Sunday 6 August 2017

Harmonia ‎– "Documents 1975" (Grönland Records ‎– CDGRON152) 2016





Long lost and forgotten recordings of Harmonia in actionin 1975,as archived by Berlin School electronicist Asmus Tietchens, who provides the liner notes.
He mentions, Beckett's play "Krapps Last Tape", which is appropriate, not as a reference to using recorded sound as memories, but as a testament, or a document, to the fact that this tape isn't Krap, with one 'P'. In fact its some of the best Harmonia on record,and some thanks for this goes to Mani Neumeier(drums)of Guru Guru who adds some much needed looseness to the proceedings, and therefore,strays somewhat from basic 'Motorik' principles.
As always with Moebius and Roedelius, some of the keyboard sounds remind one of the presets on a Casiotone, as a juxtaposition between muzak and the avant-garde; always an interesting place to inhabit.

Tracklist:

Tiki-Taka At Harmonia Studio In Forst 6:28
Live At Onkel Pö In Hamburg 9:12
Proto-Deluxe At Harmonia Studio In Forst 4:30
Live At Fabrik In Hamburg 11:38

1: Tiki-Taka at Harmonia Studio in Forst (1975)
2: Live at Onkel Pö in Hamburg (1975)
3: Proto-Deluxe at Harmonia Studio in Forst (1975)
4: Live at Fabrik in Hamburg (1975)

2+4: Culled from the tape archives of Asmus Tietchens.
1+3: Culled from the M.R. tape archives in Forst.

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5 comments:

  1. rev.b6 August 2017 at 21:11

    I haven’t come across this one yet, but obviously I’m interested and thank you for the introduction. As cheesy as they can sound, I’ve always been drawn to Casio keyboards. I used to play them in a band named Anne Such which played live only in my basement. I think it has less to do with what equipment is used than HOW it is used.

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  2. Anonymous7 August 2017 at 07:10

    German band Trio made good use of the Casio keyboards.- Grego, Australia.

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  3. Steve8 August 2017 at 22:36

    Asmus Tietchens, throughout his vast and VARIED catalog of works, has never shown any affinity for the Berlin school sound. He should NEVER be lumped in with the so-called "Berlin School" sound. Possibly rare exception might be the recording 'Zwingburgen Des Hedonismus,' a single sided LP long form work released in 1987 by Multimood Records, Sweden.

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  4. Anonymous13 March 2018 at 00:23

    Absolute gem of a recording, a must have for fans of Harmonia and
    German electronic music. Immer Wieder is stunningly mind blowing
    on this record. Many thanx to DIE/DIY.

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  5. Anonymous1 July 2018 at 22:59

    Cheers, cheers, cheers! I know you're a bit sceptical of this lot, but I rate them. Thx. W

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