Neu! S/T (1972 Brain First German Pressing): Krautrock's Essential Record

Neu! were Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger, two musicians who had briefly been in Kraftwerk before leaving to pursue their own vision. Their 1972 self-titled debut album, produced by Conny Plank and released on Brain Records, became one of the foundational texts of what is now called "krautrock": the experimental German rock of the early 1970s that fused rock rhythms with electronic textures, repetitive motorik beats, and an adventurous approach to structure and composition.

For vinyl collectors interested in the origins of modern music, the original Brain Records German pressing of Neu! is one of the most sought-after records in the genre.

The Music and Its Importance

Neu!'s self-titled debut established two things simultaneously:

Klaus Dinger's motorik beat: The relentless, metronomic 4/4 drumbeat (also called the "Apache beat" by some) that drives tracks like "Hallogallo" became one of the most influential rhythmic concepts in post-1970 music. You can hear it in David Bowie's Berlin trilogy, in post-punk, in shoegaze, and in countless electronic music productions.

Michael Rother's melodic guitar textures: Against Dinger's rhythm, Rother created shimmering, evolving guitar textures that anticipated ambient music and much of what followed.

The combination was something genuinely new. British music press, particularly in the 1990s, repeatedly cited Neu! as one of the most important bands that had been inadequately recognized, and that recognition eventually filtered into widespread collector interest.

The Brain Records First Pressing

Brain Records was the West German label that released most of the canonical krautrock records, including Neu!'s debut. The first pressing (Brain 1007 or equivalent first catalogue number) is the target for serious collectors:

Label: Brain Records label design (distinctive orange, red, or similar brain imagery depending on version). The specific label design of the first pressing differs from later pressings.

Matrix numbers: First pressing matrix numbers in the dead wax identify the specific cutting and pressing origin. German first pressings by Basf-Magnetics (who manufactured many German records) have specific pressing characteristics.

Catalogue number: Brain 1007 (or equivalent) for the Neu! debut.

Vinyl quality: German pressings of this era from Brain/Metronome were pressed on high-quality vinyl with characteristically quiet surfaces.

Condition Grades and Value

The original Brain pressing commands premium over reissues. Grail-level copies (NM with original insert, where applicable) regularly exceed $500.

Reissue Context

Neu!'s records were famously difficult to obtain through official channels for decades, which partly drove extreme collector interest. Licensing disputes between Dinger (who died in 2008) and Rother delayed official reissues for years. The records were eventually properly reissued by Gronland Records, which produced high-quality vinyl editions. These reissues are excellent for listening and carry collector interest as properly authorized editions, but do not substitute for first pressings in collector terms.

Why Collectors Pursue Original Pressings

For krautrock collectors, the sonic argument for original pressings is genuine:

Lacquer proximity: Original Brain pressings were cut from original master tapes by German cutting engineers who worked closely with the label and in some cases with the artists. The generations of transfers involved in reissue production, even excellent ones, cannot fully replicate the original lacquer cut.

Pressing quality: German vinyl of this era used high-grade vinyl formulations that resulted in quiet backgrounds and detailed playback.

Authenticity: The original pressing is the physical object that existed when the music entered the world.

Related Records

Collectors interested in the Neu! debut typically pursue:

• Neu! 2 (1973) first pressing

• Neu! 75 (1975) first pressing

• Harmonium (Rother/Roedelius/Moebius) first pressings

• Other Brain Records krautrock first pressings (La Dusseldorf, etc.)

The Brain Records catalog as a first-pressing collection is a significant and prestigious collecting goal.

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