Listening to Zero Set, a collaboration between Dieter Moebius (Cluster), Conny Plank, and Mani Neumeier (Guru Guru), I have the strange but simultaneous sense that it's both dated and ahead of its time. On the one hand, something about fits right in with the kind of stuff I was listening to around 1995–97, like the Macro Dub Infection compilation or any number of rhythm-forward bands who got some notice in the confluence of Tortoise/trip hop/Warp/industrial/etc. But then again that does mean it was ahead of its time, because Zero Set was recorded in 1982. 1982! This does not sound like it came from that decade.
Two reasons why this is so: first, no cheese synths wafting or plinking at the heart of these songs. (How did krautrock so easily melt into new age by the early/mid-80s?). Second, and more notably: those drums! Mani Neumeier is a monster behind the kit on this record. What gets me even more is the production of his drums. Can someone point me to a album made in 1982 or earlier that had drum sound as beautifully crisp and full as on "Speed Display"?
- Moebius Plank Neumeier: Speed Display
What a badass song, thanks for hipping me to this. I love that first Guru Guru album.
As for your question, I'd nominate Liquid Liquid, Successive Reflexes EP (1981) but it sounds like it's from the future as well.
Posted by: Alex V. Cook | June 03, 2010 at 06:56 AM
I don't know that EP - will have to look for it.
This is the best track on the MPN album, though the rest is pretty good too.
Posted by: scott pgwp | June 03, 2010 at 08:31 PM