Roedelius Schneider – Tiden

Between them, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Stefan Schneider have contributed significantly to the development of ambient music since the 70s: Roedelius through his work in pioneering electronica acts Cluster and Harmonia, and Schneider via post-rock innovators including To Rococo Rot. Accordingly, there’s an intuitive logic about their collaboration on Tiden, which comprises thirteen meditative instrumentals entwining sparse, Satie-like piano with hypnotic percussive loops; at its best, the LP recalls the dreamy, reflective tone of later Labradford.

While both artists’ trademarks are evident here - Roedelius’ proggy synthscapes, Schneider’s icy minimalism -it’s the latter’s influence that feels strongest. The average track length hovers around a decidedly un-Cluster-like three minutes, and the pulsing beats which ebb and flow beneath jazzy synth chords will be familiar to fans of Schneider’s other work. Tiden is unapologetically slight, but it’s also a carefully measured, cohesive document that joins some dots between two central strains of experimental instrumentalism. [Sam Wiseman]