R&M Krautrock Orientation/Appreciation Party

Jaundice · 06-18-2009, 02:13 PM

KRAUTROCK. Experimental German music from the late sixties and early seventies that took cues from early psychedelia and went on to set the prototype for Industrial, Post-Punk, Ambient, Techno, Prog, Gangsta Rap. I did a search and found one or two threads in the Other Music forum, so now I think it’s time for R&M to have its first semi-exhaustive kraut appreciation thread.

Brief History: In the late sixties, Germany was still in upheaval after World War Two. The younger generation set out to establish a new musical identity. Many studied under contemporary composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen while also being influenced by new music from overseas— Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, The Velvet Underground. Factor in the influence of Dada and Surrealism, anarchist attitudes, hallucinogenic drugs. This is just going off the top of my head. For the full story, seek out one of two out-of-print and very expensive anthologies— krautrocksampler or Crack in the Cosmic Egg.

Notable Bands

Can - The most infamous and probably the best of all Kosmiche sounds, also the band I namedrop every time I’m trying to get in a pretentious indie girl’s pants. Formed in Cologne in 1968, the original line-up included American sculptor Malcolm Mooney, the godfather of sampling Holger Czukay, free-jazz pro Jaki Leibezeit, Irmin Schmidt and the now deceased Michael Karoli. Their earliest recordings are minimal improvisational rock jams. After their vocalist Mooney had a nervous breakdown, he was replaced by Damo Suzuki and the band released several classic albums (Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, Soundtracks) that mixed psychedelic, progressive, free jazz and ethnic instrumentation.

Kraftwerk - Formed from the ashes of the project Organisation, Kraftwerk is, at its core, Florian Schneider and Ralf Hutter. Their first albums were instrumental efforts full of experimentation, before adding more members and eventually (through the help of producer Conny Plank) settling into a unique sound that is considered the earliest precursor to all modern synthpop, electro, industrial. Minimal, detached numbers performed with synths, drum machines, and the notorious vocoder.

Ash Ra Tempel - One of the most overbearingly psychedelic bands to come from the movement. Formed in 1971 by Klaus Schulze and Manual Gottsching, after their experiences with Eruption, Tangerine Dream and other notable German bands. Throughout line up changes, they released several albums in the early seventies before becoming Ashra and producing electronic music. Their self-titled debut is a landmark in the genre. Their third album, Seven Up, was recorded with Timothy Leary on guest vocals while every one in the studio drank from a bottle laced with acid. Just to give an idea of how cool they were.

Faust - A more enigmatic kraut band formed in 1971. While still making albums to this day, their first five albums between 71 and 74 are the records they are best known for. Considered a crucial influence on Throbbing Gristle, this band put out some of the earliest music to be considered industrial. A bizarre blend of psychedelia, prog-rock jamming and tape-loop experiments.

Cluster - Kluster was formed in the late sixties by performers at the Zodiac Free Arts Lab. After releasing two studio albums, Conrad Schnitzler left the group, and the remaining members renamed the outfit Cluster. They continued to release albums in the same vein as Kluster; long rhythm-less pieces made from noise and electronic drones. In 1974, the band took a different route with Zuckerzeit, creating short, ambient pieces which had a great influence on Brian Eno.

Other Important Bands That I Don’t Have Time To Write About:
Amon Duul
Amon Duul II
Popol Vuh
Tangerine Dream
Agitation Free
Neu!
Cosmic Jokers
Embryo
Guru Guru

Party Favors:

I will edit in a link to a .rar with all of this **** in it
Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express
Can - Tago Mago
Faust - Faust
Cluster - ‘71 (in .m4a format)

If you don’t like this music you’re a large bundle of sticks. Discuss.

Dipsetttt

Angmar · 06-18-2009, 02:46 PM

I like Klaus Schulze idk if he fits into this category though.

Jaundice · 06-18-2009, 02:47 PM

Yeah, he does.
I have Cyborg, it's good but I can almost never find the patience to listen to it

iranscam · 06-18-2009, 02:49 PM

Can, Popol Vuh, and Tangerine Dream are cool.

Angmar · 06-18-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaundice

Yeah, he does.
I have Cyborg, it's good but I can almost never find the patience to listen to it

Mirage is where it's at.

Shattered_Future · 06-18-2009, 02:58 PM

I had a Klaus Schulze album for a while but got rid of it because it sounded WAAAAAY too new age-y.

Elitist Douche Bag · 06-18-2009, 04:22 PM

I'm in love with Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, and Future Days. FD is such a chilled-out summer album.

Txus · 06-18-2009, 04:43 PM

Can is great, most of the bands you liste are pretty good. I'm sad because there's a big lack of Comus in this thread

Jaundice · 06-18-2009, 04:45 PM

I tried to get most of the big names out of the way, and namedrop a couple lesser known ones just to get things going. I honestly don't think I've heard of Comus though.

Txus · 06-18-2009, 05:03 PM

Oh, get the album First Utterance. They were more in the folk side, I think you might enjoy them.

~~easylee~~ · 06-18-2009, 05:34 PM

lol comus arent krautrock at all

Txus · 06-18-2009, 05:36 PM

idk, i feel they kinda are.

~~easylee~~ · 06-18-2009, 05:44 PM

did your ese tell you that

~~Meatplow~~ · 06-18-2009, 05:49 PM

I've listened to Can's Tago Mago, and Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express (which probably doesn't count as it is more from their electronic period if there is considered a distinction).

Both are excellent, and I want to investigate this genre more so i'll be looking into these groups. I'm been listening a lot to traditional psychadelic rock recently, some more european stuff would be interesting.

Txus · 06-18-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easylee

did your ese tell you that

yeah, bato loco

Jaundice · 06-18-2009, 06:21 PM

okay so now that I've got everybody gathered together, who's gonna upload the album Faust - So Far so I finally have it again know what Im sayin

~~Meatplow~~ · 06-18-2009, 06:55 PM

lol

check your last.fm inbox jaundice

imperialblackness · 06-18-2009, 07:22 PM

Mikael Akerfeldt listens to Comus

Txus · 06-24-2009, 01:52 PM

Been listening to Ash Ras Tempel's Join Inn a lot lately and Popol Vuh's In den Gärten Pharaos.

Jaundice · 06-24-2009, 01:53 PM

I've never listened to that Popul Vuh album actually

affenstunde is crazy though.

06-18-2009, 02:13 PM	#1
Jaundice watch that speed freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26,140	R&M Krautrock Orientation/Appreciation Party KRAUTROCK. Experimental German music from the late sixties and early seventies that took cues from early psychedelia and went on to set the prototype for Industrial, Post-Punk, Ambient, Techno, Prog, Gangsta Rap. I did a search and found one or two threads in the Other Music forum, so now I think it’s time for R&M to have its first semi-exhaustive kraut appreciation thread. Brief History: In the late sixties, Germany was still in upheaval after World War Two. The younger generation set out to establish a new musical identity. Many studied under contemporary composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen while also being influenced by new music from overseas— Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, The Velvet Underground. Factor in the influence of Dada and Surrealism, anarchist attitudes, hallucinogenic drugs. This is just going off the top of my head. For the full story, seek out one of two out-of-print and very expensive anthologies— krautrocksampler or Crack in the Cosmic Egg. Notable Bands Can - The most infamous and probably the best of all Kosmiche sounds, also the band I namedrop every time I’m trying to get in a pretentious indie girl’s pants. Formed in Cologne in 1968, the original line-up included American sculptor Malcolm Mooney, the godfather of sampling Holger Czukay, free-jazz pro Jaki Leibezeit, Irmin Schmidt and the now deceased Michael Karoli. Their earliest recordings are minimal improvisational rock jams. After their vocalist Mooney had a nervous breakdown, he was replaced by Damo Suzuki and the band released several classic albums (Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, Soundtracks) that mixed psychedelic, progressive, free jazz and ethnic instrumentation. Kraftwerk - Formed from the ashes of the project Organisation, Kraftwerk is, at its core, Florian Schneider and Ralf Hutter. Their first albums were instrumental efforts full of experimentation, before adding more members and eventually (through the help of producer Conny Plank) settling into a unique sound that is considered the earliest precursor to all modern synthpop, electro, industrial. Minimal, detached numbers performed with synths, drum machines, and the notorious vocoder. Ash Ra Tempel - One of the most overbearingly psychedelic bands to come from the movement. Formed in 1971 by Klaus Schulze and Manual Gottsching, after their experiences with Eruption, Tangerine Dream and other notable German bands. Throughout line up changes, they released several albums in the early seventies before becoming Ashra and producing electronic music. Their self-titled debut is a landmark in the genre. Their third album, Seven Up, was recorded with Timothy Leary on guest vocals while every one in the studio drank from a bottle laced with acid. Just to give an idea of how cool they were. Faust - A more enigmatic kraut band formed in 1971. While still making albums to this day, their first five albums between 71 and 74 are the records they are best known for. Considered a crucial influence on Throbbing Gristle, this band put out some of the earliest music to be considered industrial. A bizarre blend of psychedelia, prog-rock jamming and tape-loop experiments. Cluster - Kluster was formed in the late sixties by performers at the Zodiac Free Arts Lab. After releasing two studio albums, Conrad Schnitzler left the group, and the remaining members renamed the outfit Cluster. They continued to release albums in the same vein as Kluster; long rhythm-less pieces made from noise and electronic drones. In 1974, the band took a different route with Zuckerzeit, creating short, ambient pieces which had a great influence on Brian Eno. Other Important Bands That I Don’t Have Time To Write About: Amon Duul Amon Duul II Popol Vuh Tangerine Dream Agitation Free Neu! Cosmic Jokers Embryo Guru Guru Party Favors: I will edit in a link to a .rar with all of this **** in it Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express Can - Tago Mago Faust - Faust Cluster - ‘71 (in .m4a format) If you don’t like this music you’re a large bundle of sticks. Discuss. Dipsetttt

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06-18-2009, 02:46 PM	#2
Angmar The Red Menace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 28,468	I like Klaus Schulze idk if he fits into this category though.

06-18-2009, 02:47 PM	#3
Jaundice watch that speed freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26,140	Yeah, he does. I have Cyborg, it's good but I can almost never find the patience to listen to it

06-18-2009, 02:49 PM	#4
iranscam untitled Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 2,722	Can, Popol Vuh, and Tangerine Dream are cool.

06-18-2009, 02:58 PM	#6
Shattered_Future Citizen Of The Planet Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Just outside of New York, NY™ Posts: 13,372	I had a Klaus Schulze album for a while but got rid of it because it sounded WAAAAAY too new age-y.

06-18-2009, 04:22 PM	#7
Elitist Douche Bag I'm prime. Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 189	I'm in love with Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, and Future Days. FD is such a chilled-out summer album.

06-18-2009, 04:43 PM	#8
Txus Out for Blood Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 42,389	Can is great, most of the bands you liste are pretty good. I'm sad because there's a big lack of Comus in this thread

06-18-2009, 04:45 PM	#9
Jaundice watch that speed freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26,140	I tried to get most of the big names out of the way, and namedrop a couple lesser known ones just to get things going. I honestly don't think I've heard of Comus though.

06-18-2009, 05:03 PM	#10
Txus Out for Blood Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 42,389	Oh, get the album First Utterance. They were more in the folk side, I think you might enjoy them.

06-18-2009, 05:34 PM	#11
~~easylee~~ Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,940	lol comus arent krautrock at all

06-18-2009, 05:36 PM	#12
Txus Out for Blood Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 42,389	idk, i feel they kinda are.

06-18-2009, 05:44 PM	#13
~~easylee~~ Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,940	did your ese tell you that

06-18-2009, 05:49 PM	#14
~~Meatplow~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 35,656	I've listened to Can's Tago Mago, and Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express (which probably doesn't count as it is more from their electronic period if there is considered a distinction). Both are excellent, and I want to investigate this genre more so i'll be looking into these groups. I'm been listening a lot to traditional psychadelic rock recently, some more european stuff would be interesting.

06-18-2009, 06:21 PM	#16
Jaundice watch that speed freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26,140	okay so now that I've got everybody gathered together, who's gonna upload the album Faust - So Far so I finally have it again know what Im sayin

06-18-2009, 06:55 PM	#17
~~Meatplow~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 35,656	lol check your last.fm inbox jaundice

06-18-2009, 07:22 PM	#18
imperialblackness Scunty Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: san diego Posts: 2,957	Mikael Akerfeldt listens to Comus

06-24-2009, 01:52 PM	#19
Txus Out for Blood Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 42,389	Been listening to Ash Ras Tempel's Join Inn a lot lately and Popol Vuh's In den Gärten Pharaos.

06-24-2009, 01:53 PM	#20
Jaundice watch that speed freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26,140	I've never listened to that Popul Vuh album actually affenstunde is crazy though.