Founded in 1970 by Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Cluster are among the most influential bands of experimental electronic and ambient music in Germany. "Cluster 71" was the duo's debut album and, according to the music magazine "The Wire", is one of the "One Hundred Records That Set The World On Fire". "Cluster 71" is a monster: The album contains just three (untitled) tracks and is heavy fare for unprepared ears. But the album was groundbreaking like hardly any other electronic musical work. Cluster were previously a trio and wrote themselves Kluster. Due to musical differences, Moebius and Roedelius parted ways with Konrad Schnitzler in 1970 and recorded their first album in 1971 at Hamburg's Star Musikstudio. Cluster's complete departure from common harmony and rhythm to total tonal abstraction, her natural handling of noise, rigorous electronic live improvisations and the awareness that she has nothing to lose - all this characterizes this innovative departure. The accompanying text was written by Asmus Tietchens.