Chattanooga Pulse

Cluster
Qua
(Nepenthe)

The German duo Cluster often gets lumped under the “Krautrock” label, but Cluster’s music has an approach that’s far removed from what often immediately comes to mind when Krautrock is mentioned—there’s no rock aspect, nor driving beat.

The “Kosmische Musik” categorization is much more appropriate, conveying the outfit’s spacey, often abstract sound sculptures that rely on heavy electronics and processing.  The band emerged from the trio Kluster and was redubbed Cluster after the departure of Conrad Schnitzler, and throughout the ’70s, built up an impressive catalog of work.  Their sound went from compelling, thick concoctions with drones and pulsating tones to the more accessible, melodic, and rhythmic tracks on 1974’s Zuckerzeit to the ambient-leaning collaborations with Brian Eno.

The release of the new studio album Qua comes after a decade-long hiatus (Cluster’s second), with members Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius going through different moods, from contemplative to playful.  On the 17-track Qua, songs are often built from loops, and what’s immediately striking is the clean sound throughout the album; sounds occupy their own defined spaces, and there isn’t a viscous, cloudy mix like on certain early-’70s recordings.  Remarkably, Cluster manages to sound atmospheric without being new age-y or employing the lazy method of running everything through reverb and echo units.
“So Ney” uses a beat loop with metallic percussion of an unclear geographic origin, underneath quivering tones that stroll by with a patient, hopeful attitude, and “Putoil” is notable for using the eerie wail of a squeaky door as its centerpiece.  Qua captures the duo in fine form, creating sounds that don’t seem to reside in any particular time period, and the album has the creative spirit of the group’s past, while not floundering or lingering there.
—Ernie Paik

The Corduroy Road
Love Is a War
(Mule Train Records)

Athens-based musicians The Corduroy Road have just released their first LP, entitled Love Is a War, produced by legendary record producer John Keane (Widespread Panic, REM, and Indigo Girls) on the Mule Train Records’ label. The folksy Americana sound created by band members Drew Carman (banjo), Dylan Solise (guitar), John Cable (drums) and Tim Helms (bass) evokes in the listener both a lightness of spirit and a depth of happiness.

Love Is a War tells the story of love’s journey—love isn’t easy and it’s often painful, but it can be remembered with great fondness and a smile on your face. Some of the songs have a decidedly indie-rock feel, while others are folk with a country/rock infusion. The storytelling is simple and, perhaps most importantly, relatable. In short, there is something for everyone on this CD.

The title track is a friendly reminder to a lost love: “I’ve seen you down like this before / There can be no peace, ’cause baby / Love is a war.” It’s an optimistic view of love with a take-life-as-it-comes attitude. The stories continue from living a life filled with love and other good things all the way up until the final number, “Only the Living”, which tells the story of memories from the life of the author, gently cautioning that “only the living are lonely.”

The Corduroy Road is heavily influenced by The Avett Brothers, Old Crowe Medicine Show, and the other bluegrass/country crossover bands that are popular today. Their overall message seems to be to live and love with no regrets.

Perhaps this philosophy is best summed up in “Four Things”: “Four things for happiness / Can you make them mine? / Steak when I’m hungry, whiskey when I’m dry / The girl that I love, and heaven when I die.”
—Stephanie L. Smith