
Krautrock
Marshall Gu(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
Published on 5. October 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
168 pages
979-8-7651-0329-6 (ISBN)
Description
Krautrock is not a music genre. Krautrock is a way of life. Its sonic diversity and global reach belie the common culture from where it emerged. This is a band-by-band history.
In May 1945, the Allies defeated Nazi Germany, putting an end to the European front of World War II and the Third Reich. In the immediate aftermath, German youth were tasked to create their own culture. Krautrock is this unlikely success story, as hundreds of bands-including Kraftwerk and Can-seemed to sprout overnight in the early 1970s, forging a unique and experimental sound that was different than American or British rock. The major innovation of krautrock is not only its motorik beat, the steady click-click of Can's Jaki Liebezeit or monolithic stomp-stomp of Neu!'s Klaus Dinger, but also how the musicians relate to each other. In krautrock, no musician is given more focus than any other, and listening to these bands is to witness interplay common in jazz music. Thus, krautrock represents German politics reflected in music: a dictatorship replaced by democracy.
Krautrock explores the history and methodology of the genre, charting its influences and innovations, its more mainstream acts (like Faust, Kraftwerk, and Can) as well as the less universally known (including Harmonia, Popol Vuh, Embryo, and Ash Ra Tempel), and how the genre developed in post-war Germany and what it means to today's listeners.
In May 1945, the Allies defeated Nazi Germany, putting an end to the European front of World War II and the Third Reich. In the immediate aftermath, German youth were tasked to create their own culture. Krautrock is this unlikely success story, as hundreds of bands-including Kraftwerk and Can-seemed to sprout overnight in the early 1970s, forging a unique and experimental sound that was different than American or British rock. The major innovation of krautrock is not only its motorik beat, the steady click-click of Can's Jaki Liebezeit or monolithic stomp-stomp of Neu!'s Klaus Dinger, but also how the musicians relate to each other. In krautrock, no musician is given more focus than any other, and listening to these bands is to witness interplay common in jazz music. Thus, krautrock represents German politics reflected in music: a dictatorship replaced by democracy.
Krautrock explores the history and methodology of the genre, charting its influences and innovations, its more mainstream acts (like Faust, Kraftwerk, and Can) as well as the less universally known (including Harmonia, Popol Vuh, Embryo, and Ash Ra Tempel), and how the genre developed in post-war Germany and what it means to today's listeners.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
180 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-7651-0329-6 (9798765103296)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Marshall Gu is a music writer and has written for Pitchfork, Tone Glow, Bandcamp, and Resident Advisor. He lives in Toronto.
Content
Introduction
1. Future Days: CAN
2. German Beatles: Faust
3. Out of the City and Into the Forst: Cluster & Harmonia
4. Marmalade Skies: Tangerine Dream
5. The Ancient Heavenly Connection: Ash Ra Tempel
6. Haunted Island: Agitation Free
7. Electric Junk: Guru Guru
8. Universal Believer: Popol Vuh
9. Made in Germany: Amon Dueuel II
10. World Fusion: Embryo
11. A Beat That Lasts Fuer Immer: NEU!
12. We Are the Robots: Kraftwerk
13. Off the Autobahn and Onto the Trans-Europe Express: Krautrock's Legacy
Ten Essential Tracks
1. Future Days: CAN
2. German Beatles: Faust
3. Out of the City and Into the Forst: Cluster & Harmonia
4. Marmalade Skies: Tangerine Dream
5. The Ancient Heavenly Connection: Ash Ra Tempel
6. Haunted Island: Agitation Free
7. Electric Junk: Guru Guru
8. Universal Believer: Popol Vuh
9. Made in Germany: Amon Dueuel II
10. World Fusion: Embryo
11. A Beat That Lasts Fuer Immer: NEU!
12. We Are the Robots: Kraftwerk
13. Off the Autobahn and Onto the Trans-Europe Express: Krautrock's Legacy
Ten Essential Tracks

