Neu!-Neu! ´75 (1975)

Neu! is one of the fundamental bands of the German krautrock scene, a precursor to, among other things, the famous "motorik" sound, and in just three years they became legends in their native country and across much of continental Europe. Formed after the departure of two original members of the German band Kraftwerk, guitarist Michel Rother and percussionist Klaus Dinger, this duo managed to create a unique style where evocative soundscapes are more stimulating than tranquilizing, with hypnotic melodies, becoming a source of inspiration for many artists in later years, such as Brian Eno. In their brief existence, Neu! released three albums, from their fascinating debut, a masterpiece of experimental rock, "Neu!" (1972), to "Neu! 75" (1975), considered their most accessible and musically skillful work, as well as their most successful release. Their first album contains one of the most iconic compositions in the history of rock music: the monumental track "Hallogallo". After the strange and experimental "Neu! 2", released in 1973, the duo eventually dissolved due to ongoing musical differences and persistent financial problems. Each member pursued separate projects: Dinger founded the band La Düsseldorf, while Rother formed Harmonia with Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius. In 1975, Dinger and Rother reconciled and reunited for their third full-length album, "Neu 75". This album continued the path begun on their debut, featuring schizophrenic and original sounds a work filled with soft, sweet passages that counterpoint more energetic and aggressive climaxes, reminiscent of proto-punk. Divided into two distinct parts, the first side of the LP contains pleasant, atmospheric sounds, directly evoking the raw beauty of Rother's early solo albums. The first three tracks are crafted as a mini-suite of approximately 20 minutes, beginning with the infectious motorik sound of "Isi", continuing with the evocative "See Land", and concluding with the hypnotic, dreamlike "Leb' Wohl". The second side is a complete contrast, featuring corrosive, amplified guitars, powerful percussion, and chaotic vocals. However, the motorik rhythm is ever-present throughout, as demonstrated in the frenetic "Hero" and "After Eight", or the mechanical "E-Musik". This was the last of the three classic recordings by these legendary musicians, until a decade later when they revived the Neu! project. publishing the predictable and unexciting “Neu! 4”, a mediocre work that did not even come close to the enormous creativity and originality of his first three emblematic works.