NEU! 75

Loved it!

First listen to a wonderful album, thank you.

What a pleasant surprise! I absolutely LOVED this!! Didn't want it to end. Ahead of it's time, I kinda think maybe. 5

Enjoyable album and will put NEU! on my list to listen more often.

so so so so so good

absolutely fantastic, made me think of Ethel Cain so much, especially Leb’ wohl

Neu! 75 marks a departure from the previous 74 releases in this series. Eschewing the collection of recent pop hits for metronomik instrumentals. Now That’s What I Call Music!

I really liked this album a lot! I had never heard of the band and I don't really know what to call this genre, but it was a great jam while baking on a cold Wednesday afternoon

Instrumentals highly impactful to music

goated

This is amazing and I totally underestimated it. I heard the first track which honestly sounded like the soundtrack to a Wii game and thought this was gonna be one of those "hearing it because it was important, not because it held up" krautrock albums, I didn't expect an entire fucking proto-punk album to come after. What the fuck? This is so good. This is better than 99% of actual early punk. What the fuck?

Great album. Kind of hard to believe it’s from 1975. Sounds thoroughly modern to me. Every track is good. It’s mostly instrumental, but has great grooves and ambient textures. This definitely was inspirational to everything from 80’s New Wave, 90’s alternative, pop-punk, 2000’s alt rock - The Smiths, Radiohead, David Bowie…the list goes on. Definitely will check out the other albums from NEU.

Easy to listen to -

Amazing album!! Walking album. Going to become a favorite for sure. The suspenseful instrumentals combined with the nonsensical 70s rock vibes make it perfect.

Needed a few listens but can't deny it's a 5*. This is so far ahead of 1975 that they could be time travellers setting future multi-genres.

Gorgeous record - structured in a way which doesn't make much sense but reveals itself over time. So moving on the a-side and the b-side is so innovative. Can hear this from goth to post-rock, ambient, rhythmic electronic music, vaporwave (James Ferraro must have studied this) - the production is so beautiful and it all comes together so well.

my kind of discovery. It reminded me of Labradford, which I also love.

147/1001. Krautrock is still one of my favorite musical sausages, a bit hard to tell why since it is based on repetition - not many dishes, which consist of seemingly few ingredients can be eaten again and again. Maybe it is the local and fresh ingredients and the right spices here now and then. The taste is solid and doesn't become too monotonous. It can be consumed (both sides of a) plate after plate, without feeling that one is too much full. I have tasted Neu! before, although I am more familiar of eraly Kraftwerk, Faust, Can and later culinary mixtures of Stereolab and Circle to name a few. This plate was a good reminder to consume the band more and taste their ealier offerings as well as various side offerings and solo ouvres that the master chefs have prepared for us to enjoy. What did you say? KrautROCK, not wurst?

first time listener and i liked it a lot!! very different

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.

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

That's a pretty cool album I like how it kind of ranges from ambient to metal and protopunk I'll be keeping that one around and checking out their other stuff

First Listen; 4; Plodding, expansive mood in the first few tracks, almost ambient, with a more exotic feel and stranger sounding instrument effects. Transitions to more rocking in the second half. Not a complete expert on this, but this feels like much more of a precursor to modern indie and alternative rock than other music of the time period. Has repetitive rhythms and throbbing, driving guitar. The long tracks really let you get lost in the feeling of it all. Favorite Track: E-Musik

Massively influential album in spite of - or perhaps because of - its dual nature; contemplative keyboard-based pieces underscored by the familiar motorik beat give way to raucous guitar-based chaos with accompanying unhinged vocals. Love it; more of this sort of thing, please.

...Huh. This is a weird one. 21 minutes of gentle pleasant atmosphere and then it's like they heard Wire's Pink Flag for the first time and decided, "Oh fuck yeah, we're doing THAT from now on actually." Except they pre-date Wire's Pink Flag by nearly 3 years with this. For all I've heard about the startling originality et cetera of Pink Flag in its day you'd think I'd have at least heard of this band and record before? I guess that's why I embarked on this project to start with... I'm certainly glad to have heard them now! Enjoyed both halves quite a bit; will be back to listen again

Jeg kan godt mærke at jeg er ret alene her, men jeg synes, det er fremragende album. Altså som i mindst 4 stjerner. For det første er det vanvittigt, at det er lavet i 75 - så kan man snakke om at være foran sin tid - det er fanme vildt at lave elektronisk ambient rock OG proto-punk/proto-industrial på det her tidspunkt. Jeg er også helt vild med trommerne - ikke at jeg ved noget som helst om at spille på trommer, men jeg lægger virkelig mærke til dem og synes de giver pladen en hel dimension i sig selv. Jeg elsker, hvordan albummet består af to helt forskellige sider og stilarter, men alligvel formår at forene dem og binde dem sammen ved lade albummet bygge op, stille og roligt, så det nærmest går op i en højere enhed/katarsis, når man rammer 'After Eight'. Den første side er nærmest over i Sigur Ros territorie, hvilket i sig selv er et kæmpe plus, men det bliver ikke mindre imponerende af, at de var små 25 år på forkant. Anden side virker til tider som en krydsning mellem punk og pink floyd, med noter af David Bowie - på den gode måde. Alt i alt lidt af et mesterværk, men selvom jeg sætter stor pris på næsten alle aspekter af albummet, så mangler der måske alligevel et eller andet jeg ikke rigtig kan sætte fingeren på, der får det helt op på de 5 stjerner

Side 1 very chill. Side 2 more driving, similar to their debut (which belongs on this list).

Very good album. I like the two sides approach: Side A for the ambient/atmospheric sounds, and Side B for the more rock-oriented (but also highly experimental) music. I personally prefer side B, which I find somewhat more "interesting" (with Side A being more "easy-listening"). In side A, I particularly enjoyed "Seeland". Regarding side B, I enjoyed all three songs, with "Hero" being probably my favourite track. However, the experimentation of "E-Musik" is really worth listening. Finally, "After Eight" is probably a more "conventional" punk-rock song, but still very good. Overall, I think this deserves 4 stars.

Super chill, great background music to work to.

This album has grown on me. 4. This is the 100th on this particular project!. I think I have crossed the line on all five projects! I have made over 500 reviews! Guess I’m congratulating myself. 4 Boolean: True

The influence of Neu! 75 extends far past David Bowie in the mainstream. It's actually astounding how many completely different bands got something out of it, really. I can imagine both Sonic Youth and U2 worshipping this album. Constructing a largely instrumental album requires more than creating pretty soundscapes. While Neu! definitely do a great job in that department, they also manage to tell a story. The way this album flows is just magnetic. The bright starting track, ISI, gently fades into the hypnotic, dreamy duo of Seeland and Leb' wohl, before the rest of the album abruptly starts pounding at you with harsh, but nevertheless pleasing proto-punk sounds. It's a combination that doesn't exactly sound coherent, but it eerily mirrors life. Have you ever had a crazy, intense couple of days, took a moment after the dust settled down, and thought to yourself how you got to this point without absolutely falling apart? You even got out without a scratch. Then, after a couple of moments of quiet, it's time to do it all over again and jump head-first into the mess. It's an endless cycle, the contrast between peace and chaos that keeps you alive. This album structure was born out of a compromise between two feuding musicians, but the result feels deliberate and life-affirming. Favourite track: Leb' wohl

When this is good, it’s really really good. ‘Isi’ and ‘E-Musik’ are gorgeous. But there are just a few really odd decisions that let down the side in the second half. Predominantly in the realm of the vocals. If they’d decided to keep this instrumental or even found a really well suited singer (and possibly lyricist?) for the tracks with vocals, it might’ve been an absolute masterpiece.

Not the best neu! But still amazing

this album cover mmmmight ring a bell but i don't think i know this one. it's described as krautrock so i'm interested to hear this because i feel like i enjoy a lot of things *inspired by* krautrock but not necessarily a lot of the genuine article from the jump, this does not sound like i was expecting it to lmao. lot more conventional, tbh. also very modern- you could have told me this was made last year and i'd believe you i was in fact recognizing the album cover! i've heard Seeland, i think it's on.... some playlist i have. and i like it very much Leb' Wohl is very pretty. little surprised the lyrics are in english and honestly i think i'd prefer they weren't. title evidently means 'Farewell'. i took some college german and got pretty far with it but didn't remember that. (i have a lot of affection for german. it's a very regular language. you can learn 90% of the grammar in a basic college sequence. it's also frankly a more beautiful language than anyone gives it credit for) Hero is a jam E-Musik is also a jam and there's some really interesting guitar sound and backmasking at the end here After Eight is *also* a jam. this or E-Musik is probably my favorite track i dunno, it's definitely repetitive, but in a way i like and something about it speaks to me. a bunch of music i like sounds similar to this. i don't know that i would think to go back and listen to it again but i enjoyed it. kind of curious about their other work. evidently at least one of these guys was involved with Kraftwerk, who i wasn't particularly into as a kid but i'd like to see if i still feel the same way now. torn between a 3 and a 4 here. i'm going to allow myself a little contrarianism and slant 4 because i have a feeling this one has a low rating

Millegipärast mõjus see album mulle väga hästi. Progerocki laadne ambient muusika, mille nautimiseks ma ei pea sõnadest aru saama. Krautrock on minu jaoks täiesti uus žanr ka. 1975. a kohta on see plaat tõesti vägev ja järgmine hinnang ei pruugi olla objektiivne. 3.5/5

Absolute delight. 4/5

Short and sweet. I liked the ambient side. I was also comfortable with the driving drumming. It didn’t wow me, but it was quite palatable. It’s Good, 7/10.

There are moments in this record that feel so post-punk that it’s hard to reconcile that this record came out before punk had exploded even globally. It can’t be post punk if it came first, right? Maybe kraut rock and punk rock came from similar strands of glam rock. Maybe post-punk is actually a progression of kraut rock? A lot of reviews talk about this album going off the rails at the halfway point and I didn’t really catch that. If anything, it took that one extra step towards punk rock and got more interesting in the second half. I think my real score for this is somewhere around 3.5 stars, but I'm going to round up because I listened through a few times and it started playing after another album last night and I still wasn't mad about listening to it again.

Hero I think was my favorite track, but the album really blended together in a blur so it was kinda hard to really think about a certain track being different from the rest but overall a good and chill sort of album

When this album kicked off I wasn't impressed. Maybe it's dressed up elevator music, I thought? But now I'm on my third listen and show no signs of stopping. Could this be the soundtrack for working from home? There is enough dynamic interest here so that your brain doesn't turn off but it's also more than just "not boring".

It has been a while since I have listened to Neu!, and I can't lie I shut them out simply because I wasn't big into their Krautrock style of music. At least I thought I wasn't into it until I heard their 3rd studio album, Neu! '75, and was transfixed on just how much they had morphed their sound and created a stunning and quite calming Ambient/Electronic album. Never did I ever think Neu! would make anything close to Electronic music despite me knowing they are German and all in the same scene as Kraftwerk and other heavily influential acts looking for new ways to reach out and try new things. There is still some of their signature Rock sound here with the last 3 tracks, but it doesn't feel as strange or unorthodox as some of their previous work. It is almost split down the middle, which is an interesting way to present a project, but I can also very easily relate it to how Bowie made both Low and "Heroes" in nearly the same formats. Neu! '75 was quite a surprise and something I am super glad I was recommended because I would not have given this gem a proper listen otherwise.

I really enjoyed all of this. Although I've no idea what it was, apparently they were a duo who's ideas diverged and so the first half was more ambient. It was a cool, post rocky kind of ambience that I really enjoyed... Then the 2nd half was rockier, but then each track was totally different. I enjoyed them all but they seemed completely unrelated from each other. One was pinky, one was post rocky, one was just rocky. It was all over the place. But again, I liked them all. Weird. But really good.

I really need to stop reading the reviews before I listen to my album. I thought the shift was gonna completely blow me away but I can kinda see how it developed into a more punk-sounding album. Loved the ambient stuff as well, but I can't see myself listening to this on my own time.

I believe my only previous reference for what "kraut rock" is was Can. And to me, this felt vastly different than that band. It felt less jammy and psychadelic (though those elements are still here), and more atmospheric, something closer to ambient music or proto-post-rock. I was taken aback initially by just how gorgeous that core piano melody and light strumming combination was on the opener 'ISI'. The song feels like the sun rising after an awful storm and was the highlight of the album for me. 'Seeland' gave me the strongest post-rock vibes with those massive guitar waves, and 'Leb' wohl' gave me the strongest ambient vibe; it's like something that would appear on the early Eno ambient series if you removed the vocals. 'Hero' and the closer 'After Eight' were far closer to the kraut rock sounds I was expecting going into this. The former is just such a fiery track that manages to not burn out despite its 7-minute length. And the vocals are absolutely infectious, just raw, gross, and over-the-top in all the best ways. And that closer also had a sort of distorted punk energy, much rawer direction, especially when you compare it to where the album started. Good listening, been meaning to listen to this band for a while now and they didn't disappoint, a really infectious record.

1975 • 6 songs • 42 minutes not looking good for these guys genre: psychedelic rock mmm not helping conclusion: not terrible tbh. it had highs and lows but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. even the more experimental stuff was interesting to listen to

NEU! 75 feles like Neu!'s s/t debut (NEU!) is wearing fancier clothes. Neu! is very much riding that same motorik rhythm as they did when they first started, but now their sound encorporates more electronics, piano, explores ambient sound, and generally becoming a more sophisticated version of the same. It's that good ol' German psych rock, just a little more grown up and distinguished.

I really liked this one. It sounds timeless in a surprising way—you could have told me it came out ten years ago, and I would have believed it. My spouse and I listened while we built Lego together, and it was a fun side-activity. Repetitive, but interesting. As I've gotten more into creating electronic music, I've noticed the proclivity toward minor-mode, dark harmonic and melodic material. I like how cheery a lot of this music sounds. And then it eventually gets to "Hero," which takes things in a new, punk/new wave direction, which I also enjoyed. Very cool find, and one I know I wouldn't have stumbled on without this list!

FUN!

Really interesting ambient parts, very surprised by this one

This is definitely a very bizarre album. It starts out beautiful, with a genre that I've never heard before. Something about it just scratches my brain. The sleek production baffles me considering this came out in 1975. Something this album is a master of doing is making so much space feel so full, which I will thoroughly compliment. The first 3 tracks are all astonishing, with the simple waves of euphoria being just what I needed for a change of pace due to the other albums the list has been giving me. Unfortunately, the 4th and 6th songs feature some of the worst vocals I've heard in my entire life. The instrumentation remains awesome under them, making it almost bearable. It's just such a shame a perfect album was completely ruined by the worst possible performance. Other than the vocals, this shit's gas.

pretty cool

For an album that you can hear so much of in later music (namely Bowie's Berlin trilogy), it's suprisingly under0discussed. I don't think the best songs in this live up to the best songs on Heroes, and there's a slight thin-ness to a couple of the aongs, but overall holds up remarkably well.

No expectations. Had never heard of them. Not much vocals and when they started I was initially not impressed but by the end of the track was quite happy with them. It's going around again and I will probably listen to the entire album again. In my headphones on a Saturday afternoon working around the house. Thanks generator for the selection. I didn't know krautrock was a genre but very happy with this. Rocking at times and very delicate at times.

amazing

Transcendent and influential album. The first half of the record invokes the ambient, atmospheric sounds and rhythms you hear in ethereal post-rock while the second half introduces the trademark fast-paced classic time signatures that drive punk rock forward. As a first time listener, there are many bands that I heard on this record. No wonder many artists credit NEU! as an influence....the blueprint for punk, shoegaze, and post-rock hard to ignore. I will be def be listening to their discography.

Still great

Great motorik jams

Nice chill Sunday morning album

A good and varied album. Good night driving songs

Krautrock! FTW

Need to give this several more listens to really leave a good review. Main goal of this project for me is to find inspiration for my music writing. This album for some reason helped spark a lot of ideas

Pretty fun. Some blade runner vibes

Ended up accidentally falling sleep whilst first listening to this as it was too hot and I didn't sleep well the night before... And it was a pretty cool experience. I didn't even really feel that tired before listening, but something about the hypnotic atmosphere of the first two tracks made it feel like the consciousness was almost ripped from my body. I still took a lot of it in in this time, as it felt very familiar when I went back and tried it again, especially with the second half which was playing as I kept waking up. I do think it is a bit repetitive in a way that is intentional but not necessarily interesting to me in the way that drone can be, but I do like this. Another observation I had was that I've been meaning to try more krautrock for a while since it has influenced a lot of bands I like, but I actually found this surprisingly fresh and different to those. The fact that this was made when it was is also really cool, especially considering the simultaneous proto- and post-punk elements.

Wow can't believe this was released in 1975!

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.

zoning in zoning out

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.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NEU! is one of those bands I slept on for a long time. I think when I was a teenager I thought krautrock, prog rock and electronic music was all kind of similar and I wouldn’t like it, but I remember reading articles and interviews with bands and artists I did like and NEU! Kept popping up. I would hear a sound here and there, but that didn’t solidify my perception because they all sound like a different band. Once I hit my 20s I started feeling more experimental and liked challenging myself I got into NEU! and all those deterrents became dividends. This album has a lot of variety, but it’s also really solid and steady with different themes and moods but it never feels disparate. It’s great. I recommend. 4.7^

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

Chill electronic some funky vocals, lowkey

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.

4 listened to this so long ago but i never forgot it so I can't possibly rate it any lower than a 4. It definitely introduced me to a lot of prog rock. faves: hero, leb wohl

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.