Musik von Harmonia

Released

What Michael Rother brought to Moebius and Rodelius, aside from any of his human qualities, was an early rhythm machine, only used then in a few American records by Sly Stone and Timmy Thomas at this point. All three of them loved a regular pulse and the sound of analog synthesizers, which is what you get here, rolling and rolling, through electric versions of the Dinger beat and other less recognizable patterns. Some of this is just tiny electric Neu! and some is like early Eno piano ambient. It’s a very rinky dink sounding album, thin and benevolent and cheap. Considering how good so much of their stuff is, it’s funny that the first Harmonia album is a modest, slightly inept affair. Musik von Harmonia is only improved by its ramshackle naivete.

Sasha Frere-Jones

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