Bureau B / Germany / RE 2009
Cluster & Eno (1977) is the first collaborative album between British musician Brian Eno and German electronic pioneers Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius of Cluster. Released on Sky Records, it's widely regarded as the first ambient record produced in Germany and a seminal work in the ambient music genre. While Eno played a crucial role in popularizing ambient music, the album reflects a shared creative spirit with Cluster, who were also experimenting with similar soundscapes in the 1970s. The collaboration began after Eno attended a Cluster concert in Hamburg in 1975, leading to a productive three-week session at Conny Plank's studio in 1977, resulting in two albums: Cluster & Eno and After The Heat (1978).
The record features a mix of influences, from Indian sitar and tamboura to synths and Western grooves, capturing the synergy between the musicians. Asmus Tietchens, who contributed to the album, notes that the tracks lean towards either Eno’s or Cluster’s style, but the collaboration allowed them to inspire each other without any conflict. The album remains a rare and elegant example of ambient music’s early evolution and the creative intersection of these pioneering artists.