HARMONIA
Krautrock's first real supergroup, featuring members of Cluster and Neu!, really struck a great medium between the backgrounds of the two constituent groups. Check out
Deluxe, pictured above.
LA DUSSELDORF
Another Neu! side project with Michael Rothrer and Klaus Dinger. Released three albums in the late 70s to early 80s:
Dusseldorf (pictured above),
Vivo, and
Individuellos. They've recently been reissued in Japan and can be found Stateside, so I recommend La Dusseldorf to any Neu! fan.
PURPLE CONFUSION
This French electronic rock side-project includes the former and current members of M83, Nicolas Fromageau and Anthony Gonzales, as well as the head of Gooom Records, Jean-Philippe Talaga. Check out Villeneuve's vocal remix of their "Return to Nassau" for a much more dance-oriented sound than you usually hear from Gooom artists.
STARDUST
Does anyone remember the single "Music Sounds Better With You" from the late 90s? You know, the video with the metalface dudes who talk to the little kid through the TV? Well that was the work of Thomas Bangalter, one-half of Daft Punk. I haven't been able to get this song out of my head in SEVEN MOTHERFUCKING YEARS. More of the same excellent disco/house that they would later perfect on
Discovery.
OOIOO
Yoshimi P-We's break from the Boredoms and fighting pink robots took her to the front of this tribal pop band. Often accused of following the Boredoms' recent sonic trajectories, I think this actually shows the influence Yoshimi exerts/exerted on the band. In any case, this is the most fun non-bubblegum Japanese music I can think of. Go buy or illegally download
Green and Gold.
THE FUCKING AM
When the Fucking Champs and Trans AM's first collaboration EP came out, it was called "TransChamps". Naturally, the second time around...
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Hey Will Cullen Hart, what happened to the Olivia Tremor Control?? What's that?! Bill Doss left, you made your music meditative and patient without losing your pop sensibilities? And then you renamed your band The Circulatory System?!
Wait wait wait... you're now saying Olivia Tremor Control is
still around and Circulatory System is just a SIDE PROJECT?! Sweet Jesus!!
ERASURE
BEST SPINOFF SINCE MORK & MINDY
PS: Vince Clarke (left) is former Depeche Mode and Yaz(oo). That's why Erasure kind of qualifies. Whatever, Erasure should go on ANY superlative list.
TIN MACHINE
Tin Machine was... wait a tic. How the hell did this shit get in here?! DAMN YOU DAVID BOWIE!!