R.I.P. proto-techno electronic music genius Dieter Moebius

As word filtered through social media yesterday evening that Dieter Moebius had died, it didn't hit me at first how many records I love that the man played on — not just his own, but with Conny Plank, with Eno, with Mani Neumeier, with Gerd Beerbohm, and of course with Roedelius in Cluster, and with Roether and Roedelius and Neumeier in the incomparable Harmonia — the last two being some of the most singularly zoned ensembles who ever made music together. And krikey, that's dozens of seriously great records.

There are albums by Harmonia and Cluster that I like so much, in fact, that I hardly ever listen to them. I want to keep a sense of discovery about them, you know what I'm saying? I don't want to over-consume them to the point where I almost get sick of the things, as I have with records by contemporaries such as Neu, Ash Ra and Dusseldorf.

Moebius passed away yesterday, on July 20, 2015, at the age of 71. His music was often beautiful, very forward-thinking, and had a real sense of humor to it. He will be mourned by many. I recommend the Guardian obit, here.