Cluster Grosses Wasser Genres:Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, New Age, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock Originally released on Sky in 1979, Grosses Wasser is Cluster's last great album. Combining the ambient space rock of early albums on some songs with a more updated, beat-driven, dare I say space-disco? sound on others, it... more » at times sounds like the best of both worlds. Cluster were probably the most influential and groundbreaking group to come out of Germany in the 70s (no small feat) and every one of their records is pure trailblazing musical history. Reissued domestically for the first time ever.« less
Originally released on Sky in 1979, Grosses Wasser is Cluster's last great album. Combining the ambient space rock of early albums on some songs with a more updated, beat-driven, dare I say space-disco? sound on others, it at times sounds like the best of both worlds. Cluster were probably the most influential and groundbreaking group to come out of Germany in the 70s (no small feat) and every one of their records is pure trailblazing musical history. Reissued domestically for the first time ever.
"This release, produced by recently-departed ex-Tangerine Dream member Peter Baumann, is perhaps the best showcase of Cluster in all of their different styles. The first half seesaws back and forth between a Teutonic, motoric style that Cluster hadn't entertained since their 1974 "Zuckerzeit" album and the post-Harmonia simplistic, neo-classical stylings found on "Sowiesoso" and their work with Brian Eno. But the second half...the title track...is a landmark work that combines a sweeping, soundtrack-like sensibility with ambient electronics and 'radiospiel'-like effects to create perhaps their ultimate studio composition. This album perhaps better than any other shows off what Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius are capable of. Essential."
Middling Work
Tom | London | 08/07/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I don't know what on earth the reviewer below is on about but Cluster were definitely not in East Germany when they recorded this album! What used to be the first side of the album is full of the careful, melodic music that Cluster had been perfecting since "Zuckerzeit" - some of this is undoubtedly very good, Roedelius' knack of writing charmingly childlike melodies is well to the fore, but it tends to be a kind of in-on-ear-out-the-other music. In fact Roedelius' "Jardin Au Fou" album, recorded in the same studio at around this time is much more impressive. The title track is just dull and rather sloppy. I'd give this album three-and-a-half if I could but i can't, so three it is."
Another nice Cluster record
Lovblad | Geneva, Switzerland | 01/31/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"While it is not one of their masterpieces and is maligned in some quarters I personally think that Cluster have come up with another good record, a great one in parts."
German greatness!!!
G. Gessler | Detroit, MI | 11/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i still remember how i found cluster. i was stuck in mid-michigan (lewiston) but on a trip to detroit i picked up grosses wasser because my grandmother spoke german and it seemed kinda cool. i was stoked beyond belief! i rotated it with bob dylan and the band, kraftwerk and aerosmith in my 8-track had some mad dog 20-20 and i just thought the combination was "right on"!!!! cluster still holds up for me, this album is the best of their work. that "chock" sound they use still remains in my brain. if you like kraftwerk, laurie anderson or the "pop" side of artrock you will like these guys."