Neu!

• Genre: Krautrock
• Hometown: Dusseldorf

About

One of the leading lights in the Krautrock scene, Neu! were formed by ex-Kraftwerk members Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother in Dusseldorf in 1971. The band never enjoyed commercial success but was nevertheless a major influence on countless artists that followed it. With tape effects, only occasional (and always treated) vocals, and extremely minimal guitar, bass, drums and synthesizers, Neu! created a futuristic combination of the Velvet Underground and early ambient music. It was spacey, gentle groove rock that, 20 years later, was almost directly lifted by indie-rock big shots Stereolab. The group's first three albums, Neu!, Neu! 2 and Neu! '75, are infinitely listenable and have long been considered required material for anyone interested in the fringes of rock music.

- Mike McGuirk