Hans-Joachim Roedelius - Tape Archive Essence 1973-1978 (2020)

In 2014, Hans-Joachim Roedelius' 80th birthday was celebrated with the release of an expansive triple-LP box set of unreleased material recorded throughout the 1970s, while he was active as a member of Cluster and Harmonia. By 2020, the box set was long out of print and unavailable on streaming services, so this single-disc version was released for anyone who missed out on the larger set. Roedelius constantly recorded in his own private studio whenever he wasn't working with his collaborators on their group projects, and he always kept the tape reels running, documenting his constant stream of ideas. These ten tracks play as a cohesive album rather than a selection of outtakes, and it's easily as good as any of Roedelius' solo records from the 1970s or '80s. Given that he was working with such a limited setup -- a Farfisa organ, a tape machine, echo effects, and one of Cluster's synthesizers -- the pieces are all exercises in simplicity, with every note and texture carefully considered, yet all of it just seems to flow naturally. While much of it is sweet and relaxing, there are some more playful moments such as the cosmic blues-rock chords of "Springende Inspiration" or the dusty, beatbox-driven "Rokkokko," which could easily be a demo for a Cluster or Harmonia tune. Also included are two of the box set's four variations on the elegiac Brian Eno song "By This River," co-written by Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. While the four-minute take overflows with beauty and is remarkable itself, the 14-minute meditation that ends this set is a marvel to behold, floating down the river and embracing its natural beauty rather than just sitting beside it.