NEU! 75

Fantastic. 3/4 ambient soundscapes and a quarter proto-punk power pop. Epic and perfect. These German fellas are going places!

Ok, why have I never listened to this? I LOVED it Tons of atmosphere, lovely assemblage of timbres and styles explored on side one. Kosmiche, not krautrock. Somewhere between Eno and ECM Side two, motorik beat, a proto post-punk kind of thing, kind of near different eras of Can all at the same time, with a Wayne Kramer vocal delivery.

5/5. This was my jam, beautifully aesthetic, influencing Bowie's Eno era heavily, and almost inventing the British wave of rock that comes out of this. It's engaging and diverse throughout. The first side is a lot more chill and the second side has a dark and tense dance track playing during the apocalypse. I honestly have no negatives, this was fantastic. Best Song: After Eight, E. Musik, Isi

Absolutely blew me away! You can really hear how this influenced Bowie’s Berlin era. Really great stuff.

Excellent, well-mixed Krautrock. It has a lot of elements of post-rock, almost spacey, beautiful power pop piano chords, and drums that remind me of David Bowie. There is nothing to freak out about this album; it is just instrumental rambling on jams with ambient Berlin school pads and beautiful piano. Lush, hypnotic, reverby. I think overall, it just feels like it was extremely ahead of its game and time. For sure deserving of being an album you hear before you die. Rating: 5/5 Genre: Krautrock, Proto-Punk, Ambient, Berlin School, Experimental Rock

Neu! Kids on the Block

The most Zen you can be in life is moving in the sun with Isi playing very loud, like on a quiet straight road.

Really enjoyed this. Floaty, melodic and a little background shouty.

Honestly, this is one of the best albums I've listened to. It works very well for what it does. Side 1 (tracks 1-3) sets the same mood that I would want to set if I was hosting someone very classy for dinner. It works well as ambient music, but every musical decision they made feels intentional. I didn't mind it as background music for a drive either, and I might have even been a better driver than I normally am listening to the music that I frequently listen to. Side 2 (tracks 4-6) builds on the foundations of side 1. It adds a little more character to the music while keeping the same personality.

i think this is some of the best music ever

I listened to this five times before writing this review. This is my favorite krautrock album I’ve listened to so far. The first half is more ambient and flows like ocean waves. The second half keeps the same entrancing rhythms while ramping up the excitement. Really great stuff.

Excellent album! A real gem

This album fucking rules. At times it sounds like the best German tribute band for Exile on Main Street era Stones, possessed by massive amounts of amphetamines and that same impulse that makes shit-porn so popular in that country. At other times it sounds like a moan from the gut of a disabled animal on the side of the road after a collision, mixed with jackhammers and the sound of construction on a new high-rise in the distance. THIS IS THE SOUND OF THE FUTURE AND THE DEATH OF THE PRESENT. SUBMIT!

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.

This is exactly why I’m doing this listening project. No clue how I missed out on Neu! all these years but I am so into this.

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.

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

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: ⬛🆕❗ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎸🎂🍄 Rating: 🆕🆕🆕🆕🆕/5

well, this was far too short - what a fantastic album. hard to believe it was from 1975. in after eight, i hear a bit of the stones, which is funny - but in seeland, i hear jane's addiction, and in hero, i hear pailhead, both of which were many years in the future. meanwhile, e-muzik's 10-minute, single-key jam is simply an incredible, hypnotic journey, and after eight, while an almost jarring change of pace after e-muzik, is a great sendoff for this album. all in all, an easy favorite

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.)

Brilliant

I love it. I'm not really familiar with any NEU! material that came later, but this seems like a perfect ending to their original trilogy of albums with the A side expanding on what was and the B side showcasing what could/might be. The proto-punk of "Hero" seems jarring at first but it's anchored in its depths by a groove that feels quite at place with all that came before. The whole album still gets better every time for me. There are a couple of brief vocals I find myself at odds with on the A-side, otherwise, this is nearly a perfect album for me.

para mimir

It's very lush. It's very cool.

Tal vez si se le preguntara a Neu! por sus influencias, las negarían todas. Pero se puede trazar un camino, tan ligero como el aire, que -como dice chusen- arranca desde el impresionismo francés, pasa por The Velvet Underground y los atraviesa a ellos. Lo fundamental de esta música es, precisamente, su delgadez, su fisonomía maleable; como si no proviniera de ningún tiempo y no habitara en ningún espacio. La Historia, en el disco, parece pasar por el costado. Los sonidos aparecen, desaparecen y vuelven a aparecer, con una cadencia blanquecina, y su estatuto es el de la fugacidad. Así, parece que esta música solo existe para ella, a pesar de que tanto detrás como delante tiene un sendero, al cual ella cierra los ojos.

Giorgio Moroder meets Mike Oldfield.

A band I'd never really heard before, but I absolutely loved it.

Delightful! We love underground basement vibes

Great instrumental.

10/10 I listened to there first three albums and loved their third (this one) the most but all were a 10/10 super fun electronic/psych-roch

Radiohead vibes before Radiohead existed.

Super

Har bara lyssnat på NEU! lite sporadiskt tidigare, men denna platta är ju alldeles fantastisk.

Notes - Krautrock legends Neu’s 3rd album - Split in half because the 2 members of the band wanted different things out of their sound - First half is more melodic and ambient, second half is more rock - Driving bass and drums with repetitive guitar/synth parts - Love the use of rain and wind sounds across the album - I like that its in 2 distinct moods - But there are enough common elements that it still sounds cohesive - Really good “getting shit done” music Fav - hero - Love the vocals on here, kinda sounds like the guy from the Jesus lizard Least fav - After eight - Sounds like hero but less good 5/5

Loved this. I don't usually go for Krautrock, but this is great. Could listen to it all day - brilliant as ambient music.

Listens: 2 Enjoyed: yeah Very relaxing - can't fault it at all tbh. First track feels like a The Sims loading screen so I'm fully here for that

PREFS: TOUT MOINS PREF: RIEN

Fajne

I think this was the first NEU! album I ever heard and it was one that I bought outright on a whim without hearing first. Just pre-internet faith in a record being good based on the reputation of the person making the recommendation. A certain mood, good for a rainy fall day but also with enough pulse to work or study too. Sometimes I get a little distracted during the ocean waves and wander off but the album closes strong. Not ground-breaking by the time I heard it, but good enough to return to frequently and give it 5 stars on a generous day.

Really enjoyed this - especially Isi, E-Musik and After Eight. Lovely to have on in the background too - a bit like Autobahn.

Great stuff, prog rock at its best.

Geil.

Lekker album om naar te luisteren, was erg verrassend….

Super cool

Oh god I'm becoming a krautrock fan

What a sublime album. Thoroughly enjoyed the soundscapes of the first three tracks. I then also enjoyed the harder punk-ish last three. It didn't quite ease the transition which is probably my only major complaint with this album. Although this on vinyl I'd guess they're on different sides and the transition wouldn't be as clear as Spotify. Good track count and record length perfect 5/5

Chill good for a trip

I’m a little embarrassed by how much I enjoyed this album. But a bunch of German dudes making space sounds was a great time

i love weird albums and this was weird, but the vibes were really good.

OK, so while I didn't actually listen to this today, I know that this is a brilliant album. Neu! took the foundations of krautrock and built a template for electronica, punk, post punk and so much more. Cracking stuff!

This is a fascinating album. Musically adventurous, but also with just the right amount of restraint. The resulting songs are really listenable, never grating, always a little surprising. I love that there's a more ambient, organic sounding side and then a noisier, more mechanical side. The contrast is mind blowing, but in the best way. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Leb' Wohl, Hero, After Eight, Seeland, E. Musik, Isi

As great as ever - very essential album, just like its two predecessors (I assume the first album is in the list as well but the second one should be too on basis of its first half).

motorik - probably the most consistently german of the german proto techno mid 70s scene

Back half was slightly less engaging than the first but man this was a trip. Great.

The third in a line of practically perfect albums.

This is so good and perfect example of why this list exists, such a dichotomy but still works. Faves: Isi, Seeland, Hero, E-Musik

Four stars and a half An all-time classic of krautrock / komische As is usually the case with those five-stars albums, I won't write a full-blown review about this particular record, because others have already written wonderful stuff about it and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. It's just a gem. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 917 (including this one) Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 43 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 22 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 19

epic!

Superb. New favourite

Krautrock with ambient tendencies? That's my jam! ✌️ I could happily listen to this looped all day. Fave track - "Seeland" maybe? But this is an album album, and should be listened to straight through...

Love this album. Is kind of one mood broken into lots of different moods, starting with the soaring Isi. It helps that I played it on a Monday morning as I sat down to start work. You can see why / how Bowie was so inspired by this band.

Another aural dreamscape. I haven't listened to much Krautrock apart from Can and Kraftwerk so was really surprised as how much Neu!'s sound is echoed in newer acts. They really reminded me of Stereolad who obviously are influenced by them which was great by me. I also picked parallels with Suicide and am curious as to who influenced who or if they hit their sounds independently. Either way, I love this and will be listening to it a lot more

5/5. Lowkey inspirational doe. Still futuristic

Fantastique!!!

Yeah, this one's very sick. A blend of experimental soundscapes and hard rocking that never felt stale at any point. Favorites: Isi, Seeland, Hero,E-Musik

A krautrock classic! I have listened before and loved it. Listening again, I still love it. This albums comes at the end of their relatively short stint in the 70's, forming in 1970 and releasing this as their last official album in, well, 1975. This finality was due to differences between the duo of NEU! that could not be reconciled. As such, this is widely know as a fantastic "double album" with side 1 being completely by Rother and side 2 being only Dinger. Rother's side is noticeably more calm, entrancing listeners with ambient bits while keeping that classic steady Motorik beat. This is my favorite side of the 2, but side 2 is still worth exploring. A much more punk-influenced edge on the sound, still with the Motorik beat driving it. Dinger decidedly makes his side a wake-up from Rother's side, a stark contrast for listeners who had got up to flip the record over just a few seconds ago. The only major low point for the album is near the end of E-Musik where Dinger slows everything down. It just doesn't work as well in comparison to side 1, and ultimately takes away from the upbeat precedent set by the rest of side 2. Other than that, this is a wonderful album. Well-worth the listen. Loved it!

Very chill album.

I liked this album. To make this chill music in 75 without getting wankery with the guitar is pretty respectable. This was nice. 5/5

Why have I never heard of this band?

me ENCANTO sublime hermoso perfecto .

Krautrock legends. Brilliant.

A great experience, atmospheric at first and psychodelic during the second part of the album. Draws you into the music.

This was really interesting.

Great find

Production: 17/20 Songwriting: 15/20 Innovation: 19/20 Bangers: 15/20 Emotional response: 18/29 =84 Wallop what a fucking cracker

bon descobriment... after eight es molt bona... la resta és molt tranqui.

kruatrock masterpiece. A lifetime's worth of ideas in a single album.

NEU! is brilliant asf. Remains one of my top experimental electronic music artists from Germany.

really good!

Production: 17/20 Songwriting: 15/20 Innovation: 19/20 Bangers: 15/20 Emotional response: 18/29 =84 Wallop what a fucking cracker

Cool

No doubt the best krautrock album I've heard yet. Not only this is the clearest sounding record from that genre, it also has an incredible ambient and powerful moments. The first track, "ISI", opens the project with a piano that prepares the listener for a really beautiful krautrock song, something that got me out of guard as I was not expecting such a clean sound, considering my experience with "Faust" and "Can". It has everything from the genre, hypnotic rhythms, repetitive melodies and electronic textures, but all done with an impeccable and beautiful sound. I really liked how incredibly clear everything sounds and how marvelous the melodies are. Then comes "Seeland", a song that slows things down to create very calming and spacious music, resulting in a superb relaxing experience. Loved the bass melody and the guitars that come and go as they were waves. Speaking of waves, the next song is "Leb' Wohl", an ambient track that features sounds of literal waves, ethereal piano and voice, and a rhythm pattern that is basically the ticking of a clock. Really liked this song, as it is wonderfully smooth, serene and soothing. From here, the energy comes back with "Hero", the track that literally inspired David Bowie to create his big hit with the same name. All the beautiful melodies and relaxing mood created by the previous songs are replaced with a very fun and energetic krautrock track, with now the vocals coming in to give a quite chaotic performance. Almost the same thing can be said about "E-Musik", but now the pianos are back. While not as fun as "Hero" and not as wonderful as the first half, it still is a decent groove. Finally, the band decided to close the album with a proto-punk song, with the fastest rhythms and guitars, ending the album in a very frenetic way. Overall, very surprised with this. I expected the album to have way more psychedelic elements, as others releases of the same style, but instead, the band decided to make their own approach of krautrock by blending ambient, space rock and proto punk, which results in an unique album that is half wonderful and half animated fun.

Album #133, Neu!, Neu! ’75 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m a big fan of these guys. I think Neu! made some of the most beautiful music I can think of. Despite being classed as krautrock, which can seem robotic and electronic, I think there’s a real human quality to Neu!‘s music. It sounds created by people in a way that something like Kraftwerk doesn’t. Despite the two bands sharing a similar history, I think they’re actually very different in that regard. Not to get too pretentious, but Neu! sound like such a collage of human emotion and feeling. Take the opening track, Isi. It’s about as pretty and gorgeous a song as I can think of in popular music. Their music often seems to be built from only a handful of elements. You get these wonderful dreamy melodies and long, winding songs that kind of follow a conventional structures. But, they are free-flowing, effect-heavy, and just beautiful sounding. Then you’ve got the best thing about Neu!: the drums. Those simple motorik beats. I don’t know why they’re so good. They’re so distinctive despite being so simple and minimalist. They’re exactly what this kind of music calls for. Very little flash, just those relentless, pulsating drums that push everything forward. Because they’re so repetitive, you almost fall into a trance listening to these songs. It reminds me a lot of early Velvet Underground. That style of drumming genuinely changed the way I think about music. Those simple beats ground the songs so completely that everything else is free to move around them. You never get pulled out of the music by some flashy fill or busy beat. The drums never muddy the waters. They just keep everything moving. Neu! were the masters of this style, and they more or less invented it. The obvious outlier is Hero. It’s one of my favourite songs of all time, despite sounding unlike almost anything else in their catalogue. I love that strange mixture of ambient music, krautrock and proto-punk. Klaus Dinger’s vocal isn’t technically great, but the energy and passion behind it is. It almost sounds like he’d always wanted to front a straight-up rock band but had spent years making hypnotic krautrock instead, and Hero is him finally kicking the cage door open. That’s what comes across in the performance, and I absolutely love it. It’s probably the Neu! song I’ve listened to more than any other. It’s not five stars for me because I don’t think it’s their best album. I still slightly prefer their debut, even if Hero might be my favourite individual song. I also think Leb’ Wohl is a little too long and not nearly as interesting as the rest of the album. It’s very pretty, and I love the ocean sound effects in the background. It’s a beautiful, calming piece, and probably something you could fall asleep to, but it’s not necessarily something I’d actively want to listen to. Sitting right in the middle of the album, it slows the momentum a little too much. It’s also missing that motorik beat. Great band, great album, great discography. I genuinely shudder to think where music would be without Neu!.

Quite enjoyable, atmospheric 4/5

I think I get this album. It was a little hard to grasp at first, the first couple tracks seemed to go in different directions and I wasn't sure what to expect from it, but eventually the trance took me over and I was on for the ride. The only real criticism is that it did feel a little bit obvious at times, almost reminiscent of a "jam track", each key change felt expected and the repetitions all felt familiar quickly.

I have heard of this artist and album, though I don't believe I recognize any of these tracks by title. So I'm pretty much going into this blind. I enjoyed this more than I expected to. I think I'll add this to my list of albums to listen to again.

Ylipäänsä instrumentaalimusiikista tykkään, ja tämäkin oli kiva. Jossain kohtaa oli vähän ihme rääkymistä, mutta muuten tosi monipuolista soundia.

Tykkäsin! Ihan kivaa ambient syntywavea.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genuinely liked it. Not quite instrumental.

There are two definitely distinct sides to this album! Both are good, and I'm not entirely convinced they do or don't belong together. Man, I really don't know what the fuck is up with this album, but I'm really into it. This was 1975?!?

어우 듣기 좋아 초반은 게임 ost 같다

As Krautrock as you can get. Very easy to listen to and get lost in, but just as easily moves into the background while listening at work.

Never heard of it. Really good!

Read the bio and thought I’d hate this but it was chilled and enjoyable. First taste of krautrock

Good ambient background music. Seems way ahead of its time.

Love the first half, meh on the second.

I had zero idea what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Sounds modern and classic at the same time. Will absolutely revisit

So I learned what krautrock is today

The first side is surprisingly gentle, with waves washing over us. I half expected someone to tell me to imagine I was on my favourite beach and let go of all my worries. The second side is louder and faster but still smooth enough to luxuriate in

Better than I expected, very pleasant and progressive sounds

I genuinely was going to give this a 5… and then the vocals began.

that was weird

NEU! 75 has a split-personality. NEU! are another band that have been on my “I must give them a listen” list since forever, but for whatever reason, I've never actually heard them until today. Well, that was a big oversight. I didn't expect this duplicitous masterpiece of an album. David Bowie citing NEU! as a big influence on his Berlin trilogy makes a lot of sense now (and not just the direct “Hero” reference either). The division of the record into two halves, ambient vs manic, is exactly what Bowie continued to explore across three of his most interesting albums. Side one of 75 is spacious, soft, repetitive and hypnotic. It's ambient, but with a driving motorik beat that gives everything a sort of feeling of motion. Side two is rougher, dirtier and more energetic. Proto-punk is the term, but unlike a lot of punk, these songs don't rush to the finish-line. They take their time, as long as they need to, sometimes up to ten minutes in length. Not that they stay so rigidly in their lanes though. “Isi”, the opening track on side one, rocks out. While it belongs more to the Dr. Jekyll ambient personality of this album, that drum beat really keeps it alive and kicking. On the flip side, “Hero” belongs firmly to the more aggressive Mr. Hyde side of the record, waking us up with a jolt after the Eno-esque soundscape of “Leb’ Wohl”, with proto-punk vocals and dirty, sticky guitars. But, defying expectations, it dissolves into ambient wind noises for the last full minute of the track. There’s an obvious duality of being to the two sides of NEU! 75. But they share something in common, which helps this album flow so well. Whether it’s on the lighter ambient side one, or the wilder, punkier side two, these songs are hypnotic and trance-like. “Isi” and “E-Musik” are the two best examples - both very different sides of the coin, but both evoke the same response in me. They kinda make me want to dance. 🤔 4.5 stars

My feelings about this are contrary to what is typical for me in regard to artist progression. This is another great album by a great band but it suggests what they might have become and since it wasn’t really followed up, that is new information I didn’t need. I’d love to be able to commend them as yet another of the many godfathers of punk, but tbh, I don’t need to add that to their already powerful legacy. All I’m talking about here really is Klaus Dinger giving up his drum stool to get guitary and scream. For Michael Rother, it’s business as usual on side one (as it would be into his solo work after this). I am loathe to sound like a Luddite and normally I champion acts who recognise the need for change and do so at the risk of alienating fans. On here though not only do I think it seems like the wrong time to introduce a new vibe, but I also find Dinger’s vocal style a poor fit. I am aware that many have the opposite opinion but this is my review. As is often the case, my lack of detail on the facts means I don’t have proper context for how this album ended up sounding the way it did but as a fan of their first 2 albums, I would have preferred (like I say, unusually for me) if they’d just delivered part three then let me explore Dingers new direction afterward; I’m assuming his side of this album presages his next band La Düsseldorf. I challenge myself to check that band out and discover that I can totally dig them outside of the Neu! context, or alternatively, that I just can’t get with Dinger’s screech. I’ll admit that my score is probably bumped up to 4 out of respect for Neu! and Neu!2 which aren’t in the 1001.

I love this album because it feels so Germany-coded (or any western Europe country-coded), if that makes sense. Side A has that endless feeling of driving across the country going 140kmph, taking in the beautiful tapestry of trees, fields, the occasional house and lots and lots of cows and sheep. And also Leb' wohl is a beautiful ballad-ish closer that I absolutely dig. Side B is the other side of the same coin. While it does have the same core idea of the driving 4/4 motorik, it's coated in a harsher paint. It foreshadows the punk sound, but compared to most punk, songs like Hero and After Eight to me sound more like songs that would influence experimental bands such as This Heat and Suicide than bands in the vain of the Clash or the Damned. Also, the vocal work on Hero was a bit annoying, but the "Citeeeeh" grows pretty quickly on me. Plus it's a great song to pace through after a good night out.

Fantastic Krautrock, gets in a groove and rides. The whole album works as a piece, raising intensity as it goes in it's trance state. Great stuff.

Was very surprised by this album. Wasn’t familiar and when I put it on it sounded so fresh that it was hard for me to believe this was from 1975. I will say, it got a little droney by the end. Probably closer to a 3.50 for me, but rounding up to a 4 because albums like this on the list need more shine. And definitely going to listen to this one some more and then I’m sure it’ll be a solid 4 for real for me.

Great album to dig out now and again

8/10 Really enjoyable '70s psychedelic/art rock, with few to no vocals on the entire album. Reminds me a LOT of post-rock from the 2010s, which is a favorite genre of mine. Good stuff.

Me gustó más de lo que creí. Con la primera canción no creía que no estaba seguro de lo que vendría, pero poco a poco se puso buenísimo. Me quedaría a escuchar en loop Leb' wohl, Hero me recordó a bandas como The Strokes, y After Eight como cierre del disco me encantó.

Really enjoyed this. Never heard Neu! before, but have seen them (and this album) referenced often. I expected more difficult, quirky music ala Faust and Can but this was very palatable. Will definitely revisit again.

The sort of thing this project is about - never heard them , or heard of them ! But enjoyed this . If an album has an A side and B side this would be it . Would listen again , probably with headphones to appreciate the first 3 .

Good working/background music. Prolly 3.5

Wow

Great German rock album! Got me on a rabbit hole to explore more of the explosion of music coming out from there in the late 60s/70s. 4.2*

Класичний альбом від цікавого гурту

Культовий краут\косміче гурт, а я цей жанр дуже люблю. Neu! в мене в особистому топі, разом з кен та гармонія (і пополь вух ще), тому тут ізі 4.5

Immediate like. I could listen to that ambient stuff all day. Water sounds are a nice touch. Can take or leave the punky tunes, but overall a real nice listen.

RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: Leb’ wohl LOWLIGHT: After Eight

Fully expected sterile, german, early synth kraftwerk (found out later they share some members) style music - and didn't get that at all. This is almost like two mini albums smooshed together. Side A is soothingly ambient, experimental without being abrasive, and almost doesn't even sound from its time. Definitely hear some influences on Sigur Ros (which is not a statement I thought I would say during this exercise). Side B was far closer to center, and while it wasnt the best Krautrock I've heard i definitely dug it.

Front half of the record is ambient-ish with more uplifting themes, reminds me a little of Ulrich Schnauss. Back half is more punkish, even described in Wiki as proto-punk. One band member composed for each side. mid-70s Krautrock with something called the Motorik beat drumming style a constant rhythm that contributes to a droning feel that reminds me of System 7.

Really cool stuff. Hard to find a specific adjective to describe the album as a whole; constantly goes back and forth between slow, ambient psychedelic droning and fast, "motorik beat" (?) driven that I'd almost describe as proto-punk or even a precursor to post-punk given the use of synthesizers. One of the bands I'm glad this list finally got me to listen to, given that I'm already a fan of the band's contemporaries like Can and Kraftwerk (the latter being the group they broke off from). 8.5/10.

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

Great record. Progressive and experimental without being unapproachable. These Germans combine the industrial chops of Kraftwerk, but couch them in a softer kinder package. The punk rock flourishes are also great, and the line between this and Berlin era Bowie/Iggy is direct.

Noodly 1970s krautrock, which wormed its way into my brain over the course of the album. The first half is a bit introspective and mostly instrumental, before giving way to more punky, shouty stuff in the 2nd half. Definitely worth a 2nd listen.

I like the first half a lot more than the second half which ends up leaving less of an impression on me Standouts Isi Seeland Leb Whol 4/5

I was surprised by this album, the first half was kind of dreamy and lofi and the second half was a mixture of punk and post-punk sounds which is strange as this is quite a few years before. It could get a bit repetitive but I do like the overall vision of the album

A minimal, driving record built on a steady motorik beat, repetitive but absorbing, with a raw and focused sound.

I enjoyed this. It sort of feels like a comedown from a climax that took place before the recording began.

4.5/5

Well that sure was something different, and I mean that in the best way possible. This just felt so fun and quirky, and also just really refreshing. A part of me thinks that the vocals could do with slightly more presence, as much as I loved the whole experience I just don't think that this album quite suits being almost entirely instrumental. So I guess it's a good thing that on the instrumental side of things, it still holds up about as well as it can without much in the way of vocals. It's always leaving you guessing and taking really daring directions that pay off so much better than you might expect.

This more than Kraftwerk influenced the synth pop bands of the 1980s. Such beauty and simplicity and repetition. This isn’t cold Europop at all.

Some cool beats on this one

wow! had no clue who these guys were, that was a fun ride. can i say...if you put the album of the day on while you're working and just let it repeat on itself, it's a different listen - I really enjoyed this record. Who Neu! : )

I would kill to see them live, but lowkey feel like I already might have. Leb' Wohl was giving heavy Godspeed vibes.

Incredibly fun! Love Krautrock. You can see how this influenced the Berlin Trilogy, especially Low.

This is a really cool album! Didn't know anything about Neu! going in, but I dig their style. This album is mostly ambient tracks, and I like when they dug into that better than their "rockier" songs ("Hero" and "After Eight"). They take the droning, steady, beats and can throw some really nice melodies over them to create really cool sounds that sound alive. I'm here for it. Standout tracks were "Isi" and "Seeland" I dont think the album ended as fantastically as it started, so this one gets a 4 from me, but was very interesting and I might go seek some more from these guys.

"Sensational" - Future

I don’t like krautrock, so when I saw that’s what I was in for, I was not optimistic. I was pleasantly surprised by this album though. A really nice soundtrack for my morning with just enough groove and changes to keep it interesting without being so demanding on the listener that it takes the spotlight.

A bit more convinced by the instrumentals than the tracks with vocals, but I overall dig the contrasting styles of sides A and B. I like most everything I’ve heard from Neu! in general. 3.5/5

Krautrock genius. It ranges from lovely mellow grooves to Eno-esque ambient experiments using field noises like wind,water, birdsong and clocks to add to the atmosphere. The famous motorik beat is still evident but we have vocals making an appearance as well, just adding a different flavour to the whole album. Best Tracks: Isi; Seeland; E-Musik

Neu! is a very unique sounding group, and this album shows that off well. The almost-soothing A-side gives way to a much more intense B-side, which helps keep the album fresh all the way through. Favorite track(s): "Seeland"

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ska erkänna att jag inte var super pep när jag såg att detta var dagens album. Krautrock är nytt för mig och visste inte vad jag skulle förvänta mig och hade inte höga förväntningar men det visar sig att jag gillar det. Det tre första spåren är det är monotont och rytmiskt med inslag av ljud från regn och vågor. Jag tycker det är meditativt. På de tre följande spåren går energin upp och där läggs mer rockelement till och sång som för tankarna till punk men fortfarande monotont och rytmiskt. Svårt att plocka ut enskilda spår eftersom de känns som de hänge ihop men avslutar starkt med punkiga After Eight. Positiv överaskning som jag kommer komma tillbaka till, blir en 4a.

huh. it's kraftwerk, but with hope for the future. and leaving the house now and then. i dig it. "leb'wohl" is a banger.

That´s a pretty nice experimental album, loved the vibes and all, truly an amazing experience. I bet I will be hearing more of them. Today´s bird: European Bee-eater

Airy, fun, odd, made me smile. What more do you want?

Pretty sick. I really liked that the first half was all instrumental. I honestly thought the whole album was gonna be like the song with lyrics, i think it's "hero"? honestly I think I liked that one the least. The low voice thing at the end of E-Musik was kinda uncomfortable. I really liked the rain and the ocean sounds though. Super yum. I was playing stardew valley while listening to it and honestly it fit right in. there were a couple moments where i was like "wait, this is the album right...?" and it was. pretty sick

Really the only other Kraut rock record I've heard is Faust IV, which I really wasn't a fan of. This one, however, I found much more interesting and enjoyable. I thought this had much more interesting soundscapes on it and a really cool atmosphere. 4/5.

I dug this one! Not amazing but I would put this on again any time. Pleasantly surprised.

Ok so I had my preconceived notions about krautrock which didn’t have me looking forward to this album, but the opening track really grabs me. It has a sound and melody that I would today call indie rock. Very driving and energetic and catchy. The album continues in cool instrumental rock sometimes tending in more ambient directions. Kinda like the snow goose by camel but rockier. A good entry.

Fairly new to Krautrock. This a really good.

Geilo

Instrumental krautrock from the mid-70s - it's spacey, even a but proto-punkish here and there. Great listen, but perhaps not as good as Kraftwerk.

I don’t care what you think, I liked it.

Neu! to me, and I liked it. Kind of like a less serious more pop-sounding Kraftwerk.

Had no idea what to expect, but pleasantly surprised - was actually a relaxing listen. Expected a boring repetitive heavy metal sound and/or shouty vocals - but was mellow and melodic

The songs on this album were all very spacey and repetitive, and yet, I found this album so fascinating. It's hard to describe exactly what makes this so great, but krautrock is definitely a genre that interests me a great deal. The continuous marching snare drum with the psychedelic guitar just hit the spot for me. This is great background music but also something to listen really closely to.

-a fun work album! -some of the beats are carseatheadrest-esque -I feel like there is lots of variety while keeping a uniqueness to it -I would listen again

ambient music will always have a place in my heart

So cool. Probably the best of the original Neu! albums. So much creativity bubbling from this. The atmospheric albums definitely slow things down too much but it comes back with an exciting second half. Too bad these two didn't get along better because there could have been many more great albums to come from them.

3.8 Dont have much to write about besides its kind of a mix of stuff that Ive been listening to lately, post punk ,ambient, krautrock, house. Im sure its pretty influential to some artists.

Psychedelic and a very atmospheric listen. Loved the dynamic in songs with some being slow, sentimental and imaginative, and others being more fast paced but still having a lot of color. Favorite Song: E-Musik, 8/10

Brilliant album ruined by track 4. Very hard to get instrumental tracks this long to be good and interesting but tracks 1 and 2 were pretty amazing. Really enjoyed the feel of the album, but tracks 4 was a departure from that and really tarnished it for me.

I don't know if people realize how important these kind of albums is. I don't know if this has been influenced by Brian Eno, or if it influenced Brian Eno, or if it's just a circle of life of constant inspiration.

Overall: 8/10 I found this strangely uplifting. There's something about this album that makes me feel optimistic about the future. I don't know if that was the intention but that's what I got out of it. Good stuff! Fav Song: Hero

This album was pretty neat. I loved the ocean sounds on one tune and then the sound of the wind eases you out of the next track. Really cool and unique listening experience.

I don’t think I’ve dished out many stars to German artists thus far but this was certainly an uptick in fortunes, a real pleasant surprise, so much so that I listened to it twice. The opening half of the album is calm and melodic, offering patient soundscapes and reward the engaged listener, though they can also perfectly soundtrack your day whilst you focus on something else. The second half of the album picks up the energy, and whilst the first half was enjoyable, it might have worn thin. The energy is welcome and the vibes are well up my street - there’s almost a post-punk feel to the last few tracks, even though this is 1975. This is the kind of album that makes this challenge worthwhile.

This was a really nice listen. Cool instrumental tunes with the right mix between being chill and energetic. Just the right by amount of weirdness for me as well.

I am very happy that I got to listen to this album tonight. It sent me down the rabbit hole of "Krautrock", which was the redefining of German culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In post-war Germany, many young Germans were struggling with their identities and with generational trauma of their parents relationships with nazism. Music and popular culture was conservative, with cheesy hits and US/Britain music ruling charts. This gave Krautrock artists something to define themselves against, with NEU! being one of the most influential, alongside bands like Faust or CAN. This album is not one I would ordinarily listen to all the way through, but I did tonight while researching it's history. The sound is very repetitive through most of the songs, but the song Hero caught me off guard, and it almost reminded me of the Rolling Stones. While looking into this album, I learned that Bowie took inspiration from this band, and I can really hear it while listening to the album.

Krautrock, experimental rock, psychedelic rock, proto-punk. Worth a revisit.

I really loved about two-thirds of the album, it was excellent, and the remaining third was still solidly good. That said, 'Hero' and 'After Eight' felt a bit out of place among the rest of the tracks.

Pretty good!

Great bit of proto-industrial ambient with a side of krautrock. Been listening to it all weekend. On Friday I thought it was good. By Sunday I thought I was seeing God. 9/10 for the quasi-religious experience.

Really good stuff between Kraftwerk and Punk with powerful drum grooves that sometimes remind me of Can. Never heard this before, but I will definitely return to it!

Never heard of Neu! Like their sound

Really enjoyed this, some great beats, track 3 felt a bit like early Sigur Ros

A tale of two halves, NEU! 75 had a clear vision that I think they executed on very well. The first 3 tracks are ambient, pulling you along gently like waves on a lake. Once you hit the halfway mark however, the band hits you with "hero", and the atmosphere changes entirely. Whilst this shift in style (and the ones that follow after) might be too much for some, I very much appreciated it!

heerlijke duitse protopunk

Neu! is a band led by two experimental musicians who managed to produce several influential records despite them having very different beliefs about life and music. In this context, it seems fitting that 75 is really two very different records. The first side consists of dreamy and atmospheric music led by Rother and the second side consists of guitar-forward proto-punk sounds led by Dinger. It is easy to see why Neu! was on this list. The experimental compositions ultimately deemed kraut rock would ultimately give birth to genres like electronica and trance and influence numerous post-punk and post-rock bands. Neu was integral part of the kraut rock movement, but why did the authors select the schizophrenic 75 for this list? Perhaps it is because each side of the record captures the elements (cosmic electronic and rock without the blues roots) that made the genre unique? Whatever the rationale for selecting this record, when Neu’s debut was arguably more influential and an overall better record, I did enjoy this listen, the second side more than the first. Although, if I’m honest with myself, much of this enjoyment came from thinking about its importance in the development of so much of the music that followed. How much should that distinction influence my overall rating of the album? After all, this was one of the main reasons I was drawn to this project to begin with.

Actually loved this. Vibey

81/100. Very good krautrock/ambient hybrid. It’s wild how modern this sounds. The contrast between the chilled out, hypnotic first half and the more aggressive, proto-punk energy of the second half makes it exciting.

Where did David Bowie and Brian Eno get the idea fot atmospheric ambiance on the 'Low' and 'Heroes' records? It was likely from Neu!, and this album in particular. 'Neu! '75' is a dense, moody and rougher take on the experimental krautrock genre that eminated from West Germany in the early 1970s. Chief bandmembers Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother were previously members of Kraftwerk prior to forming Neu!, and it shows in this record's mastery of hypnotic minimalism. However, where the sound of Kraftwerk is brighter and more playful, Neu! is a lot more subdued and meditative. With rolling waves helping punctuate tracks like 'Seeland' and 'Leb' wohl', along with gently distorted guitars, contemplative piano/keys and the vocals serving as more of an atmosphere-builder than a meaning-adder, 'Neu! '75' is a unique exercise in sound production that is solely concerned with pushing the possibilities of music forward. Perhaps the most important songs on this record are 'Hero' and 'After Eight', which you could argue set the blueprint for the entire punk genre. With soaring guitars and a defiant chant pointing choice derisions towards the program, press and company, they had the Sex Pistols sound going before anyone knew who the Sex Pistols were. Also, that name 'Hero', did Bowie borrow that for 'Heroes'? 'Neu! '75' proves Neu! were every bit as important as Kraftwerk in pre-empting the future of popular music, and the countless acts this record no doubt inspired (Bowie, Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division/New Order, The Cure) should mount enough a case that Düsseldorf was as impactful a city on popular music as Liverpool, London, Manchester, New York, Los Angeles or Seattle. Best songs: Isi, Seeland, Hero, After Eight

Gloriously restrained.* *Depending how you're feeling, on another day this could come across as a bit boring. But not today.

(88/100)

As this was early 70s, then they were definitely influential. And it’s like a 2 for 1 deal. Enjoyed the 1st side, pre- mindfulness, meditation tapes, soundscape. Great in the background kind of stuff. Then what would have been side 2 was a complete switch up, Hero coming on all post punk, while we were still in the age of proto punk. It’s accessible, it’s inventive, thought this was going to be a 2 but hell 4 Stars

Best Song: Isi Might be biased because j listened to this on a very nice drive, but I really enjoyed it. Rating as a 4/5 in context

Best: Isi I went into this thinking it was fully instrumental and I would not enjoy it but this album surprised me. I didn’t even skip any tracks which is honestly impressive because I struggle to listen to songs that are 8+ minutes long, mostly because I find it’s the same thing on loop and it gets dull. I loved the dreaminess of the first half with the calm and monotonous guitar, overall I found the album quite minimalistic with soft vocals, which works so well in the context of the album.

great until the last song what da hel

Not what I expected. Like a krautrock space adventure. Sprawling but not overstretched; almost all of the songs are on the long side, but they keep it moving. No slogging or loss of momentum (The almost 10-minute “E-Musik” is a good example). Prog you can dance to, who’d have thought.

Mostly or all instrumental, nice bg music would listen again

This starts off really brilliantly - the first three tracks are super delicate and ambient, and hit you right in the emotion zone. After that, it gets a little more generic and less considered for me. It becomes a bit punk-adjacent but without the fun factor. Still, I enjoyed it, and the first couple of tracks will live long in the memory.

Esse disco é a máxima representação do que é o Krautrock. Sons que não estruturam uma melodia, que não obedecem o formato tradicional de canção. Músicas minimalistas que se repetem em loop dando uma sensação relaxante e contemplativa sem muita profundidade, uma abordagem sem muita elaboração e de forma direta.

I went into this expecting something else. The artwork, the font, the very clear '70s rock vibe was screaming out to me, and I wasn't expecting it to be any better mixed with krautrock. This ends up being possibly the foundation for the prog-rock bands I'm into. I can hear that early influence, and it's an easy album to imagine in a more modern setting. The mixing on this bad boy. Goddamn. Also, we're heading into this primarily instrumental project, halfway through you get these random vocals. What a fun little mind-fuck. It's an entire trip, meant to be heard beginning to end, presenting some real key modern-rock features. Happy I heard this. Would be so much fun to spin occasionally. 4/5

Never heard of this before. It was pretty cool, I'll come back to it i think.

This is #day496 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… how about some moody krautrock tonight? You bet. Listening to Neu! ’75, it's fun to trace the influence this band would go on to have: post-punk, post-rock, psychedelic and experimental rock/electronics, and plenty of other things in between. I think I even heard some Coil along the way. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day497.

Solid, when not singing. Can't get into the songs with vocals.

An album that suited the busy day I was having.

A relaxing listen. Definitely helped me focus on a Monday morning/drown out the office chatter.

Sehr gut

Another krautrock album for me, this might possibly be my last one. But I have really enjoyed krautrock probably because lots of my favourite musicians have borrowed from bands like Neu!. It's kinda like proto-Post-punk in a way. All of the songs on the album have a great vibe/mood to it On "ISI" it sounds really blissful and I feel complete tranquillity with myself and others. "Seeland" brings on a similar feeling like the previous track does except it's just a less spacey. Nice moody atmosphere on "Leb'woah," that is definitely enhanced by the thunderstorm effects. The vocals on "Hero" sounds quite vicious, reminds a bit of the vocals on album The Fat of the Land by Keith Flint. It's quite punk sounding. "E-Musik" doesn't have too much to go off of but what stands out to ME, is that it has a really good drum beat accompanied by this spacey sound. And finally "After Eight" continues the punk-like sound, which I believe was better done than on "Hero." All of the songs on the album have such a great vibe/mood to it. I really enjoyed the album. Highlight Song/s: ISI and Leb'woh

what a delicate and surprising krautrock

There is something to be said for beautifully arranged music and i really am enjoying this. Album builds up nicely and the first vocal track kicks it off nicely with Hero. The next three songs are all excellent. I really like this album. It was well structured and the music was great. Someone said the signing was noisy, but I felt like it accompanied the music perfectly. Might find out a bit more about them 4 stars

Very 2D feeling… but in a way I liked? Except when it got loud at the end tha made me crawl back into my shelllll

Leb' wohl is sublime. Isi, also. Eclectic collection

Most of this was fine, nice but a little boring. However, Hero was awesome. It was basically a dance punk song, but released in 1975? Awesome. The yelling + electronic sounds reminds me a little of Idles. This had great energy to it

Neu to me!

Loved this, weird as it was!

Hypnotic at times, urgent and propulsive at others. Loved that it blended that krautrick motorik beat with some of the more punk/post-punk elements at times. I can hear LCD Soundsystem through it all. I’m sure this must have put people off at the time as boring but this would have been so far ahead of some of its peers when looking in retrospect. Definitely one I’ll be revisiting.

Chill vibes. Proto lo-fi

Definitely an album of two halves - one ambient, one a bit punkier - but luckily I liked them both.

3.5 gets better as the album goes on.

Hard to pin down. Part ambient Kraftwerk-esque stuff, part post-punk. One thing that's not hard to pin down is that Neu! rocks. Favorite track: Isi

Kraut Rock has been a bit a discovery for me - this is a nice album but nothing like Can. I do like how it starts more electronic/ ambient like and then becomes rockier with some punky touches. I like the sound but it doesn't really move me. Could have been a 4 on a good day.

I quite liked it and how the album phased from a calm oceanic mood to a harder sound

Nice

Wow - didn't know what to expect, didn't have high hopes, but that was great! Will check out their other work!

Can meets Kraftwerk. This sounds like a lot of bands that I like would have liked as well. I like. I like a lot.

This album feels a bit diffracted-- it is a heterogenous mix of soft and hard songs. You can tell the difference between a Rother track and a Dinger track. The opening track of the first side, "Isi", is distinctly Rother, a lush bon-voyage into the land of kosmiche Musik. The opening track of the second side, "Hero", is distinctly Dinger, a proto-punk spitting anthem that pulses along into the night. It's a pretty even split along the two sides of the album. In my opinion, Dinger's side, with more energy, may have been better first. I especially think that "Leb' wohl" which closes the first side is much better as a closer for the whole album. I'm reminded of Bowie's formula in Low, where the more straightforward pop or energetic tracks are first, and the more avant-garde tracks are second, and I think that formula could've worked well here. Overall, I would argue that the album just doesn't flow optimally, or doesn't feel as cohesive. However the tracks on their own as masterful and definitive works in German rock (is "krautrock" offensive? I've never been sure, and don't like to say it). Tight, pulsating drums mixed with soaring and sprawling guitars and keyboards, often with incomprehensible lyrics that growl and spit. The influence of this album is obvious, from Bowie to Eno to Iggy Pop to punk and post-punk to electronica. It's essential listening.

Do I..... like?!? ambient music????

Very good though strays into noodle at times. The motorik beat is flawless a 3/4 but will be generous.

Never listened to these guys, but I had a feeling I would like them. Feeling was accurate!

8/10… electronic / punkrock 👂

super fedt, de bedste af sangene er top-top-toptopsange.

New find

I liked the first half better honestly. The first song feels like it would fit to a B-scifi movie. "Seeland" is pretty hypnotic. I don't consider these playlist songs (aka highlights) but they're very good when they happen to be on. I don't care for the punkier Krautrock songs in the second half that much and "E-Musik" is a bit too long. Still good enough. Highlights: 3.5 stars.

3.5

*NEU! '75* As influential as this album is leading into Post Punk and new Wave, I'm not sure if I'll ever find it more than a curio, even though I do enjoy it quite a bit. A 3½ in my book, but strong enough for a four on the app 7.75 ★★★½

This is a cool album. I like how it goes from a prettier, spacier sound on the first side with tracks like "ISI" and "Leb' Wohl" to punkier, more aggressive tracks on the second, like "Hero" and "After Eight". The only track I'm not super high on it "E-Musik", but everything else is terrific, with "After Eight" being the highlight for me. It sounds really modern for an album recorded in the mid 70s and you can hear it's influence on modern rock. High 4.5 stars.

Krautrock...not something I would go to regularly. But this is good. I liked the quieter moodier tracks and there were a couple of rockier numbers as well. Score 3.5 (but I am in a good mood so it will scrape a 4