Neu!
Neu! (pronounced [nɔʏ]; German for "New!"; styled in block capitals) were a West German krautrock band formed in Düsseldorf in 1971 by Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother following their departure from Kraftwerk.[4] The group's albums were produced by Conny Plank, who has been regarded as the group's "hidden member".[5] They released three albums in their initial incarnation—Neu! (1972), Neu! 2 (1973), and Neu! 75 (1975)—before disbanding in 1975. They briefly reunited in the mid-1980s.[6]
"Neu" redirects here. For other uses, see Neu (disambiguation).
Neu!
Düsseldorf, Germany
1971–1975, 1985–1986
- Klaus Dinger
- Michael Rother
- Eberhard Kranemann
- Uli Trepte
- Thomas Dinger
- Hans Lampe
- Konrad Mathieu
- Georg Sessenhausen
Although Neu! had minimal commercial success during their existence, the band are retrospectively considered a central act of West Germany's 1970s krautrock movement.[7] They are known for pioneering the "motorik" beat, a minimalist 4
4 rhythm associated with krautrock artists.[7] Their work has exerted a widespread influence on genres such as electronica and punk.[8]
Musical style and influence[edit]
Neu!'s rhythms and sparse atmospherics have been widely influential on genres such as electronica and punk.[8] Their sound was described as "a droning, hypnotic style made up of Mr. Dinger’s simple, perpetual-motion rhythms and Mr. Rother’s fluid guitar effects" by The New York Times critic Ben Sisario.[2] Sisario called their first three albums "landmarks of German experimental rock, a genre that was quickly labeled Krautrock by journalists and fans."[2] AllMusic noted their penchant for "minimalist melodies and lock-groove rhythms."[8]
The band pioneered the "motorik" beat, a minimalist 4/4 beat often used by drummers associated with krautrock.[7] It is characterised by a kick drum-heavy, pulsating groove, that created a forward-flowing feel.[7] It was probably first used by the group on their debut album and was later adopted by other krautrock bands.[19] Dinger himself later referred to it as the "Apache beat".[10]
Artists such as David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, Sonic Youth, Stereolab, and Tortoise have drawn on the work of Neu! in their music.[8] Siouxsie and the Banshees cited the band in their influences.[20] Japanese experimental group Boredoms cite Neu! as a prominent influence on their later sound, evident in their unique application of tape manipulation remix techniques and driving 4/4 rhythms pioneered by Rother and Dinger.[21]