In 1996 Cluster had acclaimed concert tours in Japan as well as their first tour of the United States. The concert tours produced musical documents: the albums "Japan 1996 Live", released on the Japanese Captain Trip label in 1997 and "First Encounter Tour 1996", recorded in the United States and released on the American Purple Pyramid label, also in 1997. Tim Story, best known as a keyboardist and ambient music composer, co-produced "Japan 1996 Live" and produced "First Encounter Tour 1996", an association which would lead to later musical collaboration between Roedelius and Story. After the United States tour Roedelius and Moebius parted.