In the mid-70s Brian Eno reportedly dubbed Harmonia “the world’s most important rock band,” later joining the Krautrock supergroup for several sessions in 1976. The group was founded by three of Germany’s experimental heavyweights, including Michael Rother of Neu! (and early Kraftwerk), along with ambient experimentalists Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedeliu of Cluster. The trio lasted just two years and has a slim back-catalog, but have been highly influential on ambient and electronic music.

On their debut album, Harmonia brought together chugging motorik rhythms of Rother’s Neu! with the ambient music of Moebius’ and Roedeliu’s Cluster. The result was the euphoric, Musik Von Harmonia which appeared in 1974. While staying true to the motorik model, Musik tended to be more smooth and strung out than say, Kraftwerk’s clean frozen soundscapes or Can’s abrasive experimental art rock. The trio’s sophomore effort, Deluxe followed in 1975 and saw the band moving toward more song structure with a pop mentality. The warmth of Musik that spilled over to Deluxe was greatly multiplied as soft pulsating motorik rhythms are perfectly balanced with Harmonia’s chugging electronic drums, droning keyboard melodies, and hypnotic guitar work. After championing the band and being influenced by their first two efforts, Brian Eno joined recording sessions for the third album, Tracks and Traces in 1976. However, the band split up that same year as Rother embarked on a solo career, leading to Tracks and Traces to be shelved until it was finally released in 1997.

Coinciding with the release of the live album Live 1974, Harmonia reunited in 2007, performing live in Berlin for the first time since 1976. The band also recently performed at ATP vs Pitchfork and will be playing live at the stacked My Bloody Valentine-curated ATP New York on September 22nd in Monticello, NY.

[MP3]: Harmonia  ”Dino”

Musik Von Harmonia, Brain; 1974
[MP3]: Harmonia  ”Notre Dame”

Deluxe, Brain; 1975

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