NEU! '75

4.5 stars.This is my favourite NEU! album, even surpassing their debut in my opinion. It just blows my mind how influential this record was. The different styles like ambient, Proto-Punk and New Wave are all evident on this album. I can't imagine how many bands must have been influenced by their sound. The band (Rother and Dinger) had actually split up, but reunited for this final offering.The first 3 tracks are Rother compositions, while the final 3 are Dinger songs.The first half is mellow and the second half is quite aggressive. So why couldn't they get along ? Haha.

"Isi" has a great beat, with synths that sounds so eighties that you woudn't believe it was from 1975. "Seeland" sees the band slowing things down as percussion, gentle guitar and electronics drift along. This is very relaxing, and it ends with the sounds of pouring rain and thunder. "Leb Wohl" is a brilliant,ambient tune that features the sounds of waves rolling in as piano is gently and slowly played. Percussion joins in before the almost whispered vocals arrive.THE USE OF ASHES from The Netherlands along with many other like bands had to have been influenced by this piece of music.

"Hero" has an awesome beat as the drums are pounded steadily. The vocals are yelled in a Punk-like fashion,reminding me a little of Jagger. Very catchy. The beat stops 6 minutes in as the sounds of birds chirping carry on to end the song. "E-Musik" reminds me a little of CAN with that infectious beat. This continues for 7 minutes when it stops and is replaced by the blowing wind. Eventually we can hear the faint sounds of piano and percussion. "After Eight" sounds like "Hero" with the yelled vocals and uptempo beat. The guitar is raw as the drums pound away.

Influencial is the word, and that is what makes this such a special record. Well worth checking out to hear it for yourself.