Pitchfork Media:
Astralwerks to Reissue Classic Neu! Albums
Joe Tangari reports:
Electronica fans, open your ears and receive knowledge! The seminal Krautrock duo Neu! are getting the reissue treatment from the good folks at Astralwerks, according to that label's website. On May 1st, 1972's Neu!, 1973's Neu! 2, and 1975's Neu! 75 will be reissued and endowed with extensive liner notes for their first-ever releases outside of Germany. Though they never received much exposure outside of their homeland, Neu!'s innovative lock-groove techno and spare melodies resonate throughout the modern music landscape. The band's influence can be heard anywhere from Sonic Youth, Appliance, and Th' Faith Healers to Mouse on Mars, Add N to (X), and-- oh yeah-- Stereolab.
Neu! first appeared in 1971 as a duo, made up of former Kraftwerk members Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, who sought to pursue the aesthetic of their former band on their own. The duo's first record is generally regarded as a landmark for electronic music, touching on the minimalist themes and strident rhythms of today's electronica three decades in advance. Their second album, Neu! 2, consisted of only two songs, remixed and warped to such an extent that they filled a full LP. The third album of this reissue series, Neu! 75, was actually a reunion album of sorts for the duo; both joined other bands in 1973, and they quickly disbanded again after completing their third opus.
Astralwerks:
http://www.astralwerks.com