After the Heat

Released in 1978, After the Heat is the second collaboration between Brian Eno and the German duo Cluster (Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius), following 1977's Cluster & Eno. Recorded at Conny Plank’s legendary studio in West Germany, the album is a pivotal document of the 'Krautrock' and 'Ambient' intersection. While their first collaboration was almost entirely instrumental, After the Heat features Eno’s vocals on several tracks, marking some of his most experimental vocal work since Before and After Science. The album is deeply connected to Eno's work with David Bowie on the Berlin Trilogy, particularly 'Low' and 'Heroes', sharing that era's fascination with cold-war tension and electronic minimalism. Tracks like 'Broken Head' and 'Tzima N’arki' utilize avant-garde techniques such as phonetic singing and backmasking, while 'Old Land' serves as a precursor to the environmental music Eno would soon perfect. It remains a high-water mark for the collaborative spirit of the 1970s experimental scene.