What makes Material by Moebius & Plank notable?

Material is notable for its influence on the ambient and electronic music scenes, with its experimental structures paving the way for future artists. The album received praise from critics for its avant-garde style, helping to solidify Moebius & Plank's reputation within the genre. Released in 1981, Material marks a significant collaboration between Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius, both established figures in the Krautrock scene. At this point, Moebius & Plank were building on their previous work, following their debut 'Rastakraut Pasta' which showcased their innovative approach to sound synthesis and studio manipulation.

How many songs are on Material?

Material has 5 tracks, running approximately 34 minutes.

Material

Moebius & Plank · 1981

34 min · 5 tracks · Krautrock

A sonic exploration of electronic textures and rhythmic pulses that captures the essence of early 80s experimental Krautrock.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Conditionierer — This track epitomizes the album's blend of abstract soundscapes and rhythmic experimentation, setting a tone that resonates throughout the record.
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Infiltration — With its intricate layering of sounds, this piece exemplifies the duo's ability to create immersive auditory environments that challenge traditional song structures.
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Tollkühn — This track features an engaging interplay of textures and beats, showcasing the duo's knack for crafting compelling rhythmic patterns within an experimental framework.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

78 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album's experimental soundscapes and textures mark it as a significant work in early electronic music.

What we noticed

The album consists of five tracks, each exploring different electronic textures and rhythmic patterns without traditional song structures.
Tracks often feature layered synthesizers and manipulated sounds that create a sense of space and atmosphere.
There are no conventional melodies; instead, the focus is on evolving soundscapes that shift gradually over time.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Conditionierer 8:49
2 Infiltration 7:41
3 Tollkühn 6:12
4 Osmo-Fantor 4:27
5 Nordöstliches Gefühl 7:21

What to play next

Listen next

Zero Set

1983

Go back to

Rastakraut Pasta

1980

Full Moebius & Plank discography Artists like Moebius & Plank

Krautrock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata