Even my terrible German knows that this is Sugar Time. This continues the cassette haul from the legendary Revolver records in Bristol (Richard King writes way more eloquently than me here: http://caughtbytheriver.net/2012/04/original-rockers/) and this is a continuation of my Cluster love in. Basically Cluster are the Real Deal.
Zuckerzeit is the quintessential Krautrock / Electronic record - all about that mixture of warm synths and harsh drums. There's just something about Cluster though which, like Cluster 2, straddles any conventional music and hangs outside - not arch but pretty far out. Gone are the drones and hums of Cluster 2 and, in their, place is a more accomplished and more engaging electronic sound. Basically, Boards of Canada but recorded in 1974. It has tunes aplenty.
And, for a krautrock album, it has 10 tracks. They're all winners. Hollywood is all shuffled drums and synths but, unlike the previous record, had direction and impulse. And the motorik thing is in full effect - on the following track it's the same but taken further - at times touching on Neu territory. Rote Riki is more experimental but still retains some essence of the beat and Rosa sounds more contemporary than anything that's gone previously.
Caramba sounds like the Human League in the Future era, all synths and drums. James (skipping Fotschi Tong) takes them back to Cluster 2 times with drones and twangs, then Marzipan and Rotor continue the happy go lucky synth sound.
And then round to Heisse Lippen which Google turns into Hot Lips. This is the quintessential Krautrock sound - totally motorik, with a workmanlike electronic sound. Haven't heard Zuckerzeit for about 10 years or so but it still sounds as fresh and as terrifying as it did when I heard it way back when. There's just something astounding about a record which continues to sound contemporary despite being made nearly 30 years ago. Cluster are the winners of Krautrock.
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