Klopfzeichen
Encyclopedia
Klopfzeichen is the first full-length album by German experimental music trio Kluster
.
Klopfzeichen was recorded on December 21, 1969 at Rhenus-Studio, Gordorf, Germany
. Liner notes on the CD reissue on the Hypnotic label as well as some websites place the recording date precisely one year later in 1970. This is incorrect as it would place the recording after the initial release date. In addition Kluster founder Conrad Schnitzler
states in interviews that the recordings took place during the same period as the first Tangerine Dream
album, Electronic Meditation
, which occurred in late 1969. Klopfzeichen was released in November, 1970 on the Schwann label. Only 300 copies of the original LP were pressed and sold.
The trio played piano, guitar, cello, flute, percussion, and organ, all of which were electronically treated by engineer Konrad (Conny) Plank
. According to Conrad Schnitzler in a 1980 interview he gave to David Elliott an advertisement by an organist interested in new music
led to the recording session being sponsored by a church. Kluster was required to add religious text to the first side of the album to obtain this sponsorship. The text was read by Christa Runge who later performed in another band formed by Schnitzler, Eruption
. The text was written by Liselotte Rauner, Rudolf Otto Wiemer, Dorothee Solle
, Wilhelm Wills, Eva Zeller
and Uwe Seidel. Schnitzler describes the text: "If you don't understand the German words, it sounds better. [...] If you know what it means, you'll find it terrible."
The album was first reissued by Schwann in 1980, and then on the U.S. based Hypnotic label in 1996 with new cover art and a sticker touting Cluster
and Conrad Schnitzler's previous membership in Tangerine Dream. This CD reissue also contains a nearly 16 minute long bonus track from the 1980 Cluster & Farnbauer release Live In Vienna
. The album was also reissued on the Japanese Captain Trip label on April 20, 2007 as a 450 copy limited edition with the original cover art and a bonus track by Eruption
, Black Spring, from their 1971 sessions.
Kluster
Kluster is a German experimental musical group whose work often resembles later industrial music.The original Kluster was short-lived, existing only from 1969 until mid-1971 when Conrad Schnitzler left and the remaining two members renamed themselves Cluster...
.
Klopfzeichen was recorded on December 21, 1969 at Rhenus-Studio, Gordorf, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Liner notes on the CD reissue on the Hypnotic label as well as some websites place the recording date precisely one year later in 1970. This is incorrect as it would place the recording after the initial release date. In addition Kluster founder Conrad Schnitzler
Conrad Schnitzler
Conrad Schnitzler was a prolific German experimental musician.Schnitzler was born in Düsseldorf. He was an early member of Tangerine Dream and a founder of the band Kluster. He left Kluster in 1971, first working with his group Eruption and then focusing on solo works...
states in interviews that the recordings took place during the same period as the first Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
album, Electronic Meditation
Electronic Meditation
-Personnel:* Edgar Froese – six- and twelve-string guitar, organ, piano, sound effects, tapes* Conrad Schnitzler – cello, violin, typewriter* Klaus Schulze – drums, percussion, metal sticks* Jimmy Jackson – organ...
, which occurred in late 1969. Klopfzeichen was released in November, 1970 on the Schwann label. Only 300 copies of the original LP were pressed and sold.
The trio played piano, guitar, cello, flute, percussion, and organ, all of which were electronically treated by engineer Konrad (Conny) Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
. According to Conrad Schnitzler in a 1980 interview he gave to David Elliott an advertisement by an organist interested in new music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
led to the recording session being sponsored by a church. Kluster was required to add religious text to the first side of the album to obtain this sponsorship. The text was read by Christa Runge who later performed in another band formed by Schnitzler, Eruption
Eruption (German band)
Eruption was a short-lived German krautrock or experimental music super group founded by former Tangerine Dream member and then current Kluster member Conrad Schnitzler.- Core Members :* Conrad Schnitzler * Wolfgang Seidel...
. The text was written by Liselotte Rauner, Rudolf Otto Wiemer, Dorothee Solle
Dorothee Sölle
Dorothee Steffensky-Sölle was a German liberation theologian and writer who coined the term Christofascism...
, Wilhelm Wills, Eva Zeller
Eva Zeller
Eva Zeller is a German poet and novelist. She lived in the former East Germany until 1956, then lived for six years in Namibia, and now lives in Germany....
and Uwe Seidel. Schnitzler describes the text: "If you don't understand the German words, it sounds better. [...] If you know what it means, you'll find it terrible."
The album was first reissued by Schwann in 1980, and then on the U.S. based Hypnotic label in 1996 with new cover art and a sticker touting Cluster
Cluster (band)
Cluster is a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Cluster has been...
and Conrad Schnitzler's previous membership in Tangerine Dream. This CD reissue also contains a nearly 16 minute long bonus track from the 1980 Cluster & Farnbauer release Live In Vienna
Live in Vienna
Live in Vienna is the first live album of the German rock band Böhse Onkelz. It was recorded on December 13, 1991 at the Vienna Messepalast.-Track listing:# Intro# Wir ham' noch lange nicht genug ...
. The album was also reissued on the Japanese Captain Trip label on April 20, 2007 as a 450 copy limited edition with the original cover art and a bonus track by Eruption
Eruption (German band)
Eruption was a short-lived German krautrock or experimental music super group founded by former Tangerine Dream member and then current Kluster member Conrad Schnitzler.- Core Members :* Conrad Schnitzler * Wolfgang Seidel...
, Black Spring, from their 1971 sessions.
Personnel
- Conrad SchnitzlerConrad SchnitzlerConrad Schnitzler was a prolific German experimental musician.Schnitzler was born in Düsseldorf. He was an early member of Tangerine Dream and a founder of the band Kluster. He left Kluster in 1971, first working with his group Eruption and then focusing on solo works...
- Hans-Joachim Roedelius
- Dieter MoebiusDieter MoebiusDieter Moebius is a German/Swiss experimental/krautrock/ambient/electronic musician.Moebius studied art in Brussels and Berlin and met there Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Conrad Schnitzler . They founded a band Kluster in 1969. After the departure of Schnitzler, they changed their name to Cluster...
- Christa Runge - Voice, Track 1
- Conrad PlankConny PlankKonrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
- Engineer - J. Liebig - Engineer
- Oskar Gottlieb Blarr - Producer