Veterano
song by Harmonia
“If the history of electronic music was a movie, and if you read our previous articles about Cluster and other German electronic musicians, you would understand the cast by now. ”
It's a 70s German movie starring Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, and probably Robert Moog as best supporting actor. Their names are referenced constantly when exploring the music production of this glorious era.
Harmonia was one of the first "supergroups" ever. They formed in 1973 as a collaboration between Cluster's Roedelius, Moebius, and Neu! guitarist Michael Rother.
Their collaborator Brian Eno described them in the mid-1970s as "the world's most important rock group," and it's easy to believe. Their experimental music inspired thousands of musicians, including superstars like David Bowie, Nick Cave, and other influential bands like My Bloody Valentine.
Harmonia music was rediscovered and brought back to life in 2007 when they finally reunited and performed live worldwide. They played gigs in Germany, the US, Norway, Australia, and for the first time in the UK in 2008, performing at the opening night of the Ether Festival in Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre, London.
“Their album Musik Von Harmonia was released in 1974, produced by Harmonia themselves using a primitive mixer and three tape recorders. ”
Rother brought some of his equipment to Cluster's studio in the German rural village of Forst, which included Farfisa organs, a stereo mixer, and an Elka Drummer One rhythm machine.
The band used the same equipment mentioned in our previous Zuckerzeit review. After the release of Musik Von Harmonia and a period on tour, Rother took a break to record the third Neu! album to complete his contractual obligations. In his absence, Roedelius and Moebius recorded Zuckerzeit, with Rother credited as co-producer.
You could even consider Musik Von Harmonia and Zuckerzeit as twin albums.
“This is what has always made me appreciate bands more than solo artists. ”
What was happening to the German trio is something you might only experience a few times in your musical career if you're very, very lucky: perfect musical alchemy between musicians.
Harmonia was the ideal combination of early electronic experiments combined with the 70s rock attitude and the excellent guitar style of Rother. It mixed all the best elements from bands like Neu!, Cluster, Can, and Faust, producing possibly the most fascinating and exciting "Krautrock era" album.
Veterano is my favorite track on the album! With a fast beat and a hypnotic arpeggiator oscillating through the mix with Rother's guitar in the right channel, playing a futuristic solo-type melody- an unconventional way to play where all of the rules of classic rock and blues guitar are drastically altered.
It's probably one of the best examples of innovative guitar playing. We'll also find it years later in several Radiohead songs, introducing and demonstrating the potentialities of an electronic music attitude to the listeners.
