Cosmic Couriers (Moebius, Neumeier & Engler) - Other Places (1996)

Over four days in May 1996, two krautrock legends reconnected with each other for the improvised sessions that made up this album.  Adding to their number was Jürgen Engler of Die Krupps on guitar and more synths, and the nine tracks that made up Other Places were single-take shots with no overdubs.

The album marked the first time that Moebius & Neumeier had worked together since Zero Set, but where that album was mostly based on frantic electro-grooves, Other Places brought down the tempo to much more of an industrial-rock grind.  Album opener Culture In A Small Room sets the tone for much of what follows - a grungy swirl of electronics, guitar & live drums, not necessarily requiring any development or journey - creating an atmosphere and exploring it was the priority.  Must confess I haven't really listened to Die Krupps, but I do like Einstürzende Neubauten, and there's an interesting resemblance to 90s EN in places here.  Things do get unexpectedly funky around tracks 6 and 7 thanks to Neumeier's deft drumming, which adds a nice bit of variety to the album's second half.

After Other Places, Moebius & Neumeier would work together again a couple more times, and Engler would return for 'Another Other Places', one of Moebius' final recordings of his lifetime.  By then, the 'Cosmic Couriers' tag had gone, as can be seen from the Bureau B reissue of Other Places.

New cover used for Bureau B reissue, 2014

link
pw: sgtg

Moebius-Plank-Neumeier - Zero Set (1983)

Possibly Dieter Moebius' best work of the 80s?  Working again with Conny Plank, who was always so much more than just a producer, Moebius lays down a top-notch selection of synth sequences, then weaves in his customary offbeat, wobbly electronics.  These are then further blurred and smeared by Plank, as are fragments of garbled speech added to the mix at times, and in one instance a lengthy vocal sample of a Sudanese singer.  The late mixing desk wizard's unmistakable touch is all over Zero Set, even in the track titles - all taken directly from the recording console.

But the undisputed star of Zero Set is Guru Guru drummer Mani Neumeier.  A long time friend of Moebius, who'd featured on Harmonia's second album, Neumeier plays live drums throughout, giving this album a unique organic feel in an era taken with the possibilities of drum programming.  Reacting to the rhythm of Moebius' synth sequences, Neumeier subsequently plays across the beat, adding fills and whatever else he feels like.

At its most effective, this combination infects the two fantastic tracks at the album's centre with a jittering funkiness up there with Eno & Byrne's collaborations of the previous couple of years.  When the rhythms wind down in Zero Set's closing minutes, keep listening closely (as I overlooked this on early listens) for the jungle-like ambience.  Then listen to the whole album again, several times.  Utterly essential 80s German electronica.

link