Krautrock - Love it or Loathe it, or never heard of it?

[Bosko Schwartz]

I'm in danger of exposing myself here, but although I have definitely heard OF Kraftwerk and of how important they are to electronic music and music in general, I have never actually heard them ... or any Krautrock, really.

I am almost exclusively of English and German descent -- just about half and half.  I have the English side pretty well covered, but the German side ... call me clueless!

I have a fairly extensive musical vocabulary and I'm pretty proud of it, so it really pains me to admit this.   But honesty is crucial!

[64Guitars]

I guess I don't have any krautrock faves after all, just Gary Numan and DEVO, and they don't count.  You need good German bands.  Put me in the "never heard of it, maybe just barely category"

Bluesberry: I've read that Wilco were influenced by this Krautrock band:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5316ZsVYSs

[Bluesberry]

Nice one 64G, actually Wilco did one kinda Krautrock song "Spiders (kidsmoke)", from A Ghost is Born album which sounds like this, and I was going to mention that one, but well, I felt like I didn't know what the hell I was talking about so I didn't.  Thanks for letting me remember this.  And yes, I do adore Wilco, so I guess I am into Krautrock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1xxBqXWGLE

[Geir]

I'm in danger of exposing myself here, but although I have definitely heard OF Kraftwerk and of how important they are to electronic music and music in general, I have never actually heard them ... or any Krautrock, really.
I have a fairly extensive musical vocabulary and I'm pretty proud of it, so it really pains me to admit this.   But honesty is crucial!

I'm in the same category Bosko. And still some of the songs I've posted here got comments that I reminded of Can .... and maybe some other krautrock Bands, can't remember right now   ... maybe just my Norwegian accent that sends that vibe (well the songs were kinda ..... different than my usual style (whatever that is))

[64Guitars]

I'm in danger of exposing myself here, but although I have definitely heard OF Kraftwerk and of how important they are to electronic music and music in general, I have never actually heard them ... or any Krautrock, really.

Surely you've heard "Autobahn"!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m99057ibDAU

German lyrics: Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn Vor uns liegt ein weites Tal Die Sonne scheint mit Glitzerstrahl Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band Weisse Streifen, gruener Rand Jetzt schalten wir ja das Radio an Aus dem Lautsprecher klingt es dann: Wir fah'rn auf der Autobahn...

English translation: We are driving on the Autobahn In front of us is a wide valley The sun is shining with glittering rays The driving strip is a grey track White stripes, green edge We are switching the radio on From the speaker it sounds: We are driving on the Autobahn

[Ferryman_1957]

Nice one 64G, actually Wilco did one kinda Krautrock song "Spiders (kidsmoke)", from A Ghost is Born album which sounds like this, and I was going to mention that one, but well, I felt like I didn't know what the hell I was talking about so I didn't.  Thanks for letting me remember this.  And yes, I do adore Wilco, so I guess I am into Krautrock.

Wow yes, lot of Krautrock influence in there. That repetitive bass/drum feel is called "motorik", supposed to be representative of driving along (Kraftwerk's Autobahn also has this approach, supposedly ripped off from Neu!). And the guitar soloing over it is very Can/Neu-ish. Those nice big chord seqeuences are a bit different though.

BTW, Johnny Rotten was supposedly into Can and Krautrock.

Cheers,

Nigel