One of the true pioneers of 20th century electronic music, Dieter Moebius, has died aged 71.

Moebius is among the most important figures in kosmische music, being responsible for co-founding experimental three-piece Kluster with Conrad Schnitzler and Hans-Joachim Roedelius. When Schnitzler left the band, Moebius and Roedelius became Cluster, and penned some of the era’s most important electronic albums, including the excellent Zuckerzeit and a collaboration with ambient music superstar Brian Eno.

Moebius and Schnitzler also founded Harmonia, with Neu!’s Michael Rother, and put together some of krautrock’s most definitive records with the motorik Deluxe and the unusual, genre-defying Musik Von Harmonia. Moebius continued recording solo and collaborating prolifically over the last few years.

The news of Moebius’s passing was reported via Michael Rother’s Facebook page; according to Rother, Moebius died this morning, July 20. He is survived by his wife Irene.