View source for Zero Set

{{in-text citations|date=November 2021}}
{{for|the mathematical function|Zero set}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Zero Set
| type       = Album
| artist     = [[Moebius & Plank|Moebius Plank]] [[Mani Neumeier|Neumeier]]
| cover      = Zeroset.gif
| alt        =
| released   = 1983
| recorded   = 1982
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Krautrock]], [[Neue Deutsche Welle]], proto-[[techno]]
| length     = 37:36
| label      = [[Sky Records]]
| producer   = [[Conny Plank]], [[Dieter Moebius]], [[Mani Neumeier]]
| chronology = [[Moebius & Plank]]
| prev_title = [[Material (Moebius & Plank album)|Material]]
| prev_year  = 1981
| next_title = [[En Route (album)|En Route]]
| next_year  = 1995
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r44935}}</ref>
}}
'''''Zero Set''''' is the only album by the German electronic music trio of [[Dieter Moebius]], [[Conny Plank]], and [[Mani Neumeier]].  It followed two collaborations by [[Moebius & Plank]] as a duo.  ''Zero Set'' was recorded in September, 1982 at Conny's Studio outside [[Cologne]], and released by [[Sky Records]] in 1983. The track "Recall" features [[Sudan]]ese vocals by Deuka. 

''Zero Set'' was reissued by the [[Gyroscope (record label)|Gyroscope]] label on CD on April 16, 1996.  This was the first U.S. release for the album. It was also digitally remastered and reissued by [[Captain Trip Records]] in Japan on February 25, 2007.

==Reception==
Matthew Weiner describes it for Soulmind Online: "Though not a dance record per se, ''Zero Set'' is one of the earliest extensions of [[Krautrock]]’s possibilities on the dance floor, pitting the profoundly electronic sequence patterns of Plank and Moebius against the hyperactive percussives of [[Guru Guru]] drummer Mani Neumeier. On tracks such as the prophetically titled 'Speed Display' and 'Pitch Control', the phasing, chattering and decidedly Germanic grooves found on Zero Set constitute vibrant proto-[[techno]] at its earliest and finest."  David Ross Smith, writing for [[Allmusic]], describes the album: "...a highly percussive affair with Mani Neumeier. The album is saturated in drum and synth rhythms and [[polyrhythm]]s, resulting in compositions that are energetic and infectious."  Zero Set was a turning point for Moebius and Plank, a fact lamented by Steven and Alan Freeman in their book ''The Crack In The Cosmic Egg''. They say, in part: "...working with Mani Neumeier on Zero Set strangely took the music too close to techno for comfort..."

In 2007 [[Dieter Moebius]] and [[Mani Neumeier]] recorded ''Zero Set II'' in Japan as a tribute to [[Conny Plank]].

==Track listing==
#"Speed Display" (5:13)
#"Load" (5:20)
#"Pitch Control" (6:23)
#"All Repro" (3:28)
#"Recall" (8:34)
#"Search Zero" (8:38)

==Personnel==
*[[Dieter Moebius]]&nbsp;– synthesizers, keyboards
*[[Conny Plank]]&nbsp;– production
*[[Mani Neumeier]]&nbsp;– drums
*[[Deuka]]&nbsp;– vocals on "Recall"

== References ==
<references/>
* Album liner notes
* Smith, David Ross [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r44935|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review]  Retrieved September 19, 2007.
* Weiner, Matthew [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929160233/http://www.soulmind-online.com/2006/01/24/producers-conny-plank/ The Producers]  Retrieved September 19, 2007.
* Freeman, Steven and Freeman, Alan [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ultimathule/krautrockers.html#m The Crack In The Cosmic Egg] (Audion Publications, 1996)  {{ISBN|0-9529506-0-X}} Retrieved September 7, 2007.
* Discogs [http://www.discogs.com/release/97517 Moebius Plank Neumeier - Zero Set]  Retrieved September 12, 2007.
* Captain Trip Records [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928151851/http://www.captaintrip.co.jp/kami-cd/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> Cluster Digital Remasters]  Retrieved September 12, 2007.

==External links==
* Anonymous [https://web.archive.org/web/20120207143925/http://www2.odn.ne.jp/airstructures/review%20german.html Random Writings on Music and Other Things: German Rock]  Retrieved September 7, 2007.

{{Moebius & Plank}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1983 albums]]
[[Category:Sky Records albums]]
[[Category:Moebius & Plank albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Conny Plank]]