Harmonia was formed in 1973 as a side project of Cluster with Dieter Moebius (synth, nagoya harp, voc) and Hans-Joachim Roedelius (keyb, voc). Since the early 1970s, they had both been living a secluded life on an old estate in the idyllic village of Forst in the municipality of Bevern in the Weserbergland region of Lower Saxony, where they also set up their own studio. Michael Rother (g, keyb, voc), who was still a member of the Krautrock band Neu! at the time, also moved there. Following a debut album in 1974, they recorded their second album, Deluxe, a year later in June 1975. For this, they collaborated with the brilliant producer Conny Plank, who not only brought the necessary equipment to the Harmonia Studio in Forst, but also the legendary drummer and mastermind of Guru Guru, Mani Neumeier.

Produced with far greater care and more song-oriented than its predecessor, the LP presents progressive electronica with dreamy keyboard melodies, flowing and crystal-clear soundscapes from synthesizers and the Nagoya harp, as well as a distinctive and rock-driven guitar sound. Many songs feature classic structures with drums and even vocals. The album was released in late August 1975 on the cult label Brain. The contrasts between Rother’s affinity for rock and pop and Cluster’s more improvisational approach led to some creative tensions, which soon brought the project to an end. The second and final album is now a classic of the German electronic music scene of the 1970s.