Michael Rother - Katzenmusik (1979)

Third album by NEU!/Harmonia guitarist, and a further refinement of the melodic, cyclic music he'd established on his first two solo efforts, also collaborations with Jaki Liebezeit and Conny Plank.  Rother's increasingly clean-toned guitars (his formative influence of Hank Marvin really shining through) burn these simple, indelible melodies into your brain from the first listen, and make Katzenmusik a joy to return to over and over.

As well as the literal meaning of "music for cats", the album's title is also a German idiom for a "musical racket" - clearly an ironic choice on Rother's part for such sunny, joyous and ordered music.  Melodic material from earlier sections leads to variations in later ones, with the sparkling production adding to the constant gentle evolution as well as throwing the occasional curveball (the "everything reversed except the drums" wash of part 8 is one highlight of many).  This gorgeous record is probably the high point of Rother's post-Harmonia music, at least for me.  Anyone heard the new ambient album he put out last year?  Worth picking up?

link

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