West Germany, 1968. Like everywhere else in the Western world, the young generation is pushing for radical change, still suffering the after-effects of the Second World War. Many stream out of the lecture halls and onto the streets.

Some into the underground. And some into the practice basements, in search of the soundtrack of the movement. The unique and adventurous sounds that German bands like Can, Neu!, Amon Düül, Popul Vuh, Tangerine Dream, Faust, Cluster or Kraftwerk produced back then, now known as Krautrock, are considered a blueprint for modern rock music.

And the stream of their creative admirers and continuators has been constantly widening since the first fans like David Bowie and Iggy Pop: whether Blur, Aphex Twin, Sonic Youth, Radiohead or the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. In Neu Klang, Christoph Dallach interviewed its pioneers, including Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay of CAN; Neu!'s Michael Rother; Dieter Moebius of Cluster; Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream; Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk, Brian Eno and many others. Their answers combine to form an oral history that points far beyond the individual band histories: on the one hand, into the past, to Nazi teachers, post-war parental homes, free jazz, terrorism, LSD and extremely long hair; but just as much into the future, to global recognition, myth-making, techno or post-rock.

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 20TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND.

Their influence is widespread, international, continued. NEU! paved the road ahead, created a model of forward propulsion away from hidebound rock cliches. Which is why the NEU! Tribute volume is so especially appropriate. They show how much there is for subsequent generations to unpack in NEU!, how much is buried, implied in their sound.

And so, The National pull back and reveal the latent colours, rhythmic potentials and mental freeways of ‘Im Gluck’. Fink honours the beautiful, lapping waterscape of ‘Weissensee’. Mogwai and Man Man acknowledge the road much travelled laid by ‘Super’. Alexis Taylor’s ‘4+1 = 5’, enhances Rother´s melancholia on ‘Wave Mother’ while Stephen Morris and Gabe Gurnsey’s remix of ‘Hallogallo’ is acid-tipped, machinic, dripping with robot sweat. Yann Tiersen’s remix of ‘Lieber Honig’ plunges deep down into the waters atop which it originally floated, Idles tear up ‘Negativland’ inside out, exposes and rearranges its tangled wires and workings. Finally Guerilla Toss’s ‘Zum Herz’ and They Hate Change’s version of ‘After Eight’ are salutes from a band whose members were unborn in NEU!’s heyday. NEU!, für immer. NEU! forever.

TRACK LISTING

Im Glück (The National Remix) - NEU!
Weissensee (Fink Version) - NEU!, Fink
Super (Mogwai Remix) - NEU!
4+1=5 - NEU!, Alexis Taylor
Hallogallo (Stephen Morris And Gabe Gurnsey Remix) - NEU!
Lieber Honig (Yann Tiersen Remix) - NEU!, Yann Tiersen
Super (Man Man Remix) - NEU!, Man Man
Negativland (Idles Negative Space Rework) - NEU!
Zum Herz - Guerilla Toss, NEU!
After Eight (They Hate Change Cover) - NEU!, They Hate Change

Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; ‘Barbed Wire Halo’ by Annie Anxiety and ‘Neu Smell’ by Flux of Pink Indians.

“Flux of Pink Indian’s anti-capitalist, vegan, anarchist ideologies still resound today (possibly even more than they have in years)” The Quietus
Flux of Pink Indians were an iconic anarcho-punk band active from 1980-1986. In 1981 the band signed to Crass Records, releasing their debut EP ‘Neu Smell’ the same year, featuring indie hit ‘Tube Disaster’. Pulsating bass and grinding, distorted guitar chaos underpins a vicious takedown of media sensationalism and the reporting of everyday tragedies.

Penny continues; “Punk as it should be, but very often wasn’t, Flux assaulted the airwaves with an intelligent humour which, more often than not, was missing with other protagonists of the genre. Grim as it might have been, ‘Neu Smell’ must rate as one of the true gems of the time. Both drowning and waving, Flux’s irony could always put a smile on your face. If not the Ace, they were undoubtedly the Joker in the pack. Join the shuffle”.

Penny finally notes that “Our (Crass’) interest was never in personalities, profits or power, and neither did we have time for reformist liberals. Our position was solidly revolutionary; we took no prisoners. Talking the talk was never enough for us, no, we demanded that we also walk the walk. Ours wasn’t a show, it was a battle, not a living, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle with a difference – rather than looking only to ourselves, we sought to share our gains. I feel that this willingness added great strength to the form of anarchism that we practiced both on stage and out on the street.”

In giving a platform to an impressive array of other bands, Crass Records broadened the front of what popularly became known as anarcho-punk. Not, it must be said, a moniker that Crass themselves much favoured. In this respect, Crass’ classic line, “There is no authority but yourself”, makes its point. Crass sought to empower others, and the output of Crass Records does much to confirm this, while ‘2 By 2 And Back Again’ seems to nail it – “get out of your own way, we’re all in this together”. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Neu Smell / Tube Disaster / Poem
2. Sick Butchers
3. Background Of Malfunction

Special limited edition picture disc celebrating the 50th anniversary of this legendary record. Must have fan item for all fans of NEU! and Krautrock.

TRACK LISTING

1. Für Immer
2. Spitzenqualität
3. Gedenkminute (für A+K)
4. Lila Engel (lilac Angel)
5. Neuschnee 78
6. Super 16
7. Neuschnee
8. Cassetto
9. Super 78
10. Hallo Excentrico
11. Super

NEU! announce the release of a brand new boxset marking the 50th anniversary of their first record, with a Tribute album featuring reworks from The National, Idles, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Mogwai, Fink, Stephen Morris (New Order) & more.

NEU!’s influence is undeniable. Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, who had both previously been members of Kraftwerk, are a product not only of West Germany but of Düsseldorf. Like other experimental bands of the late 60s and early 70s gathered under the banner of Krautrock, they were driven by a mixture of political and artistic imperatives to reject the cliches and conventions of orthodox, blues-based Anglo-American rock and create a music that was, formally, West German in origin.

NEU! are one of the great, belated success stories of rock music. Their influence is widespread, international, continued. Ian Curtis (Joy Division) played the rest of the group NEU! as part of their weekly education classes, David Bowie often spoke of his love for the duo and called them “Kraftwerk's wayward, anarchistic brothers”, in the 1990s Stereolab paid NEU! homage in their Franco-Germanic avant-Europop and further co-signs come from Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Thom Yorke, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sonic Youth and Placebo.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Hallogallo
A2. Sonderangebot
A3. Weissensee
B1. Im Glück
B2. Negativland
B3. Lieber Honig

C1. Für Immer (Forever)
C2. Spitzenqualität
C3. Gedenkminute (Für A + K)
C4. Lila Engel (Lilac Angel)
D1. Neuschnee 78
D2. Super 16
D3. Neuschnee
D4. Cassetto
D5. Super 78
D6. Hallo Excentrico!
D7. Super

E1. Isi
E2. Seeland
E3. Leb' Wohl
F1. Hero
F2. E-Musik
F3. After Eight

G1. Im Glück (The National Remix)
G2. Weissensee (Fink Version)
H1. Super (Mogwai Remix)
H2. Alexis Taylor – “4+1=5”

I1. Hallogallo (Stephen Morris And Gabe Gurnsey Remix)
I2. Lieber Honig (Yann Tiersen Remix)
I3. Super (Man Man Cover)
J1. Negativland (Idles Negative Space Rework)
J2. Guerilla Toss - "Zum Herz"
J3. After Eight (They Hate Change Cover)

The B.E.F. return with a shape-shifting prog-rock indietronica record. March 26th will see the return of The British Expeditionary Force with their highly anticipated next installment on Erased Tapes Records, entitled 'Chapter Two: Konstellation Neu'. The British Expeditionary Force, short The B.E.F., was formed in 2007 by Northerners Aid Burrows, Justin Lockey and his brother James Lockey. Whilst their trademark indie-electronica marriage 'Chapter One: A Long Way From Home' was solely created via email, the long-awaited sequel 'Chapter Two: Konstellation Neu' was recorded in one room, with two drummers and mad professors on synthesisers contributing to an even broader sonic palette. A sound that producer and ex-Yourcodenameis:milo mastermind Justin Lockey likes to describe as 'prog rock, innit'. 'The tactic we've used is the 'more' method. More sounds, more layers, more people. More face to face, more angles, more songs. If we've done our sums right, it should total more than the individual pieces', explains singer Aid Burrows.

Release of the NEU! album "86", which Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother originally recorded in 1985 / 86.

'I'm thrilled about the release of the album NEU! '86 which Klaus Dinger and I originally recorded in 1985/86, but left unfinished back then and which led to some unfortunate problems between Klaus and myself in the 90s. I now completely reworked the album from original multitrack and master tapes, and unearthed a few yet unknown tracks which are essential for a full understanding of what Klaus and I focussed on for NEU! in the mid 80s. It was my aim to present Klaus Dinger´s musical strengths and visions just as much as my own ideas. The best musical result was to be my only guideline, not the ego. All during the emotional process of reworking our album Klaus was on my mind and I contemplated what he would think about my decisions. I was very relieved and moved to hear from his heir, Miki Yui, who contributed many valuable ideas to the making of the box set, that she was pleased with the result I presented with the album NEU! '86'. - Michael Rother.

TRACK LISTING

1. Intro (Haydn Slo-Mo)
2. Danzing
3. Crazy
4. Drive (Grundfunken)
5. La Bomba (Stop Apartheid Worldwide)
6. Elanoizan
7. Wave Mother
8. Paradise Walk
9. Euphoria
10. Vier Half
11. Good Life
12. November
13. KD

Rother and Dinger with their third (and for many years) their last studio work together. The insistent rhythms and the phased guitar and drums are as timeless as ever and in this new, official remastered edition the music seems as vital as it did when it came out all those years ago. This is probably their finest album, essential stuff!!

TRACK LISTING

Isi
Seeland
Leb´Wohl
Hero
E-Musik
After Eight

Fresh after leaving Kraftwerk in the fall of 1971 for what they perceived to be a lack of vision, guitarist Michael Rother and drummer Klaus Dinger formed their own unit and changed the face of German rock forever. Dinger's mechanical, cut time drumming and Rother's two-note bass runs adorned with cleverly manipulated and dreamy guitar riffs and fills were the hallmarks of the "motorik" sound that would become the band's trademark. Neu!'s debut album was driving music for the apocalypse in 1971. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: It is almost impossible to do justice to an album like this. The wellspring of the genre that came to be known as Krautrock - and possibly its finest hour - emerged from Dusseldorf in 1971, part of a cultural watershed marking the point at which a nation began to look to the future instead of over it's shoulder. The very definition of 'modern'.

TRACK LISTING

Hallogallo
Sonderangebot
Weissensee
Im Glück
Negativland
Lieber Honig

Reissue of Einstürzende Neubauten's seventh album from 1996 "Ende Neu" (Ending New), one of the most important turning points in the band's history, not only because of the important musical developments but also the resultant changes in band members. Although the four composers leafed through their archives of the industrialization of modern music for this album, Einstürzende Neubauten's compositions were never before as harmonious and lyrical as on "Ende Neu". "Stella Maris", a ballad performed in duet by Blixa Bargeld and Meret Becker accompanied by opulent string instruments, is probably the best known song that resulted from this re-orientation. Probably the most sensational evolution of Einstürzende Neubauten since their debut "Kollaps" in 1980, "Ende Neu" is now reissued on the band's Potomak label with reworked artwork and enhanced by bonus material.

The second album from krautrock legends Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger, now remastered at long last and issued officially for the first time.

TRACK LISTING

Für Immer
Spitzenqualität
Gedenkminute
Lila Engel
Neuschnee 78
Super 16
Neuschnee
Cassetto