Cluster’s influence on the development of electronic music cannot be
overstated. The original trio of Conrad Schnitzler, Hans-Joachim
Roedelius and Dieter Moebius released two seminal albums as Kluster
before Roedelius and Moebius replaced the K with a C and continued
as a duo. They produced eight albums in their most innovative period
between 1971 and 1981, two of them together with another pioneer of
electronic music, Brian Eno.

Cluster anticipated much of what would later emerge in such varied
styles as industrial, ambient, electro and even synthpop. Some call
Cluster’s music avant-garde, others Krautrock or Kosmische Musik.
Few would dispute their immense influence on the music of younger
generations, even though commercial success largely eluded them.
Hence their first album, as a microcosm of their entire oeuvre, made the
list of “100 Records That Set The World On Fire (While No One Was
Listening) in The Wire magazine, the ultimate purveyor of good taste.
Our box set contains all eight of the regular LPs which represent their
main phase, plus a previously unreleased album of two live recordings
from the years 1972 and 1977. All of the albums have been remastered
by Willem Makkee. Asmus Tietchens has contributed an exclusive text
on the evolution and significance of the band. The booklets also include
essays on each individual album.

An extract from Asmus Tietchens’ introduction:
Cluster’s role in the development of new German electronic music went
unnoticed for a long while. Cacophonous noise in the 1970s and 1980s
masked the subtlety of Cluster aesthetics, diminishing their force of
impact. Only since the 1990s, and all the more so today, have Cluster
been identified and celebrated as pioneers. The somewhat hackneyed
“avant-garde” tag really amounts to nothing more than being ahead of
one’s time. And those who are ahead of their time often slip out of
sight. Now, twenty, thirty years later, with so many new aural
experiences on offer, listening habits have changed to such a great
extent that we are better placed to assess Cluster’s importance, their
influence on subsequent generations of musicians. It has thus become
easier to appreciate and enjoy their music.

The eight (official) Cluster albums presented here trace the group’s arc
of development over a period of around ten years. Not a particularly
extensive oeuvre compared to many of their peers, but prolificacy was
never a feature of Cluster’s constitution. They only released a new
album when they felt that they had taken a significant step forwards on
their musical trajectory—which goes some way to explaining how
varied and different their LPs were. Cluster were no pedagogues, but
their indirect influence on musicians and, more to the point, on
listeners, resonates until today. Can a legacy be any more alive?

Hi Rick,

The boxset will be available in the U.S., also on Amazon.
You can also pre-order from our online shop directly:
https://shop.tapeterecords.com/new/clus ... oxset.html

But I suppose postage will be way cheaper on the U.S.

Thanks
Nina

Limited to 1000 vinyl sets (180g) and 1500 CD sets.

Release: April 8th, 2016

Content:

CLUSTER 71

originally released 1971 on Philips 6305074

CLUSTER II

originally released 1972 on Brain 1006

ZUCKERZEIT

originally released in 1972 on Brain 1056

SOWIESOSO

originally released in 1976 on SKY 005

CLUSTER & ENO

originally released in 1977 on SKY 010

ENO MOEBIUS ROEDELIUS/ AFTER THE HEAT
originally released in 1978
on SKY 021

GROSSES WASSER

originally released in 1979 on SKY 027

CURIOSUM

originally released in 1981 on SKY 063

KONZERTE 1972/1977

previously unreleased

Thanks! Yep, I have everything except the live one.

Also coming out is The Dark Side of the Moog in 3 box sets. These are performed by Pete Namlook and Klaus Schulze in the late 90s/early 2000s. Originally published privately by Namlook in very limited editions, all 11 volumes are to be published with bonus material. Great analog experimental electronic music. Volume 1 is available now at amazon. Budget priced. I think you will love this series Rick A...

I will have to check into the CDs of the Cluster set. Thanks for the heads up!