Tracks and Traces

Last updated
Tracks and Traces
Tracksandtraces.jpg
Compilation album by
Harmonia 76
Released4 November 1997
21 September 2009 (reissue)
RecordedSeptember 1976 at Harmonia Studio, Forst
Genre
Length53:52
64:01 (reissue)
Label Rykodisc (US), S3
Grönland Records (reissue)
Producer Brian Eno, Harmonia
Harmonia chronology
Deluxe
(1975)		Tracks and Traces
(1997)		 Live 1974
(2007)
Reissue cover
Tracks and Traces reissue artwork.jpg
2009 reissue artwork

Tracks and Traces is a collaborative album by German kosmische supergroup Harmonia (featuring Neu! guitarist Michael Rother and Cluster members Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius) and British musician Brian Eno, initially credited to Harmonia 76. Eno joined the group at Harmonia's studio in Forst, Germany for the September 1976 recording sessions.

Contents

The results remained unreleased until November 1997, when they were compiled by the American Rykodisc label (originally in Germany by the label S3, remastered by Eric Spitzer-Marlyn and Othmar Eichinger). [1] In 2009, a reissue featuring additional tracks and alternative artwork was released, this time credited to Harmonia & Eno '76.

Background and releases

Upon hearing Harmonia in the early 1970s, Eno proclaimed them "the most important band in the world." [2] He eventually joined Harmonia on stage in 1974 at The Fabrik in Hamburg, and promised to join them at their Forst recording studio to record with them. [2] After Harmonia had effectively disbanded, they briefly reunited to work with Eno at Forst in 1976. Eno joined the sessions for eleven days, shortly before traveling to work with David Bowie on his Berlin albums. [3]

In the 1990s, Roedelius retrieved the session tapes from Eno and refashioned them into the 1997 release. [4] He also reworked two pieces of music which were created, at the very beginning of the Harmonia collaboration/friendship with Brian Eno, but never finished. The two songs titled "Captured By Letters" and "Long Run", were modified and defined by Roedelius for use in two theaterplays. [5] The songs were released on his 1994 album; Theatreworks.

2009 reissue

Tracks and Traces was remastered and reissued in 2009 by Grönland Records. The new release featured three additional recordings from the sessions, sourced from Rother's own tape cassettes, [4] which were unsuitable for release until digital technology made it possible to clean up the cassette recordings. [4] It also featured new artwork. It was credited to Harmonia & Eno '76. A 12" of remixes was also released, coupling "Sometimes in Autumn" and "By The Riverside" re-fixed by producers Shackleton and Appleblim/Komonazmuk. In 2009 a full album of remixes was released.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 74 (6 Reviews) [6]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7] (original release)
Drowned in Sound (8/10) [8] (reissue)
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3] (reissue)
Pitchfork 7.6/10 [9] (reissue)
Paste (8.0/10) [10] (reissue)
Resident Advisor 4.5/5 [4] (reissue)

Ned Raggett, writing for Allmusic, describes Eno as "the wild-card factor who turned out to be a perfect addition," adding: "If there's less of the glittering glaze of the earlier Harmonia albums, the explorations in ambient sound and mysterious and murky textures make for a more than fair exchange" [7] Todd L. Burns of Resident Advisor stated: "Most of it is idyllic, and most of it is extraordinarily ahead of its time," describing the album as "the sound of four legends at their artistic peak finding new forms of expression, finally presented properly." [4]

Track listing

Music written, performed and produced by Brian Eno, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Michael Rother and Dieter Moebius. "Luneburg Heath" vocals and lyrics by Brian Eno.

1997 release (Rykodisc/S3)

  1. "Vamos Companeros" – 4:32
  2. "By the Riverside" – 9:31
  3. "Luneburg Heath" – 4:53
  4. "Sometimes in Autumn" – 15:49
  5. "Weird Dream" – 6:39
  6. "Almost" – 5:28
  7. "Les Demoiselles" – 3:59
  8. "When Shade Was Born" – 1:30
  9. "Trace" – 1:31

2009 reissue (Grönland Records)

  1. "Welcome" - 3:01
  2. "Atmosphere" - 3:24
  3. "Vamos Companeros" – 4:32
  4. "By the Riverside" – 9:31
  5. "Luneburg Heath" – 4:53
  6. "Sometimes in Autumn" – 15:49
  7. "Weird Dream" – 6:39
  8. "Almost" – 5:28
  9. "Les Demoiselles" – 3:59
  10. "When Shade Was Born" – 1:30
  11. "Trace" – 1:31
  12. "Aubade" - 3:33

2010 Tracks and Traces Remixed (Grönland Records)

  1. "By the Riverside (Appleblim & Komonazmuk Remix)" – 7:49 (Remixed by Keiran Lomax and Laurie Osborne)
  2. "Luneburg Heath (The Field Remix)" – 10:23 (Remixed by The Field)
  3. "Sometimes in Autumn (Shackleton Remix)" – 10:26 (Remixed by Shackleton)
  4. "Almost (Burger/Voigt Remix)" – 7:26 (Remixed by Jörg Burger and Wolfgang Voigt)
  5. "Vamos Companeros (Modularsystem Remix)" – 5:14 (Remixed by Hannes Talirz and Stefan Pfeffer)
  6. "Sometimes In Autumn (MITMIX)" – 8:23 (Remixed by Mit)

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Cluster & Eno</i> 1977 studio album by Cluster and Brian Eno

Cluster & Eno is a collaborative album by German electronic music group Cluster and English ambient musician Brian Eno. The style of this album is a collection of gentle melodies: a mixture of Eno's ambient sensibilities and Cluster's avant-garde style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cluster (band)</span> German musical duo

Cluster were a German musical duo consisting of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius, formed in 1971 and associated with West Germany's krautrock and kosmische music scenes. Born from the earlier Berlin-based group Kluster, they relocated in 1971 into the countryside village of Forst, Lower Saxony, where they built a studio and collaborated with musicians such as Conny Plank, Brian Eno, and Michael Rother; with the latter, they formed the influential side-project Harmonia. After first disbanding in 1981, Cluster reunited several times: from 1989 to 1997, and from 2007 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harmonia (band)</span> German band

Harmonia was a West German musical "supergroup" formed in 1973 as a collaboration between members of two prominent krautrock bands: Cluster's Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius joined by Neu! guitarist Michael Rother. Living and recording in the rural village of Forst, the trio released two albums—Musik von Harmonia (1974) and Deluxe (1975)—to limited sales before dissolving in 1976. AllMusic described the group as "one of the most legendary in the entire krautrock/kosmische scene."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Rother</span> German experimental musician (born 1950)

Michael Rother is a German experimental musician, best known for being a founding member of the influential bands Neu! and Harmonia, and an early member of the band Kraftwerk.

<i>After the Heat</i> 1978 studio album by Eno, Moebius and Roedelius

After the Heat is a 1978 album by Brian Eno, Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius, credited to "Eno Moebius Roedelius". The album represents the second collaboration by the trio, the first being 1977's Cluster & Eno. As with the previous album, After the Heat was created in collaboration with the influential krautrock producer Conny Plank.

<i>Zuckerzeit</i> 1974 studio album by Cluster

Zuckerzeit is the third studio album by German band Cluster, released in 1974 on Brain Records. It was co-produced by Michael Rother, their bandmate in side-project Harmonia. The music on Zuckerzeit marks a shift from Cluster's abrasive early work toward a more rhythmic, pop-oriented sound. Pitchfork ranked the album at number 63 on its list of the top 100 albums of the 1970s, while writer and musician Julian Cope included Zuckerzeit in his "Krautrock Top 50" list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieter Moebius</span> Musical artist

Dieter Moebius was a Swiss-born German electronic musician and composer, best known as a member of the influential krautrock bands Cluster and Harmonia.

<i>Begegnungen</i> 1984 compilation album by Eno Moebius Roedelius Plank

Begegnungen is a Sky Records 1984 collection of music by Brian Eno, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Conny Plank, compiled from these seven solo and collaborative albums released by Sky between 1976 and 1983:

<i>Begegnungen II</i> 1985 compilation album by Eno Moebius Roedelius Plank

Begegnungen II is a Sky Records 1985 compilation album with recordings by Brian Eno, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Conny Plank, Cluster, from solo albums, and from various collaborations between the artists. All of the tracks had been previously released elsewhere. The albums these tracks were drawn from are: Material by Moebius & Plank, Zero Set by Moebius, Plank, Neumeier, Durch Die Wuste and Lustwandel, both Roedelius solo albums, After The Heat by Eno, Moebius, Roedelius, Tonspuren, the first solo album by Moebius, Sowiesoso by Cluster, and the eponymous Cluster & Eno. These albums were released by Sky between 1976 and 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans-Joachim Roedelius</span> German musician and composer (born 1934)

Hans-Joachim Roedelius is a German electronic musician and composer, known as a co-founder of the influential 'kosmische' groups Cluster and Harmonia. He is notable for his prolific discography either as himself, as part of a band, or in collaboration with other artists. He has more than 100 releases with his name. He also performed in the ambient jazz trio Aquarello, and released several solo studio albums.

<i>Cluster II</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Cluster

Cluster II is the second full-length album by German electronic music act Cluster, released in 1972 by record label Brain.

<i>Sowiesoso</i> 1976 studio album by Cluster

Sowiesoso is the fourth studio album by German electronic music band Cluster, released in 1976. It was Cluster's first release for Sky Records. Sowiesoso was recorded in just two days in Forst, Germany in 1976 and mixed at Conny's Studio in Wolperath.

<i>Musik von Harmonia</i> 1974 studio album by Harmonia

Musik von Harmonia is the debut album from the influential German krautrock group Harmonia, released in January 1974 by Brain Records. Formed by the addition of Neu! guitarist Michael Rother to Cluster, they recorded the album from June to November 1973 in Cluster's Forst recording studio. It was self-produced by the group using a primitive mixer and three tape recorders.

<i>Deluxe</i> (Harmonia album) 1975 studio album by Harmonia

Deluxe is the second album from the West German krautrock group Harmonia, consisting of Neu! guitarist Michael Rother and the Cluster duo of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. It was recorded in June 1975 in Harmonia's studio in Forst, Germany. It was first released on the Brain Records label in 1975.

Moebius & Plank was a German electronic music duo consisting of musicians Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank. They recorded three albums between 1979 and 1986 as well as two additional albums, one a collaboration with Mani Neumeier and the other with Mayo Thompson. Plank died of cancer in 1987. Their final two albums were released posthumously in 1995 and 1998 respectively

<i>Durch die Wüste</i> 1978 studio album by Hans-Joachim Roedelius

Durch die Wüste is the first full-length solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster, Harmonia, and Aquarello. The title is German for "Through the Desert."

Sky Records was a Hamburg, Germany-based independent record label specializing in krautrock/Kosmische Musik and electronic music. Some of their releases could be classified as progressive rock or art rock, experimental music, industrial, ambient, or new age. No new releases appeared after 1998.

<i>Flammende Herzen</i> 1977 studio album by Michael Rother

Flammende Herzen is the debut studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1977 and includes the single "Flammende Herzen" b/w "Karussell". The music was used the following year to soundtrack Flaming Hearts. It was Rother's first solo venture after having recorded five albums prior as a member of Neu! with Klaus Dinger and Harmonia with Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius.

<i>Sterntaler</i> 1978 studio album by Michael Rother

Sterntaler is the second studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1978 and includes the single "Sterntaler" b/w "Sonnenrad".

<i>Live 1974</i> 2007 live album by Harmonia

Live 1974 is the only live album released by the highly influential krautrock group Harmonia. It was recorded live in concert on 23 March 1974 at Penny Station in Griessem, Germany. The live album was released in 2007 by Grönland Records. Its release sparked enough interest in the group to convince them to reform in order to promote the album.

References

  1. ↑ S3 discography at Discogs Retrieved 2019-03-19
  2. 1 2 Stubbs, David. "Harmonia: 10 of the best". The Guardian . Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 Gabriele, Timothy. Review: Harmonia and Eno '76: Tracks and Traces PopMatters. Retrieved 2019-03-19
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Burns, Todd L. "Review: Harmonia '76 - Tracks and Traces reissue". Resident Advisor . Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Hans Joachim Roedelius - Theaterworks Discogs. Retrieved 2019-03-19
  6. ↑ Review list: Tracks And Traces Reissue Metacritic. Retrieved 2019-03-19
  7. 1 2 Raggett, Ned. Review: Tracks And Traces Reissue Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-11-27
  8. ↑ Tudor, Alexander. Review: Tracks And Traces Reissue Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2019-03-19
  9. ↑ Richardson, Mark. Review: Complete Works. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2019-03-19.
  10. ↑ Howe, Brian. Review: Tracks And Traces Reissue Paste. Retrieved 2019-03-19
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.