Harmonia (band)

Harmonia was a West German krautrock band formed in 1973 as a collaboration between Michael Rother of Neu! and Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius of Cluster. Often considered a "supergroup" of the era, Harmonia combined the motorik rhythms and guitar textures of Neu! with the more ambient and experimental soundscapes of Cluster.

The band's core lineup consisted of Rother on guitar, bass, keyboards, and vocals; Roedelius on keyboards, vocals, and harmonica; and Moebius on keyboards, electronics, and vocals. Their music typically featured instrumental tracks characterized by hypnotic grooves, atmospheric synthesizers, and Rother's distinctive guitar style.

Harmonia released two studio albums during their initial active period: Musik von Harmonia (1974) and De Luxe (1975). Musik von Harmonia established their sound, showcasing a blend of repetitive rhythms and ethereal textures. De Luxe incorporated more pop sensibilities and included vocals on some tracks. Both albums are now considered seminal works of krautrock and have influenced numerous artists across various genres.

In 1976, Brian Eno visited Harmonia's rural studio in Forst, Germany, resulting in informal recordings. These recordings remained unreleased for many years but eventually surfaced as Tracks and Traces (1997), attributed to Harmonia & Eno '76. This album further solidified Harmonia's legacy and demonstrated the impact of their music on Eno's own work.

Although Harmonia disbanded in the late 1970s, their music experienced a resurgence in popularity in subsequent decades, with reissues of their albums and increased recognition of their contribution to krautrock and electronic music. Their influence can be heard in the work of artists such as Radiohead, Primal Scream, and Stereolab, among others.