NEU! 75

Have you ever been showering late at night with your grandmother and accidentally slipped over causing your face to press snugly against her vulva? This record felt like that wholesome family moment. Like a hugging embrace from an old friend...who's a massive racist.Like using a dildo for the first time, but it's a hand-me-down from your brother. Interesting, but perverse.

Fresh, bold, daring, expansive... and never dull. "Neu! 75" cements Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger as two of the coolest, most forward-thinkers in rock. There are just six tracks here, and each one of them is a fully realised sonic world, offering a unique view of this extraordinary band. It's a cross-roads of different styles at the midpoint of the 1970s, indicating the different routes popular music was about to split off into. We begin with "Isi" and "Seeland", two instrumentals that are calm in tone, with very simple repeated melodic figures on synth, piano and guitar. They're psychedelic leaning, with hints of early 70's space-rock, but nothing ever falls apart or loses control. The air is cool, detached, and utterly captivating: simplicity is key, a firm tonal centre is key, and a steady tempo is key. While these tracks still offer strong melodic hooks, they're perfect exercises in restraint. In fact, vocals don't enter the mix at all until some semi-spoken word declarations in "Leb' Wohl". This piece is so beautiful, so stirring in its two piano chords and the space it affords, that its nine minute length is not an issue. It's meditative and contemplative, and it feels like an early foray into ambient that Brian Eno would later capitalise upon. The second half is driven by more energy, heightened aggression. Klaus Dinger takes the lead. We get the jagged edges of punk (and even post-punk prior to punk) with its bellowed vocals and abrasive instrumentation. Really though, it's just a warm-up to the sublime proto-industrial "E-Musik", with its liberal use of flange and its propulsive, motorik beat so relentless it feels like it could be a drum machine, and finally the blistering hard-rock of "After Eight". By the time this closer hits (by Neu's standards, out-and-out anthemic punk) it feels like a full-blown catharsis. It's the moment everything comes together. There are so many highlights across the record, but my favourites per side are "Leb' Wohl" and "After Eight" (honorable mentions to "Isi" and "E. Musik") This album is just missing out on 5* owing to "Hero" and "Seeland" not being quite up to the same standards as the other tracks, but it's a 9/10 for sure. Very grateful to have been introduced to this album and it's absolutely one I'll be spending a lot of time with.

It feels like the building blocks for something, but not super exciting on its own.

This, boys and girls, is why it's important to listen to an album all the way through before rating it. I was pleasantly surprised by the first three tracks of this six-track album. They're chill but interesting melodic soundscapes and they made a nice backdrop to my morning. Unfortunately, those first three tracks are followed by 20+ minutes of incoherent screaming and mind-numbingly repetitive drums that utterly tanked the album for me.

Another sort of "whatever" album. It's decent electronic rock to have on in the background, but it's entirely forgettable.

An interesting album, divided in two halves between a solid atmospheric electronica style and an electronic rock style. Both are really good halves, and are worth listening to even if you're not particularly into either genre.

My husband described it as golfing music. I hate golfing. Still oddly pleasant to listen to this, though.

What an influence for all of my influencers. This was great

I guess it was cutting edge in 1975.

Oh boy, 2 German albums in 2 days. Guten Morgen! Ich möchte ein Mokka. Wo ist mein Auto? Little taken aback by this; it’s super easy to trace this to other albums I adore: obviously David Bowie’s “Heroes”, but also the gentle minimalism of Architecture & Morality & Music for Airports. At the same time, it’s got a swagger level somewhere between the Rolling Stones & the Clash. These things should cancel each other out, but they don’t. Hypnotic, addictive listen April 30, 2024

This album is something! Given it was released in 1975, it is basically (correct me if I'm wrong) post-punk that was recorded before punk. Legit stuff that reminded me of some later records I sincerely love. Highlights: Hero and After Eight.

A good listen on the whole. Unfamiliar with Neu but enjoyed the techno/ambient flavour of this album, especially the hypnotic Seeland. Some elements of proto-punk here too - Hero has a feel of the Stranglers to it

The first theee songs sound like they could be the background to a guided meditation. Nothing special, but pleasant listening. The next three songs erase any good will and totally shift gears. More electronic, more upbeat, more lyrics (barely). Two halves, neither of which did anything amazing for me.

10 Albums You Actually Need to Hear Before You Die Chapter 10 Perfekter Klang Für Immer: “NEU! ‘75” by NEU! There’s a freedom to being on an open road, getting your car up to (or past) the speed limit and watching the painted lines of the roadway scroll past continuously as you’re propelled forward. In your peripheral vision, the scenery starts to blur: trees, buildings, other cars are no longer permanent - they coalesce and fade into the background as you pass them by at speeds you could never accomplish on your own. You’re left to focus intently on what is front of you, the bends in the road lead you to your destination and the things around you are left to the ether. It can be a calming, nearly meditative experience. Neu! is the musical embodiment of that sensation: Their repetitive drums and minimalist rhythm guitar push the songs forward. All around that rhythm, bubbling synths, reversed guitars, piano, vocals and other sounds swell, then fade in and out of focus, as the rhythm continues chugging along…. It is a truly beautiful thing to me. Following a stint in an early incarnation of Kraftwerk, Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger started Neu! in 1971 and released their first self-titled album in 1972 (Neu! ‘72, as it’s known by fans, as means of differentiating it from this record). Its opening track, “Hallogallo”, is pretty much Krautrock’s national anthem, if such a thing is even possible. Its pulsating “motorik” groove is probably the most recognizable and defining characteristic of the genre: a simple, repetitive and driving drum beat that propels the song forward, seemingly forever. An argument can be made that Neu! ‘72 is the album that should be on this list, just for the sheer influence it has had and I would not argue with that opinion. Neu ‘75, their final offering (at least until a scrapped mid 80’s album - Neu! 4/Neu! ‘86 - appeared in the mid 90’s), is less collaborative than its predecessors and ends up being a bit like two mini-solo albums: one from Rother and one from Dinger. Rother’s side of the album is decidedly more ethereal, taking Neu’s sound towards more ambient and pastoral psychedelia, while Dinger’s half is more earthbound, aggressive and wild. While disparate in its approach, Neu! ‘75 is still an overarching encapsulation of Neu’s approach to their music. The propulsive drums, experimentation and hypnotic psychedelic sound that characterized their first two records are all here. ‘75 also serves as a glimpse of what was to come from Rother and Dinger: Rother would go on to further explore ambient music and refine the pastoral psych found here on Neu ‘75, first by joining up with Cluster to form Harmonia and then as a solo artist. Dinger would start a new band, La Düsseldorf, that would further expand on the swirling, guitar psych-punk on his side of the record. Even though the two might have appeared to be polar opposites in 1975, the sound of Neu! was still readily apparent in the music Rother and Dinger made after their split. Concurrently, their influence grew more and more with the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth, Stereolab and countless other others praising their work. Because of that, Neu’s sound never really ended, it just became bigger and more expansive. (Recommended additional listening, if you are so inclined: NEU! - NEU! ‘72, Harmonia - Musik Von Harmonia, La Düsseldorf - VIVA, Michael Rother - Flammende Herzen)

I'm not sure what just happened. The first time through, listening - distracted - in my car, I was ready to write it off after Seeland. But the moaning in Let' wohl was interesting. As I was getting out, Hero caught my ear. So next morning I pulled out my headphones, laid down on the couch, and restarted it. I had this deeply-felt quasi-religious experience. I didn't swoon or get amped up or laugh or cry. It was subtle. I felt secure, expansive, hopeful. Honestly, WTF. Why I love certain music and not others is as mysterious as why I love certain people. But when you find that special one, and it clicks, you just thank the Gods and celebrate life. (Note - if you're interested in liking this album, listen on a dedicated stereo or headphones in a quiet place. The magic is in the mids which get swallowed by background noise, and are underrepresented on bluetooth and soundbar speakers.)

The reason I have started this challenge was to find new music. Well I'm happy I have found Neu! because I was really looking forward to hearing something new.

Fantastic album! Great music to just sit back and reflect. Any album that features waves crashing can do this for you. The order of tracks was very well done as they flow into each other pretty seamlessly and build to a climactic ending. For example, first couple track have no lyrics. Then the middle tracks featured just small little pieces of vocals here and there. And then the back half showcase the vocals pretty heavily. I also really dig how the opener sounded like something you’d hear on Rainbow Road in Mario Kart. This is definitely one I’ll be running back in the future

Kolejna niemiecka pozycja w tym tygodniu, ale nie jest to jedyna rzecz laczaca ten album z kraftwerkiem, oba zespoly nagrywaly z legendarnym w tamtych czasach Connym Plankiem, ktory byl chocby jedna z osob stojacych za sukcesem autobahna, tym razem trafilo na hardy kraut, wiec blizej mainstreamowym gatunkom muzycznym eksperymentalnie progresywnemu rokowaniu, ale jednak jest w tym cos o wiele bardziej czarujacego i tajemnicznego, bo jednak jest to muzyka z starego kontynentu, ktora jednak byla influencyjna na tak mainstreamowych tworcow tego okresu jak chocby pan Bowie i jego trylogia berlinska, gleboko czerpiaca z dorobku takich zespolow jak neu, nawet tytul srodkowego albumiku trylogii berlinskiej nawiazuje do openingowego traka b sajda dzisiejszej plyty, wiec neu!'75 jak sam tytul wskazuje wydanego w 75, 42 minuty, 6 trakow i idealna rownowana pomiedzy strona a i b, prawdziwy muzyczny jin i jang, pierwsza strona spokojna, niekiedy nawet melancholijna przez te deszczowe brzmienia oraz motyw przewodni calego nagrania, wiec rozlaki, bo otwierajacy isi, to zdrobnienie od izabeli, kolejny na plejliscie utwor seeland, wiec calkiem samotlumaczacy, jako kraina do ktorej iza pojechala, a zamykajacy pierwsza czesc leb' wohl na polski oznacza zegnanko, druga czesc rowniez zawiera slady tego motywu juz w samym hero, ktory jest najbardziej lirycznym trakiem calej plyty jest wspomniany wyjazd do norwegii jakiegos skarbeczka, ale to jak obie strony sie roznia jest czyms pieknym, hero nie ma w sobie nic z ambientowego grania do ktorych przez pierwsze dwadziescia minut czlowiek sie przyzwyczail, a atakuje ostrymi gitarami dzwiekami, ktore sa w pewnym sensie petane przez lagodne synthy, dodatkowo drumsy, ktore graja pierwszo planowa role na drugiej stronie, dodatkowo wokale ktore rowniez biora z zaskoczenia, a przypominaja jak cos co mozna bylo uslyszec pozniej u sex pistolsow czy stogesow, wiec proto punk kipi z drugiej strony tego materialu, oczywiscie liryka po anglinsku jak przystalo na jakosciowego krauta, ktory sluchany byl globalnie, a nie tylko lokalnie, na plejke wrzuce openingowe utwory obu stron zeby podkreslic dualizm tej plyty nawet na plejce, jesli mialyby grac po sobie oba traki, ale cala plyta leci na poleczke spotifajowa, bo album nagrany z zamyslem zeby przesluchac od poczatku do konca zeby poczuc roznice jak roznorakie oblicza moze posiadac jeden material, a nadal trzymac sie jednego konceptu

I listened to this one with Julianne and it was incredibly soothing for the a side and a lot more engine like and moving on the b side. I loved the imagery that this was able to keep consistently in my head with its ambient passages and incredibly clever use of different tones

This one is completely new to me, both the album and the band. What a gorgeous song the opener Isi is. Reminded me of a band I saw a few times in college called Perpetual Groove - it’s cool to hear sounds from a band I’ve never heard of from an album from the 70’s sound so familiar. I loved the album front to back, at times it’s not exactly cohesive but the variety in sound and style doesn’t hurt the album too much. My only real exposure to “krautrock” before this was Kraftwerk, who is tremendous, but this is different and a step closer to prog I think. It also reminds me of moments you hear in some of King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard’s albums - a great compliment from me. Overall a great album that is immediately accessible in the right setting but probably rewards many listens.

The Good: Minimalist album cover! The Bad: Minimalist music… The Ugly: the mislabeling of this album being “Krautrock” which this isn’t at all. Never heard of this group before, and have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Sound-wise, one could argue that they are ahead of their time, like contemporary artists such as Kraftwerk et al Will dish out 3* as I don’t believe this album will become part of frequent listens, however, worth a spin once a year...

J'ai pensé à détacher crisdusseld le temps d'écouter cet album originaire de sa terre natale et puis je me suis souvenu de l'ordure qu'il était.

What is noise? What is music? When does noise become music? That seems to be the thesis of this album. Data point to consider: chainsaws are not music. Also the last "song" sucked. Like what am I even listening to? I'm sure other artists have sampled from this record since it's basically a library of sound.

Comme vous le savez tous, je me suis reveillé ce matin de très mauvaise humeur, la faute au service e-banking de ma banque UBS ayant décidé de ne pas fonctionner au moment exact où j'en ai besoin. Ce n'est certainement pas cette parodie musicale qui aura réussi à rehausser mon humeur, 45mn d'allemand se prennant pour des esthètes musicaux, qui ne proposent pourtant qu'une soupe de sons fort peu ragoutante. J'espère ne jamais vous retrouver dans ce génèrateur

So good. I want to bottle this album and drink it for breakfast every morning. A delightful balance of simple and complex.

A 180, list! Is this better or as good as Neu!? Unknown. Is this better or as good as Neu! 2? Better, I mean we all know this. But yes Virginia there is Neu and they’re great. Amen.

I remember many years ago, stumbling across Neu! in a record store. Their three albums were all reissued on the American label Astralweks. They all had stickers on the packaging with quotes from artists I loved praising the music. "Who is this and why I have never heard of them??" I thought. I wish I could remember who the quotes were from but a quick search confirms that Bowie, Radiohead, Sonic Youth and Stereolab were among their impressive fan base. Now I'm much more familiar with them, particularly this incredible album. Neu! were a massive influence on Bowie's work in the late 70s, including "Station to Station", "Low", and particularly "Heroes". Neu! were an off shoot of an early version of Kraftwerk and during their few years on the scene, they were a major player in the music scene of West Germany in the 70s. They were rival Kraftwerk for the heavy use of synthesizers and motorik rhythms. But while Kraftwerk would soon abandon any semblance of nature life to masquerade as robots, Neu! managed to bring humanity with them into the future. Less novel, to be sure, but also more challenging. As the two members were torn on whether to emphasize synths or guitars, they each got to take the lead on a side. But such was their work together that you can easily not notice when the transition happens if you're not paying attention. "Neu! 75" remains an unheard classic that's still reverbing through modern music today.

mix of classic rock and new.

This was fookin' great, especially for 1975. Loved the contrast between the atmospheric soundscapes and the punk on either side of the album.

I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did

So good. Little more rock than their first ones. Very loose but still on point.

Hadn't heard this before being more familiar with Can and Kraftwerk. A record of two halves with the first three tracks being ambient and minimal and the second half being more traditional song/groove led.

Vibing

Great ambience. Wow, I'm pretty speechless on this album. It either speaks to you or it doesn't

i had no idea what to expect but i really like this!! having read up on it, it seems to have been really influential. i liked that the two band members wanted to do different things so side A is one style and side B is another style. i love this. g’wan then! take my 5.

This was fantastic. I read some reviews that said the second side let down the first, but I had the opposite experience. There was an enticing blend of space rock and proto-punk that shifted gears as the album progressed. I got some heavy Hawkwind vibes from some of the tracks, particularly Hero, which was the high point for me. This will go on rotation for me now, and it's an easy 5 star album. I was so impressed that I went and listened to Neu! 72, which I also liked, but not quite as much (would have been 4 stars I feel). So many influences from both albums that it felt like this was the missing part of a puzzle for me.

**In-Depth Review of NEU! '75 by Neu!** Neu! '75, released in 1975, is the third and final studio album by the German krautrock band Neu!, consisting of Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother. The album is notable for its split personality, reflecting the creative tensions between the two members. It stands as a landmark in experimental rock, influencing punk, post-punk, ambient, and electronic music. This review will analyze the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, followed by a summary of its pros and cons. --- ## Lyrics Neu! '75 is unusual in that much of the album is instrumental or features minimal, non-traditional vocals. The lyrics appear primarily on Side Two, dominated by Klaus Dinger’s vocal contributions. Unlike conventional singing, Dinger’s delivery is often snarling, spoken, or breathy, adding a confrontational and raw edge to the music. - **Leb' Wohl** features breathlessly spoken vocals layered under a slow piano and ambient sounds of the sea, creating a fragile, melancholic atmosphere. The words are difficult to discern but suggest themes of lost love and acceptance, with a haunting, intimate feel[3]. - **Hero**, the centerpiece of Side Two, features Dinger’s aggressive, insolent vocal style, embodying a proto-punk attitude. The lyrics and delivery evoke a sense of struggle and defiance, resonating with the punk ethos that would emerge shortly after[1][3]. - Overall, the lyrics are sparse and cryptic, serving more as an atmospheric or emotional texture rather than narrative storytelling. This approach enhances the album’s experimental nature and highlights the tension between the band’s two creative forces. --- ## Music Musically, Neu! '75 is divided into two distinct halves that showcase the contrasting styles of Rother and Dinger. - **Side One (Rother’s influence)** is characterized by clean, melodic, and ambient soundscapes. Tracks like **Isi** and **Seeland** feature the iconic *motorik* beat—a steady, hypnotic 4/4 rhythm that drives the music forward with mechanical precision. Rother’s guitar and keyboard work are bright and euphoric, creating pastoral and spacious sound worlds that evoke open fields and blue skies[3][4]. - **Seeland** is a seven-minute ambient piece that anticipates Brian Eno’s later work, blending minimalism with a serene, almost hypnotic mood[1][3]. - **Side Two (Dinger’s influence)** contrasts sharply, with a harder, more aggressive rock sound. The music is raw, noisy, and confrontational, with distorted guitars and pounding drums. **Hero** exemplifies this side’s punk energy, with Dinger stepping out from behind the drum kit to deliver snarling vocals and abrasive textures[3][4]. - This duality between ambient and punk aesthetics makes the album unique, though it also reflects the fractured relationship between the band members. --- ## Production The album was produced by Conny Plank, a legendary figure in krautrock production. His role was crucial in balancing the disparate elements and guiding the band through their creative tensions. - The production on Side One is clean and understated, emphasizing clarity and space. Effects like ethereal voices and field recordings (rainstorm, sea sounds) are woven into the mix to enhance the atmospheric quality[3]. - Side Two’s production is more raw and immediate, capturing the energy and aggression of Dinger’s punk-inflected tracks without smoothing over their rough edges[3][4]. - The album’s production quality has been praised for its agelessness and influence on subsequent genres, from ambient to industrial music[3][4]. - Despite the quality, the album was a commercial failure at release, partly due to the band’s internal conflicts and financial difficulties[3]. --- ## Themes Neu! '75 explores several themes through its music and minimal lyrics: - **Duality and Conflict:** The album’s split personality mirrors the creative and personal tensions between Rother and Dinger. Side One’s serene, melodic sound contrasts with Side Two’s aggressive, punk attitude, embodying a clash of musical philosophies[3][4]. - **Futurism and Mechanization:** The *motorik* beat symbolizes a mechanized, forward-driving force, evoking images of progress and industrial landscapes. This theme resonates with the broader krautrock movement’s fascination with technology and modernity[4]. - **Alienation and Urban Angst:** Especially on Side Two, the music and vocals convey a sense of urban darkness and existential struggle, prefiguring punk’s themes of alienation and rebellion[3]. - **Nature and Space:** Side One’s pastoral and ambient textures evoke natural landscapes and open spaces, providing a counterpoint to the mechanized rhythms and urban tension on the other side[3]. --- ## Influence Neu! '75 has had a profound and lasting influence on various music genres and artists: - The *motorik* beat pioneered here became a foundational rhythm for krautrock and influenced bands like Kraftwerk, Joy Division, and later post-punk and indie rock acts[1][4]. - Brian Eno cited Neu! as a key influence on his ambient work and the Bowie/Eno “Berlin Trilogy” albums (Low, Heroes, Lodger), with *Neu! '75* particularly inspiring the blend of ambient and rock elements[1]. - The aggressive, punk-inflected Side Two anticipated the rise of punk rock and post-punk, influencing artists such as Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols), Public Image Ltd, Sonic Youth, and Primal Scream[1][3][4]. - The album’s experimental approach to sound manipulation and remixing foreshadowed later developments in industrial music, electronic music, and post-rock[4]. - Despite initial commercial failure, Neu! '75’s reputation grew over time, becoming a cult classic and a touchstone for experimental and alternative musicians[3][4]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Innovative blend of ambient and punk styles | Split personality can feel disjointed | | Iconic *motorik* beat that influenced many | Sparse, cryptic lyrics may alienate some | | High-quality, ageless production by Conny Plank | Commercial failure at release limited exposure | | Atmospheric, evocative soundscapes on Side One | Side Two’s rawness may be challenging for some listeners | | Pioneering use of sound effects and remix techniques | Band’s internal conflict evident in the music | | Deep influence on punk, post-punk, ambient, and electronic music | Lack of synthesis between the two sides’ styles | --- ## Conclusion Neu! '75 is a seminal album that captures the creative tensions between Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, resulting in a work of striking duality. Its innovative use of the *motorik* beat, ambient textures, and proto-punk aggression marks it as a milestone in 1970s experimental rock. The album’s production by Conny Plank enhances its timeless quality, while its themes of futurism, conflict, and alienation resonate through decades of music history. Though its split nature can make it feel uneven, and its minimal lyrics may not appeal to all, Neu! '75’s influence on a wide range of genres and artists—from Brian Eno and David Bowie to punk and post-punk bands—cements its status as a masterpiece of the krautrock era and beyond.

This album sounds waaay ahead of 1975. It deserves much plaudits for that fact alone. I am into this. One of the most exciting completely new albums for me in a minute. Fave Tracks: Isi, Seeland, Hero 4.7/5

Incredible, I definitely have to listen to their entire discography now. Very influential on basically all the electronic and instrumental artists I listen to right now. ML #115

This album is really amazing. First listen all I could think about were the negative things: mostly the vocals in “leb’ wohl”, the (at first glance) lack of coherency between the front and back. After the second listen I was thinking “this is some kind of masterpiece!” “Isi” has a sweetness and beauty on top of that motorik drumming, it’s hypnotic, charming music. Then “Seeland,” this epic journey, organic and evocative. Hero is clearly the song that Public Image was born from, a stunning proto-punk statement coming from NEU! of all people. “E-music” ties this all together with equal parts hypno-psychedelic and the chugging motor-beat that defines krautrock. What a fine flange-tastic way to spend ten minutes. Then we get launched off of whatever planet this was by “After Eight,” another rocker the predicts the most exciting post-punk. This is great. My new favorite album.

I don’t think anyone else has made a song as good as Isi. Doesn’t feel as disjointed as it should do, with both sides of the album having almost completely different creative direction. I think this is slightly better than Neu! 72, because it doesn’t have any bad songs on it, although Negativland is another all-time song for me.

This opening track gets going. Reminds me of road trip montage music for a PG rated movie from the 1970s or 1980s. Track 2 keeps it up really cool intro. Cool vibe throughout. Track 3 is so calming. Solid vibe. Track 4 is not my favorite but it's cool that it is like proto punk and inspired other artists. Track 5 is another good driving song. Track 6 another with a proto punk thing. Like it a bit more than Track 4. This is a really cool album overall especially for 1975. I had never heard of this before. I'm not sure yet if this will stick with me, but I think it's just a tight little album. I really like it.

Fav: After Eight Least Fav: E-Musik This was something NEU! to me, and it was a pleasant surprise

A nije dobar ko prvi ali je svejedno genijalan album. Krautrock iznad svega ❤️

Amazing soundscape. Feels like it influenced a lot of music coming after it, especially post-punk and post-rock

kinda got down with this heavy. Will I listen to again: 100%

Ótrúleg plata sem hefur haft gríðarleg áhrif á tónlistarheiminn síðan. Pönk, post pönk, Bowie, Sigurrós. Áhrifin eru út um allt. Sjöan var mjög tónlistarlega frjó í Þýskalandi.

Loved it. Decided it was 5star by track 3. This should be much more widely known than it is.

Never heard of them before.

God I love krautrock

Not as good as the first one but still one of the best krautrock records ever!

Fantastic

Genuinely loved this. Side A and Side B are considerably divergent, but both are delightful to listen to. It's hard to imagine that this was made in 1975. What made executive take such risks producing albums that were so obviously incongruent for their time? I'm glad they did.

I LOVED THIS

Great

loved it

This might be my favorite Neu! album (Neu! 2 is the other potential option). It's pretty consistent with the other work that the band was doing during the first half of the 70s. It's fucking great. Just solid toe-tapping jams propelled forth by the driving drum beat. I think you could easily make a case that other Krautrock bands were better than Neu, but Neu remains a very accessible way to get into the genre and provides a ton of useful context for what other German bands were doing in this period 5/5

Whoa, this is a cool album. Never heard of this band before now but they are going onto my rotation.

Loved it. Something I could listen to as background music or with focused intention. Will definitely be coming back to this one.

As others have noted, the two sides differ quite a bit in general tone. This album, along with other Neu! albums and with other German bands of the period have had a big influence on later bands, particularly in the general post-punk genre and beyond. Neu! 75 is a really absorbing album.

Unironically one of my favourite albums of the tour so far, mostly because I would've never heard of it before. Incredibly ahead of its time, it sounds like it came out in the last decade and not 1975, and despite being progressive rocky it actually manages to accomplish that meditative/instrumental rock style of pink floyd without the pretention

Better than expected

All good things must come to an end. The black backdrop and the scrawled white lettering of Neu's name marked a contrast from the prior two albums and it informed the audience that things were not all that one brained. Which was for the best considering the different styles on display. Melodic, soothing ambiance followed by surging, ferocious rock and roll made for a kind of whiplash only innovative German musicians could conjure up so that plenty of other acolytes can soon mine for their own sonic adventures. From Dusseldorf back to Norway, just another hero riding through the night.

Despite it's age this album still sounded remarkable fresh and modern to me. A great combination of Low-fi and Electronic!

The thing I love about this album is the way you can picture the ideal listening locale: a beige 70s lounge with a lava lamp and a record player and a pack of Gauloises. It just moves.

I love an album title that incorporates the year it was made… This album started off very, very strong for me. I loved the opening track Isi. Such a pleasant and lovely song. Seeland was pretty nice as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed floating around in Leb’ Wohl’s ticking-background world. Side 1 had me all in! Side 2 opens with Hero’s rockin’ guitar that totally changed the mood, but I could still feel the sound of side 1 sneaking in and around the edges. It was different but still felt familiar. The drums really carried the day on E-Musik. It sort of put me in a trance. Powerful human drumming really added to this electronic music. Then it ends on such a desolate and cold note… more ticking… kind of wonderful. The closing number, After Eight, seems like it could have been a cacophonous mess, but instead sort of cleared my mind and left me feeling like I was in a gently pleasant place. I think I love this album. Not something for all occasions, but today it really took me away.

I'd heard of this band before, but I'd not listened to any of their albums. Wikipedia gives the genre as "Kosmische Musik", a term used before "KrautRock". As a fan of Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, I liked this album, although it's closer to the latter than the former. Side 1 is more ambient than side 2 which has more of a rock feel to it and reminded me of Hawkwind.

Listened thru it 5 times too short I LOVE IT

This tickled an itch in my brain in the best way possible. What in the Arcade Fire/Rolling Stones/Joy Division??? It's like a blend of genres that I already like, and the soundscapes were a nice, unexpected touch.

Part ambient, part repetitive, driving rock. Mostly instrumental, brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness. The 10 minute closing track might be the best part. Doesn't feel old at all.

Loved 🥰 this album

I like it. It wasn’t what I expected. Not sure what I expected. But that wasn’t it. Yeah, I liked it.

Phenomenal Krautrock record. I listened to this driving across the desert and it ruled!

Very nice ambient ! The album is like a journey

After a rough mishap with the recording of neu 2's b side, neu finally apply everything I feel like they worked out on the two records. Psychedelia, proto punk, and even ambient are wonderfully tied together by Dinger's signature drumming. It's pretty amazing how good this turned out.

I like how this album starts out on a very meditative vibe then builds addding minimal vocals until we are full on rocking with some bangers at the end.

Simple as lightning Beats and sounds rain down your ears Engineered nature

Seems to be two bands! First we get three atmosperic songs, hallucinating and minimalLeb Wohl seemed like Einstuerzende Neubauten, with Blixa Bargeld singing. But that was 20 years later! Neu=pioneers! Then suddenly Hero, punkrock with the singer singing like later Johnny Rotten or The Fall's Mark E Smith later did. Or even Pixies singer. One of best albums so far of the 400 of so I listened to already on 1001 list. Gonna listen to more Neu music.

first song done and this is just fantastic

This was a great ride. Played it and played it again and played it again. Loved the driving beat on ISI. Seeland a slow burn, and E-Musik just a blast. Doesn't sound like 70s.

As always such a pleasure to listen to Krautrock heros like NEU! Smooth, soft, and hypnotic each track speaks to a world that was goign to be shiny and new after the horrors of WW2.

Beautiful!

This is among my favorite albums of all time. Whenever I return to these timeless musical landscapes, I want to stay in them forever. I also love their story. The main two members, Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, were so very different from each other, nearly polar opposites. Dinger, an intense, manic, extrovert type, and Rother a more reflective, gentle soul. They didn't even particularly get along well, but I think their willingness to respect each others talents, and commit to finding a middle ground, despite their differences, is sort of remarkable in the egocentric world of music. I'd venture to guess their producer Conny Plank had a huge role in being a buffer between them, harnessing that tension, and finding the common ground that he could weave into a more cohesive whole. Together they developed a relatively simple, but unique formula, which centered around Dinger's propulsive motorik beat, like some kind of nuclear fission engine, and Rother's elegant and versatile guitar musings. Each song is a journey, ever moving forward. And like all the best Krautrock, you can hear them searching for their own sound as they go. I like all of their albums, but this one is by far their most refined. Solid from top to bottom, bearing songs that reflect each of their personalities and inclinations. The duality that they embody here is what I am so drawn to. It's as if they are able to capture two perspectives simultaneously like some kind of impossible MC Escher drawing going off into infinity. Dinger throwing his hat in the proto-punk ring is the cherry on top.

This was a really welcome surprise. I didn't know what to expect, but being someone who likes early electronic music especially Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre, I loved this. Will definitely listen again, and will search out other music from them.

Leb’ Wohl is a bit too long and I don’t like the vocals. That’s about all I have against the album, it’s very good.

I completely understand that this album was not met with popular success based on the brief band bio on Spotify. That said, holy shit. This is an amazing album which I've listened to 3 times in the past two days. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. Everything about this sound is incredible. Atmospheric, electronic, cryptic, drum heavy, guitar driving. Absolutely loved it. I found that first track to be loaded with compassion and enthusiasm.

Is this really 'Krautrock'? Not sure this is romper stomper music it's more like Stereolab and Brian Eno discovered their long lost father. Regardless of whatever it's been labeled, it's really nice. Theres's some variety there with some hard stuff thrown in closer to the end, but the droning ambience of Neu! is really enjoyable. Evidently, both Dinger and Rother were early members of Kraftwerk which I never thought I'd appreciate, however the fondness I've got for NEU! 75 has inspired me to give them another listen.

Recently got way into krautrock and liked Can a lot, especially Future Days. Also some of Cluster's stuff. This is right in line! I'm excited to check it out completely... First two tracks I'm already sold, Seeland especially is just a vibe. Especially the end with the rain... this is so good! Also, end of Hero with the airplane. Love the inclusion of field recordings. Especially for 1975, this was so influential! I was digging the spacey music and then Hero kicks in and wakes you up! I didn’t really appreciate that song before, but in context it’s pretty cool. Just based on its influence, recording quality, and my personal preference, this is an easy 4. Maybe even a 4.5, but I need to make sure that's not just recency bias kicking in, since I've been getting into this music much more lately.

This might have been a 4 start record if I was already familiar with it. How have I never heard this? 5 stars to 1001albumsgenerator for telling me about it.

amazing album

Still fresh after almost 50 years. Neu! is a building block for so many of my favorite bands; I feel like if anything, their influence on psych/experimental music has only gotten stronger. Really have no complaints. This thing is phenomenal and covers so much ground.

Beautiful album. Leb’wohi was a little too atmospheric to the point of being dull, but everything else was excellent. Some tracks were punk, some were Kraftwerk jr in the best way possible, some were just pretty. Might not make the regular rotation but anyone with an appreciation of music can get something out of this

Five stars cause I fkn love saying KRAUTROK also the second half of this is much better than the first

One of the most beautiful albums I have listened to yet. This definitely gives a sense of tranquility while also being experimental. Highly recommended!

Absolutely glorious. Why do I leave these albums unlistened to after discovering and loving one record by a band? I guess there's lots of examples where that would be a let down, but not here. The debut is fabulous of course and so is this. That beat in E-musik is just perfect. Drilled into my psyche. The ambient stuff is gorgeous. What's great about sticking a Krautrock album on is Spotify generally throws up a great load of stuff afterwards, there's so much wonderful stuff in the genre to discover, in many directions (obvs krautrock is a reductive term). Reminded me to go back to Harmonium, another project Rother was involved with, Deluxe is a cracker.

Mind blowing the progress

I really liked this. It was fun and fresh sounding. I can see why this album inspired a lot of other artists.

F**king love NEU!

Это лучший в их дискографии альбом. Если дебют построен на импровизации, и он довольно-таки непонятный в некоторых местах, второй кажется каким-то недоделанным, очень сырым, то третий... Очень свежо данная музыка слушается для середины 70-х, просто на одном дыхании. Тут нету песен лучше или хуже, круче или слабее, тут надо слушать всё! Один из лучших альбом в краут роке, и я его всем рекомендую.

Another great album. I had never heard of Neu! The Wikipedia helps explain the bi-polar quality of this album. The two sides are very different, but I like both a lot. I may actually enjoy side one more, but that's from a perspective that's almost 50 years after the album was released. Given when it came out, side two is the more amazing side. It's punk rock a couple of years before punk rock! (For anyone that listened to this on Spotify, track down the last track, "After Eight". It's good.)