(Also known as kosmische Musik or cosmic music)
When you manage to turn into an advantage a feature for which everyone is making fun of you, then you are ready to write history.
How it sounds
As a result of an orgy between psychedelic rock, electronic music, experimental rock, and avant-garde, with funk and jazz occasionally participating in it.
Why listen to it
Because it is one of the most influential musical currents in European music.
And responsible for the creation of many new genres of rock & metal, as well as for their evolution.
Why not
Because music with the name of cabbage, inspired by sauerkraut, may sound… sour. Even though it makes a good liver.
Where we meet it
West Germany (then throughout Germany)
When did it start
Late 60s early 70s.
Who are the pioneers
In fact, radio producers such as John Peel, but also music publications such as Melody Maker, referred to German bands in a derogatory way.
They were also excited by their sound.
In 1973 Faust released a 12-minute song entitled “Krautrock” essentially validating the genre.
Although already with their previous album “Faust So Far” they secured the genre with sound.
Earlier, musicians such as Dieter Moebius, and bands such as Cluster and Harmonia, following the revolutionary climate of 1968, wanted to give musical substance to it.
You have to listen
Neu !, Can, Kraftwerk, Ash Ra Tempel, Popol Vuh, Amon Düül II, Tangerine Dream and David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy.
Days of glory
The ’70s to the mid-’80s, but it continues through the genres it inspired.
Kraftwerk is still filling stadiums today.
Red card
The excessive tendency towards eccentric behaviors with the most characteristic being the fact that Kraftwerk put robots to play in their place.
Exaggeration even in experimentation.
What is it confused with
With electronic music, post-rock and often confuses what exactly the listener can hear.
How do you describe it to an irrelevant
German electronic stuff with an electric guitar in the background.