NEU! '75

Neu! ´75 is the third studio album from German Krautrock legends Neu! I´ve only been partially impressed with their first two albums which is mostly due to the tracks that IMO, are more sound experiements than real songs. It´s an aquired taste if you enjoy those avant garde experiements but I´m one of those that don´t. On the other hand there were some really great songs on those albums too with relentless driving krautrock beats and psychadelic elements. I enjoyed those songs greatly so I came to this third album with biased feelings. I didn´t quite know what to expect. Fortunately I´ve been positively surprised as Neu! 75 is by far their most accessible and exciting release out of the first three. It´s a quite varied album and we get to hear all the good sides of the band and very few of the bad ( the noisy sound experiments).

The story goes that Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother agreed on a compromise before recording the album. Michael Rother wanted a conservative soft approach to the music in accordance with the most melodic material from the previous albums while Klaus Dinger wanted a more edgy and raw sound. As a consequence of their musical differences the songs on side one of the original LP ( Isi, Seeland, Leb´ Wohl) are the most melodic while the songs on side two of the original LP ( Hero, E-Musik, After Eight) are far more aggressive and edgy. Klaus Dinger even shifts from his usual position behind the drums to guitar on the songs on side two while his brother Thomas Dinger and Hans Lampe plays the drums.

Isi and Seeland are both melodic and pleasant songs. The piano and synths are a great addition to Neu!´s sound. Leb´ Wohl sounds like an early example of post rock to me. Very minimalistic and ambient with some soft vocals. Very repetitive but also greatly emotional. I usually don´t have the patience for songs like this, but in the context of this album it sounds great. Side two of the album starts with Hero which is a raw punk like song with shouting vocals. Proto punk if you will but still with that great relentless krautrock beat. Lots of distorted guitar on this one. E-Musik is the longest track here with it´s 10:50 minutes and probably the most experimental track as well. Great driving beat for the first 6-7 minutes and for the last minutes the dreaded sound experiments arise. But here it fits and even though this is my least favorite section of the album I´m not as annoyed by it as I was with the experiments on the first albums. After Eight ends the album with what I would almost characterise as industrial rock. I´m reminded of a band like Ministry or Killing Joke at times even though After Eight isn´t as heavy of course.

The musicianship is excellent. The choice of sounds and the skills of the musicians are very interesting and enjoyable.

The production is absolutely wonderful. Warm when it needs to be and raw and edgy when that is needed.

Neu! 75 has swept my feet away. It´s not that I don´t aknowledge the great importance and groundbreaking nature of their first two albums, but this one suits my taste so much more. A sure 4 star rating IMO.