Holger Czukay (born 24 March 1938) is a German musician probably best known as a co-founder of the Krautrock group Can. Asmus Tietchens (born 1947 Hamburg) who also records under the Monikers Hematic Sunsets and Club of Rome, is a German composer of Peter Baumann (born January 29, 1953 in Berlin) formed the core line-up of the German electronic group Tangerine Dream with Edgar Paul Fox is an American Record producer, who is best known for producing such bands as Faker; The Green Children Björk; 10000 Krautrock is a generic name for the Experimental music scene that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s especially in Britain Experimental music is a term introduced by composer John Cage in 1955 Krautrock is a generic name for the Experimental music scene that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s especially in Britain Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved Zuckerzeit is the third full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. After the Heat is a 1978 Album by Brian Eno and both members of Cluster, namely Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius New Age music is peaceful Music of various styles which is intended to create inspiration relaxation and positive feelings often used by listeners for Yoga, Ambient music is a Musical genre in which sound is more important than notes Industrial music is a loose term for a number of different styles of Experimental music, especially but not necessarily Electronic music. Live In Vienna is the eighth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster and their first and only album with Joshi Farnbauer. Cluster always has an avant-garde edge even on gentle, ambient pieces. Michael Waynick, who reviewed Cluster & Eno for the All Music Guide writes a description that applies to more than the one album: ". Cluster & Eno is a collaborative album by the German Electronic music group Cluster and British ambient musician allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. . . too emotionally rich to waste as mere background music, evoking feelings of hesitancy and regret that rescue the music from mere vapid prettiness. "^[6]

The diversity of styles on the various Cluster albums, with significant changes in musical direction from one release to the next, makes it difficult to categorize Cluster's music. The factors which are present on all 13 albums include the use of electronic instrumentation, loops, and the use of unexpected sounds to create a sense of experimentation.

Cluster has been widely influential not only to ambient and electronic music artists, but to techno, electronica and popular music as well. Techno is a form of Electronic dance music (EDM that emerged in Detroit, Michigan, USA during the mid to late 1980s Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary Electronic music designed for a wide range Artists and groups whose music has been influenced by Cluster include Robert Rich,^[7] John Foxx (formerly of Ultravox),^[8] Alex Paterson of The Orb^[9],Coil,^[10] Oval, To Rococo Rot, and Mouse On Mars. Robert Rich may refer to Robert Rich (musician, American ambient musician Dalton Trumbo, American screenwriter and novelist used pen name John Foxx is the stage name of English musician Dennis Leigh. Ultravox (formerly Ultravox!) were a British New Wave band that rose to prominence in the late 1970s/early 1980s Alex Paterson ( Duncan Robert Alex Paterson also known and abbreviated as Dr Alex Paterson, born 15 October 1959 near Battersea in The Orb are an English Electronic music group known for popularising Chill out music in the 1990s and spawning the genre of Ambient house. Oval is an Electronic music group founded in Germany in 1991. To Rococo Rot is a mostly Post-rock trio from Berlin Germany. Mouse on Mars is a duo from Germany ( Jan St Werner, from Düsseldorf, and Andi Toma, from Köln) who have been making Electronic ^[11]

History

1971 - 1972 (Early works)

Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Conrad Schnitzler formed Kluster in 1969 after the three had met at the Zodiak Free Arts Lab. Dieter Moebius ( Dieter Möbius, born 1944 in Switzerland) is a German / Swiss experimental / Krautrock / ambient / Hans-Joachim Roedelius ( Hans-Joachim Rödelius, born October 26, 1934 in Http//www Conrad Schnitzler (b Düsseldorf, 1937 is a prolific German experimental Musician. Kluster was a German Krautrock or experimental musical group whose work often resembles later Industrial music. The Zodiak Free Arts Lab, sometimes known as the "Zodiak Club" or "Zodiac Club" was a short-lived but highly influential experimental live music venue founded in the ^[12] This trio released three albums, Klopfzeichen, Zwei-Osterei and Eruption. Klopfzeichen is the first full-length album by German experimental music trio Kluster. Zwei-Osterei is the second full-length album by German experimental music trio Kluster. Eruption is the third and final full-length album by German experimental music trio Kluster. When Schnitzler left the group, Roedelius and Moebius became Cluster. They were joined by Conny Plank on their debut self-titled release in 1971. Konrad "Conny" Plank (frequently spelled Planck) ( May 3, 1940 in Germany – December 18, 1987 in Cologne They continued as a duo thereafter but worked extensively with producer/engineer Plank until his death in 1987. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing Audio engineering is a part of audio science dealing with the recording and reproduction of Sound through mechanical and electronic means

Cluster's first release, an eponymous debut in 1971 on Philips, was the first major label release for the musicians. Philips Records is a Record label that was founded by Dutch electronics giant Philips. Previous Kluster works had been small or private label releases with no more than 300 copies pressed and sold. This album and the 1972 follow-up were a musical bridge between the avant-garde, discordant, proto-industrial sound of Kluster and the softer and more controlled ambient and rock sounds of their mid to late '70s albums. Cluster (later reissued as Cluster '71) has little or no discernible melody or beat. Cluster is the eponymous first full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. The All Music Guide review describes it, in part as ". allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. . . a dislocating, disorienting meld of random space music, industrial noise, proto-ambient atmospherics, feedback, and soundwash. . . "^[13] The first album is also the only Cluster release on which Conny Plank is listed as a full third member of the band. ^[14] He is credited as a composer and producer on Cluster II. Cluster II is the second full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster and their first album with the band reduced to a duo Cluster signed with the influential Krautrock label Brain Records for their second release, a relationship which would continue through 1975.

1973 - 1976 (Harmonia and Zuckerzeit)

In 1973 the duo moved to the rural village of Forst, West Germany to build their own studio. There are several communities that share the name Forst. In Germany Forst (Baden, in Baden-Württemberg Forst (Lausitz, in West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( ^[12] There Cluster and Neu! co-founder Michael Rother recorded two albums under the name Harmonia: Musik Von Harmonia in 1974 and Deluxe in 1975, both released on Brain. Michael Rother (born September 2, 1950 in Hamburg) is a German experimental Krautrock Musician and Composer Harmonia is a Krautrock supergroup from Germany. They formed as a collaboration between Michael Rother of Neu! and Hans-Joachim Roedelius Musik Von Harmonia is the debut album from the highly influential Krautrock / Kosmische Musik group Harmonia. Deluxe is the second album from the highly influential Krautrock / Kosmische Musik group Harmonia. This new trio also toured and a new CD drawn from this period, Live 1974 was released on the UK-based Grönland Records label on October 22, 2007 and on the San Francisco based Water Records label in the United States on December 11, 2007.  Grönland Records is an independent record label based in London England Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

After the release of the first Harmonia album and a period on tour, Rother returned to working with Klaus Dinger and an expanded Neu! lineup in order to complete his contractual obligations. Klaus Dinger was a German musician and songwriter most famous for his contributions to the seminal Krautrock outfit Neu!, and his invention of the Motorik In his absence Cluster went back to work as a duo, releasing Zuckerzeit later in 1974. Zuckerzeit is the third full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. Zuckerzeit sounds different from any other Cluster album, with clearly defined melody and beat and a rhythmic sound, at times approaching the Motorik style of Neu! Pitchfork Media places Zuckerzeit at number 63 in their "Top 100 Albums of the 1970s". Motorik is a term coined by music Journalists to describe the 4/4 beat often used by some so-called " Krautrock " bands such as Neu! and ^[15]

After the release of Deluxe Moebius, Roedelius, and Rother met in the studio again in 1976 and worked with Brian Eno. Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (born 15 May 1948 commonly known as Brian Eno (ˈiːnoʊ is an English Musician, producer The resulting album, Tracks and Traces, wasn't released until 1997. Tracks and Traces is the one and only album credited to Harmonia '76, but it is generally regarded as the third album by the highly influential Krautrock Eno had been impressed with both Musik von Harmonia and Zuckerzeit before and had joined Harmonia once on tour in 1974, jamming with the group at The Fabrik in Hamburg. Hamburg (English, German: ˈhambʊɐk local pronunciation Low German / Low Saxon: Hamborg) is the second-largest city in Germany ^[12]

In a 1997 interview, Hans-Joachim Roedelius spoke about the influence Rother had on Cluster's musical direction, on Zuckerzeit, and on subsequent releases:

"Michael, as well as Eno, gave a lot and had a certain focus regarding our common work. . . Obviously working with Michael changed my and Moebius' focus, I don't know if Michael got the same benefit from working with us as we did working with him. "^[11]

1976 - 1979 (Eno and critical acclaim)

The period from 1976 - 1979 was Cluster's most productive, with the four albums released during those four years receiving the most critical acclaim of any of Cluster's works. 1976 also marked Cluster's move to Hamburg based Sky Records. Hamburg (English, German: ˈhambʊɐk local pronunciation Low German / Low Saxon: Hamborg) is the second-largest city in Germany Sky Records Musikverlag was a Hamburg, Germany based Independent record label specializing in Krautrock / Kosmische Musik and Their first release for Sky was Sowiesoso, a highly creative album of gentler melodies recorded in just two days. Sowiesoso is the fourth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. ^[12]

In 1977 the duo joined with Brian Eno for recording sessions at Conny Plank's studio. The first release from those sessions was the even softer Cluster & Eno. Cluster & Eno is a collaborative album by the German Electronic music group Cluster and British ambient musician Guest musicians on the album included Can bassist Holger Czukay and Asmus Tietchens on synthesizer. Holger Czukay (born 24 March 1938) is a German musician probably best known as a co-founder of the Krautrock group Can. Asmus Tietchens (born 1947 Hamburg) who also records under the Monikers Hematic Sunsets and Club of Rome, is a German composer of The association with Eno brought Cluster a much wider audience and international attention. The second album drawn from the Cluster & Eno sessions, After the Heat, released on Sky in 1978, featured a much wider variety of styles, including three tracks with vocals by Eno. After the Heat is a 1978 Album by Brian Eno and both members of Cluster, namely Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius Holger Czukay again played bass on one track, "Tzima N'arki" which featured the vocals of the Eno track "King's Lead Hat" recorded backwards. ^[16] Roedelius also began releasing solo material during this period, beginning with Durch Die Wüste for Sky in 1978. Durch Die Wüste is the first full-length solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster, Harmonia ^[12]

Cluster's 1979 release Grosses Wasser was produced by ex-Tangerine Dream member Peter Baumann and once again featured a wide variety of styles, including some of the most avant-garde material since the demise of Kluster, particularly during the middle section of the title track, which occupied all of side 2. Grosses Wasser is the seventh album by the Electronic music outfit Cluster. Tangerine Dream is a German Electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. Peter Baumann (born January 29, 1953 in Berlin) formed the core line-up of the German electronic group Tangerine Dream with Edgar

1980 - 1981 (Curiosum)

On June 12, 1980 Cluster performed at the Weiner Festwochen Alternativ with Joshi Farnbauer. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The performance was recorded and released as a limited edition cassette on the British York House Records (YHR) label and later in Germany on the Transmitter label of "Grüne Kraft" owner Werner Pieper. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located York House Recordings, also known as YHR or YHR Tapes was a small British independent label which released 31 original cassettes of ^[17] This one and only Cluster & Farnbauer release was titled Live In Vienna. Live In Vienna is the eighth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster and their first and only album with Joshi Farnbauer. The style of the music is highly experimental and discordant and very reminiscent of Moebius and Roedelius' early work with Conrad Schnitzler in Kluster. Live In Vienna is the only Cluster release never reissued on CD, though two sections, each between 15 and 16 minutes long, were included as bonus tracks on the Hypnotic CD reissues of the first two Kluster albums, Klopfzeichen and Zwei-Osterei. Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles -based Independent record label.

Also in 1980, Sky Records reissued the first Cluster release with new artwork and a new title: Cluster '71. That same year, Dieter Moebius teamed with former Cluster member, engineer and producer Conny Plank on the album Rastakraut Pasta, released on Sky. Rastakraut Pasta is the first full-length album by German electronic music duo of Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank. A second Moebius & Plank album, Material was released in 1981. The duo of Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank was an offshoot of Cluster that recorded five albums between 1979 and 1986 Material is the second full-length album by German electronic music duo of Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank. See also Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 List of 'years in music'

Cluster's 1981 release Curiosum lives up to its name,^[12] with the seven tracks of offbeat and unusual melodies. Curiosum is the ninth album by the Electronic music outfit Cluster. Curiosum was Cluster's last release for Sky. It was also the final collaboration between Moebius and Roedelius before an eight year long hiatus.

1982 - 1989 (Solo Projects and Other Collaborations)

During their hiatus from Cluster both Moebius and Roedelius continued to record and tour. They produced both solo albums and collaborations with other artists.

Moebius continued to work with Conny Plank. Moebius, Plank and Guru Guru drummer Mani Neumeier recorded the African-influenced, rhythmic album Zero Set, released by Sky in 1983. Guru Guru is a German Krautrock band formed in 1968 as The Guru Guru Groove by Mani Neumeier (drums and Uli Trepte (bass Mani Neumeier ( Manfred Neumeier, born December 31 1940 in Munich) is a German rock musician Free jazz -drummer artist frontman (singer Zero Set is the one and only album by German electronic music trio of Dieter Moebius, Conny Plank, and Mani Neumeier. That same year, Moebius and Plank teamed with Mayo Thompson to record Ludwig's Law, which was not released until 1998. Mayo Thompson (born in 1944 in Houston, Texas) is an American Musician and Visual artist best known as the leader of the Avant-garde Ludwig's Law is the one and only album released by trio of Dieter Moebius, Conny Plank, and Mayo Thompson. The final Moebius & Plank collaboration, En Route was recorded in 1986 but not released until 1995 on Curious Music. En Route is the fourth full-length album released by German electronic music duo of Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank. Plank died of cancer in 1987.

Roedelius released numerous solo albums and collaborations during this period, including continuing his Selbstportrait series of introspective ambient albums. Selbstportrait is the third solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster, Harmonia, and

Sky Records, faced with no new material to release, turned to compilation albums to fill the gap. The 1984 release Stimmungen featured material from Sowiesoso and Grosses Wasser. In addition, two compilations credited to Eno, Moebius, Roedelius, and Plank, titled Begegnungen and Begegnungen II were released in 1984 and 1985 respectively. Begegnungen is a Sky Records 1984 compilation album by Brian Eno, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, and Begegnungen II is a Sky Records 1985 compilation album by Brian Eno, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, and These collections included material from Sowiesoso, Cluster & Eno and After The Heat and also contained material from Moebius and Roedelius solo albums as well as the three Moebius & Plank albums released at that time. Cluster also had their first U. S. release in 1985: Relativity Records issued Old Land, credited to Cluster and Brian Eno and containing a mix of material from Cluster & Eno and After The Heat. Relativity Records is an American Record label founded by Clive Davis. Old Land is a Relativity Records 1985 compilation album by Cluster and Brian Eno.

1989 - 1997 (Later works)

In 1989 Cluster reunited to the delight of their fans, recording Apropos Cluster in 1989 and 1990. Apropos Cluster is the ninth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster It was also their first album after an eight year long hiatus The album was released on the Curious Music label in 1991. Apropos Cluster is musically and structurally similar to Grosses Wasser, with four short tracks followed by the nearly 22 minute long, more experimental title piece. Apropos Cluster was Cluster's first album to be released initially in the U. S. , and it was followed by American reissues of their Sky and Brain catalogs during the early and mid '90s. ^[12]

Cluster's next album was the 1995 release One Hour. One Hour is the eleventh full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. This album featured a single, long musical piece, the longest ever recorded by Cluster, divided into 11 tracks on the CD. One Hour is structured much like the title track of Grosses Wasser, with short, soft melodic sections at the beginning and the end sandwiching a longer experimental central section. One Hour is the last studio album released by Cluster to date.

Cluster used the liner notes for One Hour to pay tribute to the late Konrad (Conny) Plank:

"However the most creative input and personal support over the years came from Konrad Plank, who was, in effect, a 'silent member in the background'. "^[18]

In 1996 Cluster had acclaimed concert tours in Japan as well as their first and only tour of the United States. The concert tours produced musical documents: the albums Japan 1996 Live, released on the Japanese Captain Trip label in 1997 and First Encounter Tour 1996, recorded in the United States and released on the American Purple Pyramid label, also in 1997. Japan 1996 Live is the eleventh full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. First Encounter Tour 1996 is the thirteenth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles -based Independent record label. Tim Story, best known as a keyboardist and ambient music composer, co-produced Japan 1996 Live and produced First Encounter Tour 1996, an association which would lead to later musical collaboration between Roedelius and Story. After the United States tour Roedelius and Moebius parted.

1997 - 2007 (Second hiatus)

During the decade that followed Moebius and Roedelius worked on various solo projects and collaborations.

Roedelius continued to record and tour with Aquarello, who released a self-titled live album in 1998. Aquarello was a musical group which blended Ambient music and jazz In 2000 Roedelius reunited with Kluster bandmate Conrad Schnitzler for the first time in nearly three decades. The resulting album, Acon 2000/1 was released on Captain Trip in 2001. Roedelius recorded two albums with Tim Story: The Persistence of Memory in 2000 and Lunz in 2002. A collaboration with Mott the Hoople alumnus Morgan Fisher, Neverless, was released in 2005. Mott the Hoople were a 1970s English rock band with strong R&B roots and known for being part of the popular Glam rock scene of the early Morgan Fisher (born Stephen Morgan Fisher 1 January 1950 in London) is an English keyboard player / Composer, and is most known for being a Neverless is the first and thus far only collaboration between ambient composers and musicians Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Morgan Fisher. A total of 14 solo albums and three additional collaborations were recorded by Roedelius during this period.

Moebius recorded two solo albums during his second hiatus from Cluster: Blotch in 1999 and Nurton in 2006. Moebius also performed and toured with former Harmonia band mate Michael Rother during this period. He also worked on an album by the new Krautrock supergroup Amon Guru which was released in 2007.

2007 - Present (Second Reunion)

Moebius and Roedelius reunited for a performance at the Kosmische Club in Camden, London on April 15, 2007. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. They also performed at the opening of documenta 12 on June 15, 2007 in Kassel, Germany and the fourth annual More Ohr Less festival in Lunz, Austria on August 10, 2007. documenta is an exhibition of modern and Contemporary art which now takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Kassel (until 1926 officially Cassel) is a city situated along the Fulda River in northern Hessen, Germany, one of the two sources of the Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. From September to November, 2007 Cluster had additional concert performances in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Roedelius also gave a solo concert performance in Ojai, California in the United States. Ojai (ˈoʊhaɪ is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Moebius and Roedelius have also reunited with Michael Rother and the first Harmonia concert in more than 30 years took place in Berlin on November 27, 2007. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[4]

Cluster will be performing in the United States for the first time since 1996 at the Detroit Institute of Arts on May 16, 2008 and for the No Fun Fest at the Knitting Factory in New York City on May 17, 2008^[5]. The Knitting Factory is a New York City, Hollywood, Boise, and Spokane music club and concert house originally specializing in Jazz The City of New York They will also perform four dates in California from May 22nd - May 25th. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. ^[19].

The first Cluster album since 1997 drawn from their live performance in Berlin on September 14, 2007 will be released on Important Records in Spring, 2008. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Important Records is a Record label that was created in 2001 after the management collapse of a popular North East Record shop. ^[20]

Discography

Studio albums 1971 Cluster 1972 Cluster II 1974 Zuckerzeit 1976 Sowiesoso 1977 Cluster & Eno - Recorded with Brian Eno. Cluster is the eponymous first full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. Cluster II is the second full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster and their first album with the band reduced to a duo Zuckerzeit is the third full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. Sowiesoso is the fourth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. Cluster & Eno is a collaborative album by the German Electronic music group Cluster and British ambient musician 1978 After The Heat - Recorded with Brian Eno. After the Heat is a 1978 Album by Brian Eno and both members of Cluster, namely Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius 1979 Grosses Wasser 1980 Cluster '71 (reissue of first album) 1981 Curiosum 1991 Apropos Cluster 1995 One Hour

Live albums 1980 Live In Vienna - Recorded with Joshi Farnbauer 1997 Japan 1996 Live 1997 First Encounter Tour 1996 2008 Berlin 2007 Compilation albums 1984 Begegnungen (with Brian Eno, Conny Plank) 1984 Stimmungen 1985 Begegnungen II (with Brian Eno, Conny Plank) 1985 Old Land (with Brian Eno) 2007 Box 1 (boxed set)

Notes

References

• Album liner notes
• Bush, John. All Music Guide: Cluster. Retrieved February 24, 2005.
• Bush, John All Music Guide: Harmonia. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
• Discogs Cluster & Joshi Farnbauer - Live In Vienna. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
• Freeman, Steven and Freeman, Alan The Crack In The Cosmic Egg (Audion Publications, 1996) ISBN 0-9529506-0-X. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
• Roedelius, Hans-Joachim Hans-Joachim Roedelius Official Homepage. Retrieved August 17, 2007.

External links

• Cluster on MySpace
• Cluster (band) at Discogs

Discogs, short for discographies, is a Website and Database of information about Music Recordings including commercial releases promotional

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