Achtung! -- Kraut Rock

[Yesspaz]

I've not gotten into much Kraut-Rock yet, but I like what I've heard. I was browsing the playlist looking for Kraut-Rock, and there's not much.

There's a few albums by Can, Tangerine Dream, and Amon Duul, but that's about it. I'm not "suggesting" as much as asking, but what would you guys (the programmers and listeners included) think of adding a load of more Kraut-Rock? There's plenty more by the bands listed above, plus:


Faust
Klaus Schulze
Neu!
Cluster
Popol Vuh
Ash Ra Tempel
Moebius
Tony Conrad
Harmonia
Manuel
Appliance
Roedelius
La Dusseldorf
Brainticket
Phew
Village of Savoonga


If you know anything about these bands, let's discuss. I heard some Neu! at my local indie record store. Good stuff. One of my favorite indie bands, Tarentel, named an instrumental after Popol Vuh, so I'm interested in that.

Also, I'll say this. What makes me interested in finding out what you old-timers ;) think about these bands is that I, being of the younger persuasion (24) am into a lot of bands that cite Kraut-Rock as a major influence, such as Tarentel, Fontanelle, Tortoise, and To Rococo Rot. Anyway, let's talk Kraut-Rock...

[byzantium]

Just be prepared: Kraut is (often) very psychedelic. If you think 'Gates of Delirium' is psych you will O.D. when you hear Amon Düül II and early Ash Ra Tempel. There's a lot of zappa/gong-like craziness as well.

[KeithieW]

Liked this band ever since I saw them on "The Old Grey Whistle Test" doing their track 'Holiday am Matterhorn'.

Went and bought "Kraan Live" on the strength of that and it's beginning to wear out. Great track!!

[byzantium]

Originally posted by Sven



Oh, what you said means specialy Brainticket and they where from Switzerland (often titled as a Krautrock Band by mistake).



You are suggesting that e.g. Amon Düül II and Ash Ra Tempel aren't (or only marginally) psychedelic?

[dinosaur]

More on Kraan at:
http://www.gepr.net/ki.html#KRAAN

[KeithieW]

Thanks for the link dinosaur.

By the way........do you like T. Rex? :D

[dinosaur]

Einstein's "Fear of Relatives" notwithstanding,
I actually do like T. Rex

I'm a dinosaur
Somebody is diggin' my bones :eek:

[Yesspaz]

I really dig an Ash Ra Temple song I heard called "Wall of Sound," and just wondered what the rest of their stuff sounds like. I've heard Amon Duul II and thought is was great. I have no problem with psychedelia, as long as it is prog-psych.

[byzantium]

The classic, early 70s, Ash Ra Tempel features long, spacey guitar improvisations, often on top of the trance-like, metronomic drumming/rythm, which is so characteristic of kraut. Like Amon Düül II but less heavy, sometimes even ambient/atmospherical.

I haven't heard "Wall of Sound"

[Yesspaz]

Here's some info on Wall of Sound. I heard it on a different internet radio station, before I found AM, of course...
:p

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80309041408&sql=Avu6m962ogep2

[BAiTBand]

There are so many good German bands out there. Good musicianship has always been appreciated in Germany.

I notice that Stern Combo Meissen are already on the playlist. Grobschnitt are very much worth a listen. Utterly mad (very silly) lyrics but beautiful music and fantastic production, particularly on the 1977 album, Rockpommel's Land.

I heartily recommend it.

Many of the Ostrock bands (bands from the former East Germany) were excellent, such as Stern Combo Meissen, Lift, and Electra (all three still perform joint gigs under the 'Sachsendreier' name). City are worth a listen too (Am Fenster).

Too many to mention!!

[KeithieW]

Welcome to the Aural Moon forums BAiTBand.

Some good info there. I'll check them out.

I've already heard Grobschnitt and like them a lot. As you say the lyrics are, shall we say, ODD but the music is excellent.

I have a liking for Eloy myself. They are on the AM playlist.

Be warned if you've not tuned into AM before be careful of the "What's playing now" window. The 'Buy' button can become addictive.

[progdirjim]

I've ordered Faust IV, let's get some feedback on it once it gets to the playlist...

[Yesspaz]

looking forward to it:cool:

[byzantium]

Originally posted by progdirjim
I've ordered Faust IV, let's get some feedback on it once it gets to the playlist...

You could get one already now:

The track 'Krautrock' is quite enervating... Sounds like you've blowed your speakers.

[progdirjim]

I've ordered Neu! 2...