Lecture Series, part 5: Krautrock
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Artist:
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Album:
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Track:Picnic On A Frozen River, Deuxieme Tableux
Krautrock. Out of all the genres I've discussed so far, no doubt this is the one that the majority of you loyal readers out there will be familiar with. This is the genre of Can, of Neu!, of Tangerine Dream, and without a doubt is the progressive style that has the most street cred. It certainly has been a huge influence on music from the 70's through today, and because of that it seems that some people are a little uncomfortable when it gets included in the likes of the rest of the prog scene."Surely," they say, "you can't lump in such an influential scene with the likes of Magma, Univers Zero, or that Caravan crap you were belting out before?" (slight Billy Idol sneer as they prepare their wits for an Argument, ready to defend their position to their last breath. How can I dare suggest that music they actually like is related, in some way to the pretentious snobbery of the progressive rock scene?)Slight exaggeration there, to be sure, but not as much as you'd think. If you go back to my "original post":http://mog.com/Groon/blog_post/128786, though, you'd see that this huge array of musicians easily fits within the definition I began with: any musical act that tries to stretch the boundaries of what has been done before. I think we can all agree that the German artists of the day definitely did that, and then some!So, having won said argument, and being magnanimous towards those I so justifiably put in their place, let us continue.As I was saying, krautrock: another geographically inpsired name, referring not to a style but rather to all the German musicians doing cutting edge music, primarily during the 1970's, but stretching a bit before and after that, as well. There are really several distinctive styles amd sub-groups, as well. You have the more typical prog sound, in bands like Eloy, the "Berlin School," which was mostly synthesizer and early electronic recordings, such as Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schultze, (Cluster might fit in this as well, though there is some argument against that). You have the more driven "motorik" sound of Neu! and Kraftwerk, the psychadelic like Amon Duul II, the ethereal like Popol Vuh, fusion and jazz such as Guru Guru and Can, and the really avant-garde such as Faust. All under one umbrella term. Really, there is so much information available on the web, and no doubt many of you know more about that I do. Rather than try to "school" you on all the ins and outs, let me get straight to the music. After, I plan on giving some links of places you can check out.So, let's get to the music, shall we? I almost feel like I should start out with a Can song, but you'll be able to find some of that in the links I plan on posting. Instead, I'd like to tickle your ears with my favorite of the krautrock groups, Faust. I absolutely hated these guys when I first heard them. Their first album stil goes down as one of the hardest listens I've ever heard. Each album gets a little easier to digest, and by their fourth album they had almost started to produce somewhat "normal" music. The more you listen to it, though, the more you know it's just as subversive as their original recordings. They broke up shortly after this album came out, but reformed in the 1990s, and are still putting out great music, although their sound now is very electronic and experimental. This song is called "Picnic on a Frozen River," but from what I understand that's due to a typo and screw up no the track listing. It was really suppposed to be called "Giggy Smile." (which is what the next song is called. Confused? Not that big a deal, so don't worry about it.)
Since krautrock is well represented on the web and MOG, I’ve gathered some links to share:"The wikipedia article on krautrock":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krautrock."The krautrock album database":http://www.geocities.com/krautrockgroup/. Includes a large list of bands and albums, and audio snippets."Was ist das?":http://www.wasistdas.co.uk/. A UK site that has a lot of good info, including current news."The Faust Pages":http://www.faust-pages.com/. For all things Faust."Krautrock youtube extravangaza!":http://mog.com/Groon/blog_post/112996. A post I made some time ago."Faust IV: a first timer’s perspective":http://mog.com/Groon/blog_post/57283. These are my thoughts as I listened to this album the first time. I wasn’t too impressed then, but it has since gone on to be one of my favorite albums.The Spoon records/CAN website can be found on my page, just a bit under my avatar.In the comments, Guru Guru rocks it pretty hard, Cluster gets freaky, and if I'm feeling squirrely, some Can as well, just 'cause I can!NOTE: I'm having tag issues, too, so most of the players are showing up blank. Sorry. I'm wondering if it would be better to just let the red dot take over?
Comments (30)
Ah, here are the guitars! Faust just doesn't sound that progressive to me (guess it was released in the seventies). Guru guru SMOKES! Cluster...well, I first thought it was my coffee maker acting up! Then I began listening. I listen to a lot of Califone and can hear the possible influence, the sounds seemly rising from the "pool," yes. To THIS is could write a short story! And then there's Can--what a diverse selection of bands and their product. Great stuff, Groon. Just sorry I missed the orginal run. And this last (and later) Faust track is super. Have you heard Califone? I've heard them called "industrial folk."
Next lesson...
Klyde, I'm loving your reactions to these, and I can say I completely agree with what you're saying. The Faust stuff from the 70's is a mixed bag. Some of it is pretty progressive, some of it sound more normal, and some of it is . . . well, who knows. On this post I went with something a little more accessible (in an attempt, probably, to lure people into buying something of theirs before realizing what they were getting into). Their first album, for example, is only three songs (very long songs) and I find it almost unlistenable. They weren't progressive in the more traditional sense, they were experimental in a lot of ways, ways that now seem much more commonplace. And of their original stuff, Faust IV is the most "normal" sounding.
Guru Guru, as I said above, definitely made something special with this album. If you find it, get it. It's that simple. I have quite a few of theirs and some of their later stuff is actually pretty boring, to me. But this whole album (well, the first two thirds, really) are as good as this kind of stuff gets.
Cluster is another one of those bands that are so hard to categorize because everything they did sounds different. (and the coffee maker thing made me laugh pretty hard for a second, there). This is off of their first one. Later recordings are much more rhythmic, although I haven't heard some of it so I can't give a detailed account. I'm glad you gave it a second to sink in. It takes a different set of ears to listen to that kind of stuff.
and then, as you said, there's Can. sigh.
I haven't heard of Califone, but I think you definitely need to make a post on them. I can't imagine what "industrial folk" sounds like, which is always a good thing.
Ah, perhaps I will make a post of Califone. Unfortunately, that takes time, and lately mine in high demand. I am often amazed by the amount of time MOG folks devote to their posts and comments. They can't be building houses. I am a writer of books (unpublished thus far) and so work on my 'puter; still it is hard for me to keep up. Yes, I will poist on Califone.
BTW, where are you at, geographically?
Also, I wrote a somewhat length response to #6 (which I really enjoyed). It included questions, etc. Then my laptop went screwy. I don't think it went through...did it? Let me know. If not I will do another version (without the knee-jerk reactions, of course).
Well, I don't spend as much time as I'd like to. Much less lately. I realized at some point I needed to pace myself or I'd get burned out. So I do a post or two a week, usually, but try to put a bit of thought into it. I saw on your page you were a writer. I've wanted for some time to do something in that area, but have found that I lack the dedication to stick to any sort of idea for long enough to realize an actual finished product. Love coming up with ideas, can't execute 'em. Maybe one day.
I am in Charleston, SC. You?
And sad to say, your response to #6 did not show up. Don't you hate it when that kind of crap happens?
Hate? Yes! Frustrated by many unexplainable glitches I smack into? Hell yes!
These days (for the past decade plus) I am living in the sticks, as they say. A small town in north California, population 300 (maybe).
So your answers last night saw you typing in the "wee hours."
And: "Pace myself." I hear that. And on that note: I was planning to work my way through the rest of your series, but after wrestling with a piece (as much non as it is fiction) all day, I am all done. Tomorrow it will need to be.
Later.
Yeah, I tend to stay up way later than I should.
Take your time--they aren't going anywhere.
what a fantastic post this was - man i love can.
Thanks! Me, too (obviously).