Kosmiche Musik/Krautrock

Demonoid · 09-14-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seltzer

I started with Faust IV, which is an unusual album, but also unusually compelling. I think it's best described on allmusic as a series of sometimes unrelated experiments.

I shall start with Faust IV then

Anything unusual is a good thing for me.
And oh, nice blog link Molecules.
*Downloads Faust IV now*

jackhammer · 09-14-2008, 06:28 PM

Ash Ra Tempel are really doing it for me. Amon Duul were a little uninspiring upon first listen but there is everything to play for.

Molecules · 09-15-2008, 02:38 PM

Ash Ra Tempel are off their collective rocker... I thought you'd appreciate the space-rock/Hawkwind connection. hard to believe it's just three guys. Opposite end of the krautrock spectrum to the minimal motorik stuff, but then again they all have that transcendent/tribal drum circle vibe going on

Molecules · 09-18-2008, 11:32 PM

I have recently taken an excursion into the second album of possibly my favourite 'Krautrock' (GOD I HATE THAT WORD) group, Neu!.

The first album, 'Neu!', of course being an experimental classic that unleashed the driving motorik rhythm; the third album, 'Neu! 75', honing Michael Rother and Conny Plank's live ambient soundscapes to sonic perfection.

Neu!2 seems to split listeners, and I'd like to know what people here think of it as it calls into question the thin divide between music and high art. Wikipedia says it best:

Quote:

This album further focused the classic Neu! 'Krautrock' sound, with 11 minute Für immer in particular being the archetypal example of their style—a seemingly endless forward-driving vamping, propelled by Dinger's 4/4 drumming and Rother's layered guitar with its fluid lines and droning harmonic structure.

Side 2 of the record caused consternation at the time: Neu! had quite simply run out of money to finish recording the album, so side 2 is made up entirely of their previously released single "Neuschnee/Super", manipulated at various playback speeds on a recordplayer, or mangled in a cassette recorder. Critics at the time dismissed this as a cheap gimmick and a rip-off. Whilst it was indeed an experiment born of desperation and necessity, it was entirely in keeping with Neu's pop art aesthetics, taking a 'ready-made' sound object and re-presenting it with a series of stylized manipulations, and also quite in keeping with the way Neu's music deconstructed and pared down the form of rock music. Dinger has since pointed to side 2 of this album as being a prototype of the now ubiquitous multiple 'remixes' which typically accompany any pop single release.

Demonoid · 09-19-2008, 01:33 AM

Neu!2 is definitely one of the weirdest krautrock albums I've listened to. I don't even know how to describe it...strange, noisy stuff. This one really is pushing the limits. This is all considering it was released in 1973. But It does seem lacking though. Damn, they shouldn't have blown all their money on the first few tracks. Side two was quite funny. Although it does seem like a filler after the first two tracks(Neuschnee & Super), each track after those always had some sh!t going on.

Molecules · 09-19-2008, 10:22 AM

yeah i dunno if the whole Pop Art excuse stands up for me when it takes up the entire second side of the album, it just sounds cheap. Their artwork was very kitsch though so it falls in line with their aesthetic but it's for fans of the band only I'd say

Demonoid · 09-19-2008, 12:40 PM

I disliked it a bit too...i think they just made a fool of themselves and decided to call it this 'krautrock' thing. But the one track, where It's a really slow version of 'super' was amusing. Especially, the slow drumming...was kinda funny

But overall though, most would dislike it. Even some fans won't like it. I mean, half the music i listen to is weird sh!t, but what they did here was just bullsh!t with this 'krautrock/art-rock' thing as an excuse.

Sneer · 03-18-2009, 06:31 PM

Amon Duul II and Faust are all sorts of superlatives. Of course Can and Neu! will always be the pinnacles of Krautrock for me but Amon's first two albums in particular blow my mind. What Ash Ra should i start with?

jackhammer · 11-03-2009, 06:31 PM

Did anyone checkout this superb Documentary that recently aired on BBC4? Here is the first part.

2:
YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 2 of 6
3:
YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 3 of 6
4:
YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 4 of 6
5:
YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 5 of 6
6:
YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 6 of 6

Molecules · 11-03-2009, 07:06 PM

man i always miss this stuff! BBC4 has done some great music docs the last few years, will be sure to watch this before it gets taken down... do they get everybody? (except the dead guys)

09-14-2008, 06:28 PM	#52 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Ash Ra Tempel are really doing it for me. Amon Duul were a little uninspiring upon first listen but there is everything to play for. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

09-15-2008, 02:38 PM	#53 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Ash Ra Tempel are off their collective rocker... I thought you'd appreciate the space-rock/Hawkwind connection. hard to believe it's just three guys. Opposite end of the krautrock spectrum to the minimal motorik stuff, but then again they all have that transcendent/tribal drum circle vibe going on __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

09-19-2008, 01:33 AM	#55 (permalink)
Demonoid Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 734	Neu!2 is definitely one of the weirdest krautrock albums I've listened to. I don't even know how to describe it...strange, noisy stuff. This one really is pushing the limits. This is all considering it was released in 1973. But It does seem lacking though. Damn, they shouldn't have blown all their money on the first few tracks. Side two was quite funny. Although it does seem like a filler after the first two tracks(Neuschnee & Super), each track after those always had some sh!t going on. Last edited by Demonoid; 09-19-2008 at 01:45 AM.

09-19-2008, 10:22 AM	#56 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	yeah i dunno if the whole Pop Art excuse stands up for me when it takes up the entire second side of the album, it just sounds cheap. Their artwork was very kitsch though so it falls in line with their aesthetic but it's for fans of the band only I'd say __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

03-18-2009, 06:31 PM	#58 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Amon Duul II and Faust are all sorts of superlatives. Of course Can and Neu! will always be the pinnacles of Krautrock for me but Amon's first two albums in particular blow my mind. What Ash Ra should i start with? __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

09-19-2008, 12:40 PM	#57 (permalink)
Demonoid Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 734	I disliked it a bit too...i think they just made a fool of themselves and decided to call it this 'krautrock' thing. But the one track, where It's a really slow version of 'super' was amusing. Especially, the slow drumming...was kinda funny But overall though, most would dislike it. Even some fans won't like it. I mean, half the music i listen to is weird sh!t, but what they did here was just bullsh!t with this 'krautrock/art-rock' thing as an excuse.

11-03-2009, 06:31 PM	#59 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Did anyone checkout this superb Documentary that recently aired on BBC4? Here is the first part. 2: YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 2 of 6 3: YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 3 of 6 4: YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 4 of 6 5: YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 5 of 6 6: YouTube - Krautrock documentary Pt 6 of 6 __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.” Last edited by jackhammer; 11-03-2009 at 06:58 PM.

11-03-2009, 07:06 PM	#60 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	man i always miss this stuff! BBC4 has done some great music docs the last few years, will be sure to watch this before it gets taken down... do they get everybody? (except the dead guys) __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her