Cluster was the pioneering German duo of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. Formed on the cusp of the 1970s, they were a part of West Germanys nascent Kosmische Musik scene. The group would use restrained improvisational techniques similar to Gruppo Nuova Consonanza, working with both electric and acoustic instruments (organ, guitar, tone generators, cello, etc.) to create a singular sound that Julian Cope called a huge beating heart, planet-sized and awesome.

Originally released in 1972 on Brain,Cluster IIfeatures six pieces ofatmospheric, proto-ambient drones a step forward from Clusters 1971 self-titled debut, which had all untitled songs. On Im Suden,hypnotic bass pulsations and repetitive guitar patternsflow serenely, while side two opener Live In Der Fabrik dives deep into Roedelius and Moebius foreboding industrial soundscapes andsynergistic textural interplay.

As Roedelius told Uncut magazine in 2022, This feels like a breakthrough? Well, we were just getting more into it, and getting more experienced at being able to elaborate it. Conny (Plank) was working with us againas well as being a multi-talented artist, he was a very experienced sound master and great human being. He contributed as a fellow musician, adding sounds with his mixing table such as reverb, delay and other effects enriching the whole pieces so that they finally became somehow unique.

Its no surprise that when Neu! guitarist Michael Rother first heard Cluster II, he suggested a collaboration with the bandresulting in the supergroup Harmonia who would make their first album together the following year.