Essential Krautrock
What do you get if you mix Anglo-American post-psychedelic jamming, moody progressive rock, contemporary experimental classical music in the vein of Karlheinz Stockhausen and free jazz together with a urge to drive music towards more mechanical and electronic sounds? Krautrock! Or at least that was what the British music press humorously decided to call the new movement of experimental artists coming from Germany in the late 1960’s and 1970’s.
It might be strange that such simple and one-dimensional name have been given to a group of artists most concerned with breaking boarders and finding new grounds. However no one can deny the impact and influence bands like Can, Neu!, Faust, Amon Duul and others have had on music. This is like Julian Cope says “The music of true-genius which becomes more whole and holy every day”.
Can on German TV 1971
Here are 15 of the most essential Krautrock albums out there. To learn more about the experimental music scene in Germany in the late 60’s and 70’s we strongly recommend getting your hands on Julian Cope’s Krautrocksampler: One Head’s Guide to the Great Kosmische Musik – 1968 Onwards, which also includes Cope’s “50 Kosmisches Classics” where many of the records below are included.
The Cosmic Jokers – The Cosmic Jokers
Ash Ra Tempel – New Age Of Earth
Witthuser & Westrupp – Trips & Traume
