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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Zuckerzeit

Cluster

1974

Zuckerzeit

Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

Zuckerzeit (German: Sugar Time) is the third studio album by German band Cluster, released in 1974 on Brain Records. It was co-produced by Michael Rother, their bandmate in side-project Harmonia. The music on Zuckerzeit marks a shift from Cluster's abrasive early work toward a more rhythmic, pop-oriented sound. Pitchfork ranked the album at number 63 on its list of the top 100 albums of the 1970s, while writer and musician Julian Cope included Zuckerzeit in his "Krautrock Top 50" list. John Bush of AllMusic described Zuckerzeit as "an unexpected jump from the extended kosmische jams of Cluster 71 into uncharted territory [...] fusing the duo's haunted melodic sense with crisp, scratchy drum programs." Andy Beta of Pitchfork described it as "electronic pop at its most protean," and compared it to "a sugar overload: giddy, infectious, manic and a little queasy." Peter Cauvel of Vinyl Me, Please stated that "even with drum machines and synths, Cluster pushed past the rigidity that defined their more successful peers in Kraftwerk, making spacier, improvisational electronic music."

Wikipedia

Rating

2.91

Votes

211

Submitter

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Reviews

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Sort by: Top Date
Jan 09 2024
4

I quite enjoyed this, listened a few times. It comes off as such friendly music despite being extremely experimental.

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Feb 17 2024
5

There are multiple ways to read the boiling down of the music herein, attach something to -ness and file the record as precursor. At worst, think of the decent video game of the middle stretches; Otherwise, consider at least two label catalogs I could name, or motorik beats on a machine, or synths that bite back. Really, though, krautrock remains rarefied air, and Cluster master a pop expression of it in still-expansive form.

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Jan 09 2024
5

1974 was a watershed year for electronic music. Tangerine Dream released the spacey, kosmische "Phaedra," and Kraftwerk released their epic ode to the German motorway with "Autobahn." Both albums which are part of the official 1001 list, and rightly so. But somewhere in the liminal space between those two more famous albums lies "Zuckerzeit," which was also released in that most auspicious year. "Zuckerzeit" is much more tightly packaged and catchy than the loose and atmospheric "Phaedra," but it is far less rigid than the conceptual "Autobahn." It was a turning point in Cluster's work, moving away from their noisier and more abrasive past in Berlin, and towards something closer to IDM, which would take another 2 decades to fully develop.

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Jan 11 2024
4

A really fun time listening to ambient german beats! Somewhere between vaporwave and retro-german-techno-futurism. What a cool find!

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Feb 01 2024
4

Electro pioneer Germans always get my vote. Ausgezeichnet!

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Sep 07 2023
3

Kinda spacey krautrock stuff, drawn out and stoned. Moogs and drumkits and bass and whatnot. Great vibe, maybe a bit *too* drawn out in places, but still a good 3/5.

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Mar 01 2024
3

Very synthesized, almost ambient "jam music." Ze Germans always had a good corner on this particular type of music. Had never heard of them until now. Based on late 60's-70's timeframe I'd imagine lots of bands watched these guys and took notes for the late 70's-80's synth "noise bands."

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Feb 15 2024
4

7/10. Had no idea what this was going in, and enjoyed it. Good instrumental music.

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Oct 05 2024
4

I'm impressed by the number of Krautrock albums on the original- and user list. Having listened to them, I must admit they all deserve to be on it. Zuckerzeit (great album cover) is a banger.

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Jan 14 2024
2

Couldn't come around on this one, just synthesizer noodling.

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May 01 2024
2

Interesting at times, but overall not my thing. It was 37 minutes long but it felt like an hour and a half. 2 stars.

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May 28 2024
5

This is a watershed electronic album featuring drum machines and synthesizers in an avant garde style. This komische style music was incredibly influential in the further development of electronic music and post-punk. This album definitely should have been on the original list.

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Jan 09 2024
4

Fun and happy sounding instrumental Krautrock. I can't say I've listened to much Cluster so this was a fun revisiting.

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Jan 17 2024
4

Pretty good Krautrock, although I think the selections on the list cover the genre quite well.

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Jun 24 2024
4

An actual deep cut that surprised me with its depth. While the uptempo energy does peter out over the course of the LP, the strong start is enough to demand attention with its layered rhythms and punchy, bassy synths. Most of the electronica from this era has aged poorly due to the high-pitched treble-drenched synth choices of the time, so to find a well-done LP with some electronic meat on its bones is a real treat

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Oct 31 2023
3

Classic German artist style beat.

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Jan 17 2024
3

Perfectly fine and foundational early electronic music, but nothing here blew me away like contemporaries such as Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, or Can.

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Feb 03 2024
3

Comparisons with their fellow Krautrock peers are inevitable and I must say I much prefer the more melodic Kraftwerk or the spacey/prog sound of Tangerine Dream. I think these guys really start cooking when they're joined by Eno, but alas Eno is nowhere to be found on this album.

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Mar 24 2024
3

I'm not a fan of Krautrock at all. I've never been able to get into the sound of the genre's big names like Can or Faust, so when I saw this album by a lesser-known band like Cluster, I was all over it. I was wrong. It's not an album that changes my opinion of the genre, but it's the most accessible thing I've heard from the era. Short instrumental tracks that could almost work as protosynth-pop. An enjoyable and appreciated listen

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Mar 28 2024
3

Typical Krautrock. Not bad, but not really my first choice of music

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Jan 30 2024
2

Pas trop mon style, meme pour un album genre electro.. 2.75

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Feb 15 2024
2

I really wish I was more open-minded when it comes to musical genres that live in the more outer regions of the musical spectrum. I would really love to actually 'get' music like Cluster's. But I don't. I can't wrap my head around why this would be even remotely interesting for anyone to listen to. Luckily there are many people that do 'get' this. Makes life a lot less plain and boring. But still, to me this sounds like endless noodling on electronic switch-boards. I envy those that hear actual music in this.

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Feb 15 2024
1

Als het openingsnummer al geen zang bevat, maar wel elektronische gelaagdheid weet ik genoeg.

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Jan 13 2025
5

I think I’m quite happy having this added to the list… it’s a different kind of thing than the contemporaneous Autobahn by Kraftwerk. It’s more atmospheric, not afraid to loll around a bit. By the end I was quite mesmerized! I’m sort of predisposed to enjoy some Moog shenanigans, and enjoy this I did!

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Jul 01 2024
4

This is so cool. Thanks for sharing it. Whimsical and strange with an occasional undercurrent of menace. Minimalist, but rich with nuance. This is an underheard album in the Krautrock-verse, but it's a really excellent listen and highly influential. You can hear echoes of this music in pretty much every electronic band that followed it. Fave Songs: Fotschi Tong, Caramel, Marzipan, Hollywood, James

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Oct 09 2024
4

I really enjoyed this. Kraftwerk and Neu but something bouncier. I reckon I’ll end up buying it.

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Jan 13 2025
4

It was cool and different. Very futuristic in a 70s kind of way.

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May 11 2024
3

Incredibly impressive for 1974, the use of electronics is bright, atmospheric, and able to induce feelings of calmness, energy, and hope. It sounds incredible, very clean and you're able to pull apart the layers. There are some amazing unique styles on here. My major complaint is that it does sometimes come off as a bit harsh, with moments where it sounds like the dudes are just abruptly hitting random keys. It's more noticeable in the eerier more experimental tracks, which I don't think are very good compared to the brighter, fuller ones. I think one reason it sounds a bit harsh and weird at times is because the technology is dated (rather than their skill or precursor artists), and I'm sure it would sound so much smoother had they used stuff from just a few years later.

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Sep 08 2024
3

Gentle instrumental electronic krautrock that gives off a great sense of movement. Sounds like a 90s computer game. Rating: 3 Playlist track: HeiBe Lippen Date listened: 09/09/24

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Jan 06 2025
3

Really cool electronic pick, I liked this one a lot! Certainly worth a listen, thanks for sharing! 3.5/5

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Nov 29 2024
1

It is like the soundtrack of the most annoying video game you have never played

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Jan 23 2025
5

A first time listen for me and a great suggestion. Thanks.

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Feb 03 2025
5

Hypnotic beats with a synthy edge. Very easy to get lot in, and seldom outstays its welcome.

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Jun 27 2025
5

A personal favourite, glad to see that someone else thought to include it here! There’s a light bounce to this album that keeps me circling back to it. A early example of electronic pop. Sweet!

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Jul 17 2025
5

There’s a beauty in the repetition of Krautrock and Cluster’s take on it is no exception. At its core, repetition is the base of the song, but on top of it, layers get added in, one after another. The layers interweave with the base, fading in and out of focus, building up and breaking down…they breathe life into the base and it becomes something more: a sort of pulsating, self-sustaining, auditory organism. That same repetition is found in our day to day lives, our routines: We get up, go to work, have lunch, finish the workday, go home and have dinner, relax and then go to sleep to do it again. Despite that repetition, every day is not the same. Each day, there are different layers, no matter how minuscule they seem, that weave in and out, moving our days forward and changing their trajectory in various ways. This is the music of life

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May 24 2024
4

These deserves to be on the list instead of Kraftwerk. Experimental bubble gum pop, which is apparently right in my wheelhouse.

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Jan 11 2025
4

Interesting in a sort of "retro futuristic" sort of way. Like, "this is what the 70s thought the future would sound like" sort of way. I think it sounds a little jam-ish, a little sloppy. I think if it had sanded off a few of those imperfections, it'd be better. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Caramba"

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Feb 13 2025
4

This is stupid but sometimes it feels like a subplot of the main and user list is trying to find who really made electronica first. First it’s some no name 80s American band, then it’s tangerine dream then it’s kraftwerk then it this, which I think is a kraftwerk contemporary. Like I’ve heard β€œthis is electronica in its earliest form” at least 3 times now. Anyway this was mostly mid but fotschi tong is such an insanely catchy banger that I have no choice but to give it a 4. Can’t wait to listen to it on drugs.

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Mar 12 2025
4

Very much enjoyed this. One song in I thought it might end up on my 'music for coding' playlist and it has.

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Mar 24 2025
4

Pretty nice, never heard of these guys before, I’ll certainly listen to it again,

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Apr 24 2025
4

Another group of movers and shakers within Germany's evolving krautrock scene, this time with more electronic influences. Cluster's first two albums would be produced by Conny Plank, who would also produce for Kraftwerk and Neu!. Clearly, Plank was cooking up some of best music from Germany. Zuckerzeit has no plank though, as Cluster homed in on the playful electronic music that Kraftwerk would eventually get all the credit for. Not so! These kosmische are worth a listen to at least broaden more horizons beyond the usual krautrock staples. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Sure!

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May 04 2025
4

A highlight in the electronic Krautrock. It seems to have all the basic ingredients that would make electronic music big about 15 years later

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Jun 30 2025
4

One's fully onboard with this quality Krautrock – and very much enjoy it being on the contemplative side though it can seem borderline inert at times. One has no idea what a "Folschi Tong" or a "Rote Riki" or "Heise Lippen" (best cut) would be but mostly dig all of the above. Not sure this would add much to list proper but certainly seems on par musically (and musicologically on other albums of this ilk and era).

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Jul 25 2025
4

I'm in a bad mood today, you could say "morgenmuffel", after a bad night. This isn't what I thought it would be and was quite glad it wasn't some complex, over produced, space rock, nonsense. The chill-out vibe, instrumentals were exactly what I needed. The last few songs did get a bit weird though. If I was in a good mood perhaps my review would be completely different. Oh well.

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Apr 17 2024
3

A surprising variety, not really my thing though

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Aug 04 2024
3

Definitely more pop and sugary than Kraftwerk, but, as with sweet confectionery, not nearly as satisfying.

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Oct 29 2024
3

Not bad. Surprisingly minimalist. It really seems like a very basic electronic loop with a few layers and a little atmosphere. Stripped down and each track doesn't wander too far from that. Interesting to listen to, but it doesn't do a lot to capture your attention. I did have a moment where i was getting a Heroin/VU vibe from James.

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Dec 12 2024
3

Electronic, avant-pop, kosmische, electronic pop, krautrock. Ni fu ni fa.

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Jan 06 2025
3

Interesting instrumental ambient type album. Listed as rock but I certainly wouldn’t classify it as such. I liked it!

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Jan 19 2025
3

This was a cluster of synthesizers. Not a bad background listen.

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Jan 23 2025
3

It just faded into the background as I listened to it. Nothing really special. It's neat historical curiosity and living in Germany I'm sure I could find a bunch of their records laying around, but nothing that will stick with me beyond that. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3.5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No.

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Feb 03 2025
3

Fartstep. Pretty minimalistic krautrock. Very gloopy, very bloopy.

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May 26 2025
3

Another record in place in the category for probably not coming back to, back glad that I’ve listened to. This user list has been great for providing records in this category for me. Enjoyable from front to back.

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Jul 13 2025
3

A really cool and varied kind of krautrock / kind of electronic album, with some tracks resembling the ambient soundscapes of Tangerine Dream and others having those tight and almost mechanical krautrock grooves. It’s a lot more concise and to the point than a lot of other krautrock albums I’ve heard though, with a real pop sensibility shining through, and also sounds ahead of it’s time in quite a few places - Caramel sounds like it could be an LCD Soundsystem instrumental and Marzipan sounds like something from Butterfly 3000 It was a bit inconsistent, with some songs really not doing much for me at all, but the highs were pretty impressive and it’s one I’d revisit for sure

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Feb 15 2024
2

Listening to this while working was not the move. It just stressed me out more and ended up giving me a headache. 4/10

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May 17 2024
2

Eh. It is just synthesizers and techno. Thankfully it was short.

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Oct 29 2024
2

I'm not sure I understand this one, either. It sounds like a bunch of songs you might hear at a carnival, with other instruments.

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Dec 02 2024
2

Just too much synthesisers for my taste.

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Feb 22 2025
2

Zuckerzeit isn't for me, lo-fi electronic stuff is boring, not rubbish enough for a 1/5 but close. 2.

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Apr 09 2025
2

One of the things I learned from this list is the actual definition of krautrock. I had a vision of David Hasselhoff in my mind, 80s, leather, metal studs, mullets and pointy guitars. I was pleasantly surprised to learn its true nature - experimental, electronica from the early 70s. So I was happy to get another example here to expand my knowledge. Unfortunately, this leans too far into β€œexperimental” and ends up as noddling. None of the tracks seem to have much purpose and no-one in the outfit has the ability to write any form of hook. I think I’d rather listen to The Scorpions.

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Apr 27 2025
2

This isn’t really my cup of tea and that’s okay. I’m not a fan of early electronic music although I give it full reverence for the path that it started us on towards today’s music.

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May 05 2025
2

Meh. Not for me. Not enough substance.

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May 30 2025
2

Was it supposed to be different from the original list or some kind of weird complement to it?

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Jun 18 2025
2

Looks like fun! Should be fun! But isn't that much fun. Mostly just stressed me out. I learned through this project that I'm a huge Kraftwerk fan. But this just doesn't do it for me. I do respect the share and am glad to heard a little more of this kind of music.

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Jul 17 2025
2

It’s almost like anyone living in West Germany was forced to learn how to play a theremin. Yes, it’s pleasantly bleepy and bloopy and signals things to come but it’s the harbinger, not the messiah. It’s an appetiser to the synth heaven of the 80s and should be appreciated as such.

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Sep 01 2024
1

This seemed like an incomplete album. As I listened to it felt like it was missing something. I get it was an electronic but other electronic albums have more substance. This was just the base layer of something that could’ve been better. 2.2/10

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May 23 2025
1

Noises. Why would someone add more albums like this onto the list?

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