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VIVA

La Düsseldorf

Krautrock


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La Düsseldorf Viva album cover
3.41 | 46 ratings | 5 reviews | 17% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Studio Album, released in 1978

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Viva (2:35)
2. White Overalls (2:07)
3. Rheinita (7:40)
4. Vögel (1:30)
5. Geld (6:23)
6. Cha Cha 2000 (20:01)

Total Time: 40:14

Line-up / Musicians

- Klaus Dinger / vocals, guitars, keyboards, synth, percussion composer
- Thomas Dinger / percussion, vocals
- Hans Lampe / drums & percussion

With:
- Andreas Schell / piano (6)
- Harald Konietzko / bass (5,6)

Releases information

LP Strand ‎- 6.23626 AO (1978, Germany)
LP Teldec ‎- 2292-44113-1 (2011, Germany) Remastered

CD Strand ‎- 8.23626 (1987, Germany)
CD EastWest Records GmbH ‎- 2292-44113-2 (1997, Germany) Remastered

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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LA DÜSSELDORF Viva ratings distribution


3.41
(46 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(17%)
17%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(26%)
26%
Good, but non-essential (52%)
52%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

LA DÜSSELDORF Viva reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by philippe
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars After the excellent La Dusseldord's titled album , Klaus Dinger (Neu!) launched the "avant-garde" and disconcerted "Viva". As in the previous effort it represents a considerable advance in electronic / post rock music, notably with the inclusion of diverse sophisticated synth materials and due to the capture of several musical ideas (from electronic, minimalist, pre-punk, industrial and ambient). The problem is that the departure into protest songs is evident in a few compositions, notably in "Viva" and the long "Cha Cha"; repetitive & rhythmical bass lines with chorus whose lyrics seem to be against capitalism.a sudden anomalous reaction after their convincing debut album. This musical classification is a bit abused if we properly listen to the real musical potential of "Viva" but it can be badly perceived by those who are not familiar with Dinger's deliberately free musical universe. A few hypnotic repetitive drum parts and concrete manipulated noises show us that we are still in experimental rock music territories. In some aspects it's not fare from krautrock scene, notably from Kraftwerk & Can classic sound. A strange, unique album which successes to conciliate a wide variety of musical textures and motifs for confused, intricate compositions. A must for fans of Neu! 75 (side B) and Dusseldorf's underground rock scene.
Review by Neu!mann
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars The band La Düsseldorf (from, as you might have guessed, the city of Düsseldorf) stands in relation to its parent group NEU! like a sleek, newer model of a vintage roadster, fresh off the assembly lines in 1976. This was the sophomore effort for Klaus Dinger and company, not as strong as their self-titled debut but still another minor gem from the less traveled corners of late '70s Krautrock

Fans of NEU! will immediately recognize the automotive 4/4 beat, the ringing guitars and gentle washes of keyboard, and of course the home-made cut-and-paste cover art, a Dinger specialty years before it became a New Wave cliché. But it's a more haphazard collection of songs this time around, sounding in places not unlike outtakes from the earlier album, patched quickly together but presented with confidence and more than a little post-punk gusto.

The title track opens the album with a fuzzed-out, foot-stomping anthem, followed immediately by the equally energetic thrash of "White Overalls", a tribute to the band's stylish new uniforms. Or would it be crass to read a deeper Teutonic subtext into the title, translating "overalls" as "über alles"?

A few shorter numbers lead to the album's obvious highlight: the epic 20+ minute "Cha- Cha 2000", on the original vinyl filling all of Side Two. In true Krautrock fashion it's a schizophrenic beast: one half quintessential motorik adrenalin rush, the other half a dreamlike lullaby played on a solo piano. "The future is calling", chants Dinger throughout, and here it is: a celebration of soon-to-be modern times in pre-unification Germany, made from equal parts sleek, shiny chrome and infectious optimism.

Sample lyric: "We need better leaders, who love us and don't cheat us". Not exactly poetry, but refreshing stuff from a musician who in the past wore a punk rock sneer every bit as Vicious as Sid's. And believe it or not the words even rhyme (sort of).

The year 2000 may already be a distant memory, but the song (and the sentiment) is still ahead of its time. As was the band itself: one of the more forward-thinking outfits from an always innovative musical culture.

Review by Kazuhiro
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars The idea of the existence of La Dusseldorf and the music character will have been bands in the band from Germany activity in the early the 70's and a variety of with an indeed peculiar constitution. The idea of Klaus Dinger from Kraftwerk to Neu might be indeed advanced attended with the major break.

There might certainly have been a dissension by the member in the part besides the music character of Neu. However, the grasp of the music character that had to be aimed indeed might have suited the theory that Klaus Dinger had thought about enough. He had appointed the word that was called "Apache Beat" partially of the music character of this band. It appears remarkably exactly in the sound of the band.

The music character of La Dusseldorf will have been opening of the sense exactly. Music that pushes only the part completely refined while following the method of the music character done with Neu out forward is expressed in the album as a part where La Dusseldorf reached. Respect where decorated part is given to the directionality of 1st Album might be able to be felt in this album. And, the united directionality is carried out as music of the band.

The diversity of the sound might be introduced enough in this album. The sound that there is diversity on the nucleus of the band that has been completely established while excluding the part of the extra is introduced and the performed tune feels wide further. The part of the individuality that the member pooled for the music character done with Neu might naturally advanced to what should be of each thought music in a sense. And, the existence of La Dusseldorf would have been opening of zeal and the idea as one shape that Klaus Dinger reaches.

"Viva" starts accompanied by a complete song and the chorus. Apache Beat that Klaus Dinger advocated completely contributes to the tune. Rhythm repeatedly done. And, feelings are opened. The construction of the piled sound creates complete space.

As for "White Overalls", the element of Punk Rock might be a little strong. Beauty and destruction are involved to the guitar and the song in close relation to a piano melody. An advanced sense shows the originality of this band as original Rock.

As for "Rheinita", the piano twines round a steady rhythm with the sound of the keyboard. The flow that the sound produced with the nature of humankind everywhere while introducing an electronic sound is felt might be splendid. The sound and the rhythm of a gentle keyboard that feels peace completely have originality. The performance done while having always reached the peak and submitting the melody might be continuous of the sense. I might feel the state of the nature of humankind, feelings, and the limit. It might contain a very dangerous blissout in a good meaning.

"Vogel" contains the part of SE and advances. I might feel the part where the sense of nature and bird's cry were appointed different as a composition of the album. However, the listener will be able to feel music that they regarded by this SE and man's essences. Daily life, Usually.It is order and disorder. It is guessed that essence and an artificial part are expressed by this SE.

"Geld" starts from the sound of the shining keyboard. And, it rushes into the part of Rock attended with the sound of an intense guitar. Their music characters and ideas might have been completely established. Feelings are opened as a refined performance. The sound of the keyboard of Apache Beat that puts and shines twines well. Twining of the sound has originality though this tune has the element of Punk a little.

"Cha Cha 2000" might be one result of blocking the thought of Klaus Dinger. It is known well for the listener as a highlight of this album. The zeal of the band that tries to exceed the region of Rock completely might be blocked. The repeated melody progresses attended with peace. The song is originated in the complete sense. Repeated rhythm and melody advance consistently. The part of music and man's essences might be splendidly expressed. Their music might always be done from the state in the top. The tune has the part where the flow is interrupted on the way. The piano is does a float in the space and advances. The melody repeated before long gradually attended with the dash feeling is accompanied. The tune completely gives the listener one establishment on the top. It is a tune that involves a beautiful part and the part of the limit.

In this album, the thought of expressed Klaus Dinger might have accomplished one establishment from another angle as a music character refined from the music character that had been done with Neu further.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars It wasn't easy getting back into the groove at work after the Christmas holidays, and add on top of that that we've been taking a beating from Winter with the buses cancelled two of the five days and even closing the schools one day which hasn't happened in 40 years. My soundtrack for last week was the joyous and uplifting "Viva" from LA DUSSELDORF which certainly helped my mood. Klaus Dinger along with his brother Thomas and Hans Lampe all played on NEU !'s final studio album and so yes there is that NEU ! flavour to be found here and on the debut. I should also mention that Lampe did play with A.R. & MACHINES on percussion.

It's interesting that everywhere I look where albums are rated, the debut and "Viva" are always close in those ratings except on this site for some reason where the debut is rated much higher. I'm not sure why as I also feel both are "must haves" and similar in style and quality. This is all about the motorik beat, synths and vocals. This has been a pleasure.

"Viva" opens with a sample then the vocals and music kick in quickly. This is a short 2 1/2 minute track where the band just seems to be having too much fun. Sounds like clapping and i'm sure a lot of dancing in the studio on this one. "White Overalls" is another short one and from the pictures of the guys i've seen, white overalls were part of their "look". This one is more uptempo than the title track and it's hard not to be moving some part of my body during this joyous song. "Rheinita" opens with electronics and almost opera-like vocals that end with them echoing. The beat with synths takes over before a minute. Man this sounds so good. Relaxed but upbeat if that makes any sense. Piano to the fore after 3 minutes as it settless then it all kicks back into that fuller sound. Just a killer instrumental clocking in at over 7 1/2 minutes. The beat stops late as atmosphere ends it.

"Vogel" is less than 1 1/2 minutes of birds singing. Yes it's very calming. "Geld" is more powerful once it kicks into gear with vocals. Catchy stuff. "Cha Cha 2000" is the side long closer at almost 20 minutes and it's live. I understand they would play this live in concerts and it would go on for much longer than the 20 minute version we have here. This is a vocal track and it's the highlight of this recording in my opinion. Yes this is such a joy to listen to and even the crowd seems to be having too much fun.

The music of LA DUSSELDORF is a must for NEU ! fans or anyone into that motorik beat. A solid 4 stars.

Latest members reviews

4 stars White overalls, shouty vocals, synths, deutsche back-beat percussion, love and money, a proud working-class DIY ethic --- Klaus Dinger returns with the second La Dusseldorf album. Those who followed his musical autobahn from the first Neu! album will find much to recognise and enjoy here. 'Viva' ... (read more)

Report this review (#248211) | Posted by BeeJayMelb | Thursday, November 5, 2009 | Review Permanlink

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