Why not, eh? #1 Amon Düül II - Phallus Deihttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lRj5cgbiFlU/Rd1OoOwVItI/AAAAAAAAAMs/6W4cAFHecp8/s320/Amon+D%C3%BC%C3%BCl+-+Phallus+Dei+front2.jpg
"Kanaan" starts the album wonderfully, a melange of rumbling rock power, strings and sitars, Lothar Meid's almost Bowie-ish vocals with Renate Knaup's wordless chanting in the background, that's just as intoxicating many years after its first appearance as it was upon release. The slightly jazzy concluding minute avoids sounding forced, blending in beautifully with the song's general flow. "Dem Guten, Schoenen, Wahren" takes a truly wacked-out turn, with Meid's bizarre falsetto coming to the fore, swooping around the main melodies without regard for them in yelps and chants, while the music chugs along in what almost sounds like a beer-hall singalong at points, taking a more haunting, beautiful turn at others (the heavily produced violins are an especially spooky touch). "Luzifers Ghilom" brings out the psych-folk origins of the band a bit more with Shrat's bongos, while the rest of the band pulls off a nicely heroic rock piece that never sounds too inflated or stupid, with appropriately nutty vocal breaks and interjections along the way -- the sublime and the ridiculous never sounded so good together. "Henriette Krotenschwanz" ends the first side with a brief choral military march (if you will). The title track takes up the remainder of the album, a complex piece which never loses a sense of fun while always staying musically compelling. After a quiet start, the opening minutes consist of a variety of drones and noises constantly brought up and down in the mix, leading to a full band performance that builds and skips along with restrained fuzz power. Everything builds to a sudden climax halfway through, where all the members play a series of melodies in unison, while drums pound in the background. After a quick violin solo, everything settles into a fine percussion jam, with the full band kicking in shortly thereafter.
#2 Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempelhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2yxShucczeo/SmtwuNbIynI/AAAAAAAAACg/iPFucrNIPRs/s400/AshRaTemple.jpgAMG Review By Ned Raggett
n light of the 1990s post-rock scene and the often clear links back to Krautrock of all stripes, Ash Ra Tempel's monster debut album stands as being both astonishingly prescient and just flat out good, a logical extension of the space-jam-freakout ethos into rarified realms. Featuring the original trio of Enke, Gottsching and Schulze, Ash Ra Tempel consists of only two side-long tracks, both of which are gripping examples of technical ability mixed with rock power. If more progressive music was like it, there wouldn't be as many continuing complaints about that genre as a whole. "Amboss" contains the more upfront explosions of sound, though it mixes in restraint as much as crunch. Starting with Gottsching's extended guitar notes and Schulze's cymbals, it begins with a slow, ominous build that is equally haunting, as mysterious as the cryptic artwork of temples and figures found on the inside. Quick, rumbling drums slowly fade up some minutes in, with more crashing guitar mixing in with the previous tones, creating a disorienting drone experience. The active jam then takes over the rest of the song at the point, the three going off just as they want to (Gottsching's soloing in particular is fantastic) before all coming back together for an explosive, shuddering series of climaxes. "Traummaschine," in marked contrast, is a quieter affair, with Gottsching's deep drones setting and continuing the tone throughout. Fading in bit by bit, the guitars are accompanied by equally mesmerizing keyboards from Schulze, creating something that calls to mind everything from Eno's ambient works to Lull's doom-laden soundscapes and, after more distinct guitar pluckings start to surface, Flying Saucer Attack's rural psychedelia. Halfway through, soft percussion blends with the music to create a gentle but persistent intensity, cue for a series of shifts between calmer and more active sections, but all kept more restrained than on "Amboss."
Not A Spotify Link
#3 La Düsseldorf - Vivahttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uCwtP5BpIng/SANg3Lw5jqI/AAAAAAAAAA0/FGJo8AA5NBc/s400/viva.jpg
La Dusseldorf's Viva crystallized Klaus Dinger's progressive rock vision into a symphony of swirling guitars, rich keyboard melodies and driving percussive beats. The magnum opus "Cha, Cha 2000," will forever stand as one of the all-time anthems of futurist rock & roll.
Anyone can book a week to curate. Post now if you want in. Happy listening and please post your thoughts on these albums whether you know them inside our or you are new to them. A certain P.oster might not agree with my La Düsseldorf pick but this is the better album!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 04:21 (thirteen years ago) link
This may be a dumb question, but is this just going to be German Krautrock or is similar-sounding stuff from other countries allowed?
― Sweet Sister Raistlin (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 05:28 (thirteen years ago) link
Nice... I know the first and third but not the Ash Ra Tempel. Glad to have it. By the way anyone way into krautrock or looking to get way into krautrock may like this post I wrote a few months ago. A helpful list, if nothing else.
I'll need to give all three of these records a listen this week. If I remember right I really love every other song on the ADII album, the others being kinda dreck. And I know I like Viva but I got it on the same day as their first, s/t album, so the two have always blended together for me.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 05:39 (thirteen years ago) link
This is a cool idea.
I did d/l all the Cope 50, but never got round to playing 90% of them.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 07:31 (thirteen years ago) link
I dunno, I guess you can pick whatever you like?
Who wants a week?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 12:40 (thirteen years ago) link
I'll take a week.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:22 (thirteen years ago) link
is this just going to be German Krautrock
I wasn't aware there was any other kind
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Love that La Dusseldorf record (and their ST one is great also), don't know the others. Only Ash Ra stuff I know is "New Age of Man", which I think is a later incarnation of the above band. Amon Duul II-wise, I only have Yeti, which is also great, if very different to what many consider to be the classic krautrock sound.
Another listening club to keep up with...
― Neil S, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:29 (thirteen years ago) link
the Ash Ra Tempel is thoroughly awesome, and I decided to leave out Yeti as I figured most people had heard it but may not know this one.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:34 (thirteen years ago) link
"Phallus Dei" starts out like it's going to be the greatest album you've ever heard in your life but then doesn't follow up on it, IMO. Still wonder how they came up with it though. In Munich. In 1969.
I blow hot and cold on Ash Ra Tempel (I prefer Ashra!)
La D is obv. great.
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:37 (thirteen years ago) link
... "Viva" is prob. the La D album that most convinces me Klaus Dinger was a fan of the Glitter Band!
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:39 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm in.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:40 (thirteen years ago) link
Damn you for making another listening club that I absolutely have to follow.
Love the Amon Duul and La Dusseldorf albums, both staples of my listening habits during the past 5 years or so, especially. I still haven't managed to track down a copy of the Ash Ra Tempel, however...
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:42 (thirteen years ago) link
tom d you want to curate a week?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:51 (thirteen years ago) link
I should really, shouldn't I? What do I do?
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:52 (thirteen years ago) link
On your week you choose 3 albums, post in the style of the 1st post with album covers, spotify links etc. You can add your own thoughts or post reviews. Whatever you like.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:54 (thirteen years ago) link
12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - Tom D
Anyone else?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:55 (thirteen years ago) link
Hold on there, don't pencil me in for the 19th just yet, give me time to think of stuff!
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:57 (thirteen years ago) link
its 2 weeks!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 13:58 (thirteen years ago) link
ME! As mentioned upthread.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:06 (thirteen years ago) link
Hey, some of us might be busy for the next two weeks! Also I want to see what other people are posting and the general direction the whole thing's headed (xp)
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:06 (thirteen years ago) link
alright12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:10 (thirteen years ago) link
dont blame me if 20 people jump in ahead of you and you dont get a shot until next year, tom.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:11 (thirteen years ago) link
Already have my three albums lined up (in my head).
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:11 (thirteen years ago) link
^ deserves to go before me
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:13 (thirteen years ago) link
Actually, I might prefer to go later... unless Herman's down for having me highlight some Kraut-influenced stuff instead of a bunch of the "classic" '60s/'70s era stuff. I'm gonna switch it up a bit!
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:21 (thirteen years ago) link
My immediate thought is that it might be best to get some of the "classics" out of the way first, though.
yes, get the "classics" out of the way. I dont think we need do Stereolab ever on this thread.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:27 (thirteen years ago) link
I've never heard VIVA. I'll have to grab it later. This is the first listening club thread I've opened.I'm a big fan of the first two bands, but neither of those records are my favorite. They are pretty great debuts, though.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:28 (thirteen years ago) link
Hmmmm, you may want to push back my contribution week? I've got one classic lined up, then two heavily Kraut-influenced things from the '90s/'00s that are well worth hearing.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:34 (thirteen years ago) link
1st round of goes we definitely stick to the classics, "influenced" stuff comes much later as we run out, i think)
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:36 (thirteen years ago) link
I cant push you back as noone else has volunteered and tom needs 3 months to pick his albums.
I'll give it a go Herman!
― Neil S, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:49 (thirteen years ago) link
Can I have a week for classics, then another week for influenced stuff a bit later on?
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:52 (thirteen years ago) link
Greedy
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:53 (thirteen years ago) link
sure.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:56 (thirteen years ago) link
I'll be having multiple goes myself, hopefully not too many though as lots of you will volunteer.
12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:58 (thirteen years ago) link
ta. Now I have to get thinking, should be relatively easy if we're the more canonical end of things.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:02 (thirteen years ago) link
i think we can be loose on the 70s end of things
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:17 (thirteen years ago) link
tom is digging out his early Scorpions lps as we speak. I heard he liked a bit of Frumpy and Hairy Chapter too.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:34 (thirteen years ago) link
Promise to avoid crap German heavy rock and crap German jazz rock - and there's a shitload of the latter
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:37 (thirteen years ago) link
...that you own?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:38 (thirteen years ago) link
... a lot of it, yes, unfortunately
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:40 (thirteen years ago) link
you hippy!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:41 (thirteen years ago) link
What do you have then german jazz-rock wise?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh, various shite
― Football's Flocking Home (Tom D.), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:48 (thirteen years ago) link
name some names!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 15:52 (thirteen years ago) link
I bet he has Scorpions albums
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 17:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Hey, select portions of "Lonesome Crow" are fairly krautrockish! (Particularly the Echoplexed bits.)
― too dancy, rocking, jazzy, funky or american (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 17:26 (thirteen years ago) link
Hairy Chapter's "Can't Get Through" lp is a thud-rock classic, imo.Early Scorps certainly ain't bad, either.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 17:28 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm a bit fuzzy on the concept: What are the responsibilities involved in volunteering to do a week?
― too dancy, rocking, jazzy, funky or american (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 17:42 (thirteen years ago) link
1) Pick three albums!
2) Get wasted.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 18:06 (thirteen years ago) link
Yes, except you've got it in reverse order.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 18:42 (thirteen years ago) link
1) Get wasted.
2) Pick three albums!
3) Get wasteder.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 18:49 (thirteen years ago) link
Alright, I want a week. But it couldn't really be until like the middle of June because I'm packing up my records and moving across the country...
― Sweet Sister Raistlin (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 19:28 (thirteen years ago) link
you goin' back to cali? like LL?
― scott seward, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 20:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah. Except not nearly as cool, and I gotta figure out how to get my music out there with me.
― Sweet Sister Raistlin (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 20:22 (thirteen years ago) link
good luck!
― scott seward, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 20:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Thx dude! Wish I would've had more warning, would've come up to your store.
― Sweet Sister Raistlin (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 20:33 (thirteen years ago) link
(And a few hundred others.)
ok I'll put you down provisionally then
12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 21:19 (thirteen years ago) link
THX
― Sweet Sister Raistlin (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 21:21 (thirteen years ago) link
Can we get a week for Geir?
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 21:21 (thirteen years ago) link
geir only does prog club
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 22:39 (thirteen years ago) link
Anyone else want in?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 5 May 2010 23:05 (thirteen years ago) link
Listening to Phallus Dei, this was the first Amon Düül II I ever bought. I read about them somewhere in the mid 90s and one of my mates ran me into Glasgow to Tower Records one evening (it opened til midnight). I got this and tanz der lemmings(they didnt have yeti) and 2 Neu! cds. It still sounds bizarre now, love it. I remember finding yeti a few weeks later 2nd hand along with the other Neu! cd. Great times.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:27 (thirteen years ago) link
This thread/club I will most likely follow than any other one.
― van smack, Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:28 (thirteen years ago) link
sidenote: the Neu! box set is now available
― van smack, Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:31 (thirteen years ago) link
she be expensive
― hell and the handbaskets (electricsound), Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:39 (thirteen years ago) link
much? (didn't even know there was one)
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:39 (thirteen years ago) link
120 euro plus post
― hell and the handbaskets (electricsound), Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:40 (thirteen years ago) link
I got an email from amazon and it said the sale price was $333
― van smack, Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:41 (thirteen years ago) link
get it from gronland
http://www.neu2010-shop.com/content/produktdetail.aspx?a=11284&s=78
― hell and the handbaskets (electricsound), Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:42 (thirteen years ago) link
119 euros = to about 150 usd?
― van smack, Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:43 (thirteen years ago) link
I really want that set
― van smack, Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:44 (thirteen years ago) link
way too spendy for me
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 00:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Shipping cost will be a real bastard too
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 01:31 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh they have that 12" single!
― Mark G, Thursday, 6 May 2010 07:32 (thirteen years ago) link
you paying 130 euros for the single then?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 14:27 (thirteen years ago) link
I'd like to take a week if I can. I have paid stupid amounts of money for Second Battle/Garden of Delights/Brain reissues and need to turn it into some kind of worthwhile social contribution. I should be able to provide some good stuff depending on where you guys take this thread.
― von kelson, Thursday, 6 May 2010 14:59 (thirteen years ago) link
12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson
That date suit you?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:08 (thirteen years ago) link
I like VIVA but wish that Klaus's vocals would get more unhinged or something.I feel like he's not making his HERO effort.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:09 (thirteen years ago) link
He's actually trying be understood on this album though - that boy had something to say on this album, even had a lyric sheet!
― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:11 (thirteen years ago) link
No shit?Makes sense. I was listening to Cha Cha 2000 on my way to work and imagining utopia.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:13 (thirteen years ago) link
I could possibly do a week of ones that I own on record. Won't be able to join in all of them as I can't use my computer for listening.
Viva is an odd one for me, as a fair few of my friends think 'White Overalls' is the best La Dusseldorf song, so I'm always put off it slightly due to my unwavering stance that the first side of La Dusseldorf is much better. And quite possibly the best side of music ever. It's a slightly unfair attitude to take to what is an otherwise great record in its own right.
― emil.y, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:13 (thirteen years ago) link
12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y
that suit you?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:16 (thirteen years ago) link
Always think of "Viva/White Overalls" as one song. Actually the 1st album had a lyric sheet too but don't think he was being as profound there (xxp)
― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Sounds good. If anything comes up that means I can't do it then I should be able to let you know with plenty of time to spare. Not entirely sure what I've got that others won't know/have already taken, though!
xpost
― emil.y, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:20 (thirteen years ago) link
tom d wanted to go later so maybe he will swap with you?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:21 (thirteen years ago) link
I think the idea of was for people who aren't as familiar with this stuff to visit these threads - but I don't know if it's working out that way!
― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:22 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh no, I've already chosen my albums... but what happens if they're not on Spotify?
― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link
That would be far too early, I'm afraid. I think that's the day I get back from Primavera, and the rest of May is hella busy.
xposts!
― emil.y, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link
then you provide a not on spotifyxp
ok works out fine then.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:24 (thirteen years ago) link
then you provide a not on spotify
Y'what?
― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:25 (thirteen years ago) link
Haha, yeah - I can't join in with the others as I don't own any of them and can't play music from the computer without pestering the mister to use his. So at least with this one I already own some of them.
― emil.y, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:25 (thirteen years ago) link
tom, but those who want to discover krautrock need those who know about it to post albums for them to check out? Its for everyone! Everyone can post what they think of the albums whether its the first time they heard them or not.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:25 (thirteen years ago) link
tom check my 1st post for a not on spotify
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:26 (thirteen years ago) link
Right, got ya
― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Tom D.), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:32 (thirteen years ago) link
emil.y do you know the other 2 records i posted?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:33 (thirteen years ago) link
23rd works for me, or earlier if anyone wants to switch. Mentally I always divide this stuff between heavy psych and kosmiche/electronic stuff, so I will try to post a little of each.
― von kelson, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:57 (thirteen years ago) link
many xposts re; NEU! boxset: Hey Mark G. - the single is available separately: http://www.neu2010-shop.com/content/produktekategorie.aspx?k=9&s=78
― Bashful Johnny C. (staggerlee), Friday, 7 May 2010 02:16 (thirteen years ago) link
ooohh
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 7 May 2010 10:09 (thirteen years ago) link
I know, that's what I was meaning up there...
― Mark G, Friday, 7 May 2010 10:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Really enjoying Viva now. This never grabbed me before like the first album. I'll have to track down Individuellos.
― fit and working again, Friday, 7 May 2010 14:51 (thirteen years ago) link
The muffled vocals are a bit annoying though.
― fit and working again, Friday, 7 May 2010 14:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Really? I think it fits the music.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 7 May 2010 15:43 (thirteen years ago) link
Yes, don't get that. "Individuellos" is not as good but is possibly even more ABBAtastic than the 1st two.
― See the majority? Where's the majority? (Tom D.), Friday, 7 May 2010 15:44 (thirteen years ago) link
I shouldn't have said "annoying" as I don't think it's bad really. Just that the contrast between the bright shiny synth-motorik and the vocals is striking (on Geld, for example).
― fit and working again, Friday, 7 May 2010 16:28 (thirteen years ago) link
that ash ra is str8 fire
― stupidfruityswagaliciousexpialidocious (m bison), Saturday, 8 May 2010 01:03 (thirteen years ago) link
you're not kidding, which track was your fave?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 8 May 2010 01:06 (thirteen years ago) link
dont recall tracks, i just let it run and i wasnt at my computer so the part where there was spooky guitar ambience
― stupidfruityswagaliciousexpialidocious (m bison), Saturday, 8 May 2010 01:17 (thirteen years ago) link
heh, both tracks have that, the 2nd track it's a bit longer I suppose.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 8 May 2010 03:10 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm usually incoherent by the time AMBOSS ends.Not sure I've ever made it all the way through "Traummaschine" tbh.
― Trip Maker, Saturday, 8 May 2010 03:50 (thirteen years ago) link
yo, I'll do a week.
p.s. that la dusseldorf album rules hard. "cha cha 2000" is the happiest/most uplifting music of all time. the other two are OK too.
― original bgm, Saturday, 8 May 2010 03:58 (thirteen years ago) link
"Viva" is totally the best La Dusseldorf album, but "Zeit" is my favorite song by them.
I listened to the Ash Ra the other night (first time in a while), it's so great and one of those albums where I'm never quite sure what's making what sound, instrumentally. I think "Schwingungen" is still my favorite, and "Jenseits" is my favorite of their really cosmic tracks. Probably gonna play "Traummaschine" on my radio show tomorrow.
Also, I highly recommend searching out "Le Berceau De Cristal" by Ash Ra Tempel, pretty cool soundtrack to a movie I'm not sure exists, sounds kind of transitional between ART and Ashra.
― Sweet Sister Raistlin (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Saturday, 8 May 2010 04:03 (thirteen years ago) link
Ash Ra Tempel: 1st listen: not terribly digging it, way too noodly for me. Like the ambience and the rhythm backing but that near-constant soloing makes me loopy and not in a good way.
La Dusseldorf: Hm, the missing link between NEU! and the Chariots of Fire theme (thinking in particular of Cha Cha 2K, the synth textures). Will have to spend more time with it.
― Bashful Johnny C. (staggerlee), Saturday, 8 May 2010 05:11 (thirteen years ago) link
the soloing is fucking awesome, its not pointless, its fantastic stuff!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 8 May 2010 13:50 (thirteen years ago) link
My fave of the LD is Rheinita
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 8 May 2010 19:25 (thirteen years ago) link
Only just noticed this question. I have heard both more than once, but not for a while, so to make sweeping statements on them would perhaps be unwise. I remember them both being good, but they don't really exemplify the side of krautrock that I love - although I will probably regret this description, that'd be roughly (non-trippy kosmiche) synths and motorik rhythms. The full-on guitar rock hippies don't really turn me on musically. Although me'n'Craig do own Yeti so when that inevitably turns up I'll be full of praise for it. And even while writing this I'm thinking of more counter-examples and exceptions. Gah.
― emil.y, Saturday, 8 May 2010 19:34 (thirteen years ago) link
Phallus Dei is a lot weirder and more tripped out than Yeti (imo). I decided to go for Phallus Dei as I assumed most people on this thread would have heard it, so I left it for someone else to pick.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 8 May 2010 19:59 (thirteen years ago) link
I am tempted to post another bonus album just to show the electronic side of "krautrock"
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 9 May 2010 01:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Phallus Dei is a lot weirder and more tripped out than Yeti (imo).
^^^ Yes. Both records are excellent of course.
― fit and working again, Sunday, 9 May 2010 17:40 (thirteen years ago) link
it's obvious that amon duul and ashra and can and quite a few others were heavily informed by the late 60s psych - lots of zappa and west coast free form drugged up improvs and so on. they can get a little annoying after a bit but, like any great improvs, when it hits that centre it hits hard. i can't make myself listen to la d again - they always reminded me how much i missed neu!
― nonightsweats, Monday, 10 May 2010 01:30 (thirteen years ago) link
I think of it as, yes! more awesome music!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 10 May 2010 01:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Any more volunteers?12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 10 May 2010 13:53 (thirteen years ago) link
Kicked off with AD2....
― Mark G, Monday, 10 May 2010 13:55 (thirteen years ago) link
live blog?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 10 May 2010 13:58 (thirteen years ago) link
it's obvious that amon duul and ashra and can and quite a few others were heavily informed by the late 60s psych - lots of zappa and west coast free form drugged up improvs and so on
Absolutely. Krautrock apologists are always going on about how the music was like a year zero, deliberately distancing itself from Anglo-American rock. That's not the case at all (but it doesn't make krautrock any less great)
― anagram, Monday, 10 May 2010 14:13 (thirteen years ago) link
Well, some of it did, some of the proponents even said as much
― See the majority? Where's the majority? (Tom D.), Monday, 10 May 2010 14:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm up for doing a week...
― Matt #2, Monday, 10 May 2010 14:29 (thirteen years ago) link
12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #2
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 10 May 2010 15:33 (thirteen years ago) link
can you slot me in as well? thanks.
― original bgm, Monday, 10 May 2010 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Sure 12/05 - fit and working again19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N
That suit you?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 10 May 2010 18:26 (thirteen years ago) link
yep. thanks!
― original bgm, Monday, 10 May 2010 18:40 (thirteen years ago) link
ok, anyone else want in?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 10 May 2010 23:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Ask me in June or July...
By the way, has anyone seen/read/discussed this book? It looks great. I bought it but have not had a chance to crack it open yet.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Tuesday, 11 May 2010 01:04 (thirteen years ago) link
it's a beautiful coffee table book with fantastic glossy pictures. the writing is fairly basic but seems to hit all the right details, what I read wasn't telling me anything new but wasn't rubbing me the wrong way either & I'm fine with Krautrock now being a glossy coffee table book that makes a great present
― Milton Parker, Tuesday, 11 May 2010 01:14 (thirteen years ago) link
Seconded. I haven't had a chance to read more than maybe 1/5 of it yet, but it's a really nice "coffee table" book. Great photos, not so in-depth as to be off-putting to someone who might randomly start reading it while sitting at said coffee table.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 11 May 2010 01:40 (thirteen years ago) link
WEEK TWO!
Three of my favorite Krautrock records, none of them too obscure. I can't use Spotify from where I am so maybe someone can post the relevant links if these records are available there. Also, can someone else change the thread title please?
Walter Wegmuller - Tarot
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt_-tcF1HIs/SkAeidbLg8I/AAAAAAAAALw/5fjMnh8-hKk/s400/3.jpg
TAROT is amongst the most remarkable projects in Krautrock, covering the whole range of cosmic music, and aptly elaborately packaged in a box with numerous cards and inserts. The first three sides cover a wide range of moods, with folky touches, strange electronic diversions and fiery space-rock drives, fronted by guitars, synthesizers and Mellotron. The fourth side is encompassed by a single suite that surges beyond Ash Ra Tempel, previewing the sound of The Cosmic Jokers. Throughout, Walter is our guide, narrating in a most imaginative manner his visions of the Tarot, in a weirdly accented German.
This huge double-LP is as all-emcompassing as rock'n'roll gets, proving that Krautrock's greatest strength was its ability to consume all American and British music, assimilate it, and then regurgitate it all as though the Mothers, the Velvets, the Doors, the Stones, the Fugs, the freerock and free-jazz of Detroit, and the experimentalism of Germany could all be thrown into some Kosmische pot.
A record that's much-fêted in Krautrock circles, but that hasn't been mentioned much on ILM. Given the Ash Ra Tempel love in this thread so far some of you might have something to say about this.
Not a Spotify link.
Popol Vuh - In den Gärten Pharaos
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcKsEe3sI50/ST8iUc86B1I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/TrtkjQUAmZ4/s320/41W4M91H6HL._SS500_.jpg
In Den Gärten Pharaos contains very similar elements as their first album; same Moog, same percussion, same deep space exploration, but this is an altogether more mature and unified work where Fricke & Company have corralled the beastly Moog III synthesizer into a more workable partner as opposed to just a fun toy, creating an early classic, the first of many.Doubtlessly the 17:38 title track has accompanied many a psychedelic trip, along with the background music to some adventurous meditation. We start off with the sound of water, a recurring theme throughout the song, before we're suddenly plunged headfirst underwater with distant drums and Moog accompaniment to guide us on our journey. The song shifts and changes, carries us along, and it's a very satisfying piece that is literally dripping with atmosphere.Side two, "Vuh," was recorded live in a church, and has a somewhat different sonic palette, consisting of sustained church organ notes, some chanting and crashing cymbals to go along with the Moog and occasional bongos. This is a deep droning track that ambient artists 30 years later would have been proud to make. A very different feel from side one, although just as spacey.
Doubtlessly the 17:38 title track has accompanied many a psychedelic trip, along with the background music to some adventurous meditation. We start off with the sound of water, a recurring theme throughout the song, before we're suddenly plunged headfirst underwater with distant drums and Moog accompaniment to guide us on our journey. The song shifts and changes, carries us along, and it's a very satisfying piece that is literally dripping with atmosphere.
Side two, "Vuh," was recorded live in a church, and has a somewhat different sonic palette, consisting of sustained church organ notes, some chanting and crashing cymbals to go along with the Moog and occasional bongos. This is a deep droning track that ambient artists 30 years later would have been proud to make. A very different feel from side one, although just as spacey.
A note for the uninitiated: this record (their second) sounds little like the band's many subsequent releases. Hopefully someone else will post one of their more characteristic albums. The s/d Popol Vuh thread contains some excellent posts by Dadaismus describing their discography.
Can - Landed
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8eLgBaf5eTI/SfwZ5x4aWgI/AAAAAAAABiI/1r1HFMtmLrI/s320/can-landed.jpg
The album opener "Full Moon on the Highway" seems almost (gasp) post-modern in its cut-and-paste assemblage of bar-band James Brown-meets-Booker T. rhythm section, ridiculously fuzzed guitar, sped up tape chorus, and Holger's tuneless crazy German professor vocals. It all comes together masterfully, and it swings with a rock'n'roll swagger even if the mix is so clear and separated that it sounds mechanical in a Kraftwerk sense. The weird chipmunk chorus and acid out-of-control guitar adds an (insane) human touch. "Half Past One", "Hunters and Collectors", and "Red Hot Indians" are slightly more controlled pop songs that retain the weird collaged feel of "Full Moon on the Highway" but except for maybe "Hunters and Collectors" seem less deranged. They feature a mix of appropriated "ethnic" rhythms and chirpy German melodies, all tied together by the superb mixing and production, which seems intended to confuse, surprise and disorient the listener, and uses the band members (plus a guest on Sax) the way modern music makers use samples and turntables. "Hunters and Collectors" features an opening noise blast (guitar? synth? tape?) that will knock you senseless with its abrasive fury. "Vernal Equinox" is a nearly nine minute monster instrumental with a relentless beat over which the sounds of the band's expert jamming are mixed around with the same dynamic collaged flair that sparks "Full Moon on the Highway". The percussive sounds on this track resemble the sounds of Indonesian gamelan, played with the instantly recognizable panache of Jaki Leibezeit. The closing track, the 13-minute "Unfinished" is a Holger Czukay tape piece that drops the beats and shimmers with a contemporary classical energy on the order of Xenakis, Ligeti or Penderecki, but throws in other elements that add a little humor to the mix. Mainly cheesy submerged melodies and electronic roars, and as the track closes, you can hear the clicks and pops of whatever scratchy record Holger is "sampling". Sounds like a weepy Nino Rota/Morricone string section over a rumbling earthquake. A truly original, exciting album, generally considered to be their last "GREAT" album, it might just be their best as far as I'm concerned, mainly due to the variety of styles displayed, all played (and perhaps more importantly, mixed, produced, and recorded) with a tremendous degree of skill and confidence.
I don't think any of the post-Damo records can be called "their best" as in the quote above but this is probably the most solid of them. There's a thread about this album but I guess there are some people who won't have ventured beyond the early records.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 00:27 (thirteen years ago) link
excellent choices!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 00:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Popol Vuh - In den Gärten Pharaos Spotify Link
Can - Landed Spotify Link
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 00:36 (thirteen years ago) link
You better ask a mod to update title, i think they will be fed up with me.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 00:50 (thirteen years ago) link
so as you guys are all listening to these albums together, do your menstrual cycles start to sync up?
― by another name (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 01:02 (thirteen years ago) link
So far I've only managed to listen to Amon Düül II but I'll try to catch up this week/weekend.
― this skit is ba-na-nas (onimo), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:43 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, I'm halfway through AshRaTempel, but hey.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:51 (thirteen years ago) link
Looking forward to hearing that Can one- I've never ventured beyond their "Can"onical records (sorry)
― Neil S, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:58 (thirteen years ago) link
nice. I've never heard the wegmuller before.
and while I do think landed is underrated, I can't say that I love it. here's hoping it really clicks when I revisit...
― original bgm, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 13:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Just moved onto the La Dusseldorf one from finishing the AshRaTempel.
A bit like following The Orb with the Glitter band, but "..hey"
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:06 (thirteen years ago) link
Bloody 'ell that Walter one is long. Is there a track I can knock off so I can fit it onto 1 CD?
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Doubt it! These are great choices. Walter Wegmuller album is the best thing to come out of all that RU Kaiser Cosmic jamming hoohah.
― "The Nail on the Bannister" by R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:16 (thirteen years ago) link
OK, so my options be:
1) Write it as mp3s to a data disc2) Write 2CDrs, one LP per3) Write one as sides one to three, and get a 3" cdr for side 4 (going by the review above)..
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Option 3 sounds good to me
― "The Nail on the Bannister" by R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:21 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, decided I like that one...
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:21 (thirteen years ago) link
(oh, which track kicks off side 4?)
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:22 (thirteen years ago) link
"Die Sterne"
― "The Nail on the Bannister" by R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:23 (thirteen years ago) link
tku
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:27 (thirteen years ago) link
Mark what did you think of my choices from last week?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:32 (thirteen years ago) link
I enjoyed the AmonDuul2, I do have a real copy of the Yeti CD, it's a bit big and too much 'improvisation' to really have a handle on but then it does have their big hit song...
Side 2 was good fun, Side 1 a bit more structured and fine.
The Ashra tempel side 1 was too much like Santana on a paralell universe to grab me, but I did enjoy side 2.
Onto Viva, and after the first three tracks, enjoying it as a 'new Neu!' as you all said. I did hear it before, I had it on my mobile on earphones, but I have now decided I can't listen to or take in music that's directly into ears like that, it doesn't register really.
I kind of had an idea of all these three before hearing, so no major surprises. The next two I don't have too much clue about. (I might have "Landed" somewhere laready)
God knows if I'll be able to keep up with 3 KRock albums a week, we'll see...
Sorry about lack of real 'analysis' re the music, I'm not great with that above the interesting/boring level, but I'll certainly give it a go as far as I can...
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Speaking of "new Neu!" - I recently acquired Harmonia's "Deluxe" as well as Michael Rother's first three solo albums. Taken with the La Dusseldorf, it's almost overwhelming how much the post-Neu stuff resembles the Neu formula... it really does become too much after a while. (The Rother stuff in particular veers from average to dreadful and back.)
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:05 (thirteen years ago) link
Also - spent the morning listening to the Popol Vuh and Ash Ra Tempel albums. Both are pretty complementary to each other. The PV album is awesome... it feels spacious yet composed, unlike the ART record which is clearly improv. The PV album may well be improv too (I have no idea), but if it is then it's done better.
Mark, I had the opposite reaction to the Ash Ra Tempel album. I found the first track exhilerating, mostly because once that guitar got going it just never stopped. The second, more ambient track was good but weightless. Probably didn't help that I was in a Starbucks and the noise of the customers as well as the house stereo was bleeding into my ears.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Landed has become one of my favorite Can records in the last couple of years.I like it more than Soon Over Babaluma, even, which is sacrilege in some circles.It's more fun.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:22 (thirteen years ago) link
I've never understood the love for Soon Over Babaluma. Of the later records I much prefer Landed and Saw Delight.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:35 (thirteen years ago) link
Tarot is a really interesting record, but always struck me more as a curiosity than as something to love.
I've not ever heard Landed! Does this strike me out of Can fandom?
― emil.y, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:36 (thirteen years ago) link
I hadn't heard it until the last round of reissues, I think you're okay.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:39 (thirteen years ago) link
I don't think any of the post-Damo records are essential. They are usually spotty and, if you've listened to early Can first, tend to be underwhelming. But in my opinion they do contain some great music.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:53 (thirteen years ago) link
Agreed
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 18:20 (thirteen years ago) link
I do really like Soon Over Babaluma. And, while not strictly Can, there have been very few records made as preposterous* as 'Cool in the Pool'.
*This is a good thing.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 18:22 (thirteen years ago) link
I was put off by people from listening past the "classic" era but ignore them, some good stuff was made.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 23:37 (thirteen years ago) link
My experience of the 'latter' Can period was limited to the second CD of "Anthology", where tracks went by without registering until "I want more" kicked in...
We'll see...
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 May 2010 07:31 (thirteen years ago) link
Yes. I'd put Saw Delight and Can in my top five Can albums, maybe Landed too. Tago and Ege would be in there from the 'classic period'. I'm a little bored with Future Days. Reebop and Rosko certainly brought the funk!
What's Out Of Reach like? - I've never heard it, or even knowingly seen a copy, but I think I might like it :)
― Dr.C, Thursday, 13 May 2010 08:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Well, "Soon Over Babaluma" has gradually become my favourite Can album (it's certainly the one I play most), so I can't agree there!
Holger's absence is keenly felt I think, it's really murky and muddy sounding and cluttered and sort of incontinent - it's not a total disaster though.
― "The Nail on the Bannister" by R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Thursday, 13 May 2010 09:11 (thirteen years ago) link
soon over babaluma has the best side 2 of all can albums.
― nonightsweats, Thursday, 13 May 2010 11:37 (thirteen years ago) link
^ the truth
― Whirlwind Bromance (Tom D.), Thursday, 13 May 2010 11:38 (thirteen years ago) link
This ("Vuh") is a deep droning track that ambient artists 30 years later would have been proud to make
Track is pretty violent IMO, not very ambient at all!
― Whirlwind Bromance (Tom D.), Thursday, 13 May 2010 12:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Future Days is my fave these days
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 13 May 2010 12:46 (thirteen years ago) link
future days has always been my fave. it's gorgeous.
― original bgm, Thursday, 13 May 2010 14:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Mine used to be Tago Mago but Future Days has taken over the past few years.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 13 May 2010 15:59 (thirteen years ago) link
This ("Vuh") is a deep droning track that ambient artists 30 years later would have been proud to makeTrack is pretty violent IMO, not very ambient at all!
― fit and working again, Thursday, 13 May 2010 16:36 (thirteen years ago) link
(The Rother stuff in particular veers from average to dreadful and back.)
u r nuts IMO- I'm choosing a Michael Rother album when my week comes round...
― Neil S, Thursday, 13 May 2010 16:57 (thirteen years ago) link
worth checking out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B89-69icyc&feature=related
― Brio, Thursday, 13 May 2010 17:02 (thirteen years ago) link
hah, this is exactly what I was thinking. I may even prefer rother solo! (I like neu! and all but find all of their albums a little patchy)
― original bgm, Thursday, 13 May 2010 18:24 (thirteen years ago) link
this kraftwerk documentary has tons of cool krautrock footage and reminiscing from various players:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289806/
― original bgm, Thursday, 13 May 2010 18:25 (thirteen years ago) link
the documentary on BBC3 was pretty good.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 13 May 2010 20:08 (thirteen years ago) link
I don't know man, the guitars on a lot of that Rother stuff is straight cheese.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Thursday, 13 May 2010 22:24 (thirteen years ago) link
Well hopefully my pick will persuade you otherwise...
― Neil S, Friday, 14 May 2010 08:20 (thirteen years ago) link
19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D (provisionally)9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 14 May 2010 12:18 (thirteen years ago) link
My turn next, huh?
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Friday, 14 May 2010 13:55 (thirteen years ago) link
yup, hope you've managed to whittle your shortlist down to 3
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 14 May 2010 14:44 (thirteen years ago) link
Just about got to the last 'side' of Weg.
― Mark G, Friday, 14 May 2010 15:26 (thirteen years ago) link
did you like it?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 15 May 2010 01:11 (thirteen years ago) link
This is odd because I have recently listened to all three of these records recently without even opening this thread.
I can't say much of "Tarot" has ended up sticking with me, even though it sounded great the first time I heard it. As for Popol Vuh, I really enjoy "Affenstunde" and kinda wish Flortian would've stayed all electronic - nothing from Garten and Hosianna Mantra has really struck me in comparison.
I've always been perplexed by "Landed" - it's the only Can album that I've not been able to get into. Something about the vocals and the production really grates on me. On the other hand, I'd like to put in a good word for Flow Motion, Saw Delight, and Can, which I think are all very good and are deserving of a better reputation.
― Michael F Gill, Saturday, 15 May 2010 05:32 (thirteen years ago) link
Did I like it...
It was ...nnn... alright.
I can see that if the KRock vein had been mined dry by an afficionado, this album's rediscovery might comeas a joy to them, there was nothing I hated about it, it hadquite a few 'take notice' bits, and ran nicely by. Walter came across as a nice bloke throughout (the track1 introducing the band was a nice touch and funny with it), and side 4 was a highlight, definitely.
Blimey, am I going to be able to keep up with three albums a week? It's work, jim, but not as we know it.
― Mark G, Saturday, 15 May 2010 08:38 (thirteen years ago) link
OK, let's chart them..
1. Viva2. Walter3. Phallus4. Ashra
All very close together, and nothing below a line that is set at 'good'
― Mark G, Saturday, 15 May 2010 08:39 (thirteen years ago) link
OK, thanks to this thread I played Landed for probably the first time in 20 years, and it's really good! Probably they'd settled into a groove of making "Can records" by this point, but I could think of worse things to make, and how many bands are still coming up with something worthwhile on their seventh album?
The Popol Vuh sounds great in a church, as talked about here
― Matt #2, Saturday, 15 May 2010 11:26 (thirteen years ago) link
tarot - a curious record. i remember when i 1st heard about it on blogs a couple of years back and enjoyed it well enough after dload. but it never seemed as good to me as other people stated. less an uncovered gem than a reasonable facsimile of one. i listened to it on the weekend again and it passed by pleasantly enough. some parts are definitely very good but overall it's mighty patchy.
― nonightsweats, Monday, 17 May 2010 06:16 (thirteen years ago) link
Deutsche Elektronische Musik; Experimental German Rock and Electronic Music 1972-83
Soul Jazz Records
Tracklisting
1. Can — Aspectacle 2. Between — Devotion 3. Harmonia — Dino 4. Gila — This Morning 5. Kollectiv — Rambo Zambo 6. Michael Bundt — La Chasse Aux Microbes 7. E.M.A.K — Filmmusik 8. Popol Vuh — Morgengruss 9. Conrad Schnitzler — Auf Dem Schwarzen Kanal 10. La Düsseldorf — Rheinita 11. Harmonia — Veterano 12. Faust — It's A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl 13. Neu! — Hallo Gallo 14. Cluster — Heisse Lippen 15. Ibliss — Hi Life 16. Dieter Moebius — Hasenheide 17. Amon Duul II — Fly United 18. Popol Vuh — Aguirre 1 19. Ash Ra Tempel — Daydream 20. Tangerine Dream — No Man's Land 21. Amon Duul II — Wie Der Wind Am Ende Einer Strasse 22. Roedelius — Geradewohl 23. Can — I Want More 24. Deuter — Soham
― sam500, Monday, 17 May 2010 06:51 (thirteen years ago) link
Working through the Can album now.
Track 2 sounds like a Pulp demo!
― Mark G, Monday, 17 May 2010 08:28 (thirteen years ago) link
By the way, a bit of (title track of) "Viva" was played in that drama about Boy George that was on BBC2 last night
― Whirlwind Bromance (Tom D.), Monday, 17 May 2010 10:11 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah!
(post now to be reposted on a diff thread)
― Mark G, Monday, 17 May 2010 10:17 (thirteen years ago) link
didnt see it
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 18 May 2010 01:05 (thirteen years ago) link
19/05 - ilxor26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D 9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N
anyone else want in?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 18 May 2010 03:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I didn't realize that week two had already gone into effect. I have never heard any Walter Wegmuller before and plan to tackle that link tomorrow.
― Barry Soetoro the marlboro man (van smack), Tuesday, 18 May 2010 03:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Just got to the end of "Landed"..
I can see why people got underwhelmed by latter period Can, all that groundbreaking work early on, and a good quantity of albums, leaves the later ones less important.
Having said that, if this album and the second LP of Tago Mago were swapped, TM would still be highly regarded as a classic, save for "untitled" which has a lack of creativity in it's title, and is less 'out-there' than "Augm", but the other more 'traditional' songs make up for it in some ways.
Anyway, onwards to Popol Vuh..
― Mark G, Tuesday, 18 May 2010 08:56 (thirteen years ago) link
listened to wegmuller last night and it didn't impress me. sloppy hippie mess. though there is a lot to digest so i'm gonna give it another try
― sonderangerbot, Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Today, ilxor?
― Mark G, Wednesday, 19 May 2010 10:16 (thirteen years ago) link
Tonight, I suppose. After work. If I can get my act together and pick a few albums.
Herman, can you assist with Spotify links?
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 15:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Albums selected. I will post ASAP.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 15:34 (thirteen years ago) link
Alright, sticking to three decently well-known "classics" this time around.
Faust - Faust (1971)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31s8ai2C7RL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
AMG review:
The impact of Faust cannot be overstated; their debut album was truly a revolutionary step forward in the progress of "rock music". It was pressed on clear vinyl, packaged in a clear sleeve, with a clear plastic lyric insert. The black X-ray of a fist on the cover graphically illustrates the hard core music contained in the grooves, an amalgamation of electronics, rock, tape edits, acoustic guitars, musique concrete, and industrial angst. The level of imagination is staggering, the concept is totally unique and it's fun to listen to as well.
Cluster - Sowiesoso (1976)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41yfl42yTxL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
The evocative toybox melodies (usually the Roedelius compositions) on 1974's Zuckerzeit reached their peak with Sowiesoso, courtesy of ambling pieces like "Dem Wanderer," the title track, and the vaguely Oriental "Halwa." The drum programs are still irresistibly simplistic (not to say simple), but even when Sowiesoso stretches out into primarily beatless terrain ("Es War Einmal," "Zum Wohl"), the album retains its power.
Manuel Göttsching - E2-E4 (1984)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517S5GPG1YL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
E2-E4, one of the few records Göttsching released under his own name, has earned its place as one of the most important, influential electronic records ever released. It's also the earliest album to set the tone for electronic dance music; simply put, it just sounds like the mainstream house produced during the next two decades. Similar to previous Ashra albums like New Age of Earth and Blackouts, it does so with a short list of instruments -- just the nominal drum machine and a pulsing guitar line in the background plus some light synthesizer work. What sets it apart from music that came before is a steadfast refusal to follow the popular notions of development in melody and harmony. Instead, E2-E4 continues working through similar territory for close to an hour with an application to trance-state electronics missing from most of the music that preceded it. Though the various components repeat themselves incessantly, it's how they interact and build that determines the sound -- and that's the essence of most electronic dance music, that complex interplay between several repetitive elements.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link
My thoughts to come later.
By the way, if anyone could help out with links, that would be appreciated. I don't f/w downloads at all myself, so not well versed in that process... and also don't have Spotify access, of course.
Thanks all!
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 15:59 (thirteen years ago) link
great picks - love the cluster and gottsching!
so, I was just listening to e2-24 last weekend. curious about how the guitar goes over w/new listeners...
― original bgm, Wednesday, 19 May 2010 16:04 (thirteen years ago) link
Only one of the three on Spotify
Cluster - Sowiesoso (1976) http://open.spotify.com/album/3m9uV9nMHwiB3Cw96VwNB0
― this skit is ba-na-nas (onimo), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 16:09 (thirteen years ago) link
I can think of few pieces of music lovelier than the title track of Sowiesoso.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 19 May 2010 16:21 (thirteen years ago) link
Cosign.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i5lwRjLd_4
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 16:25 (thirteen years ago) link
Was just listening Soweisoso earlier today - absolutely love that record. And the first Faust is not my favorite Faust but it's still genius. I'm not at all familiar with the Gottsching so I'm hoping someone's got a link to that one.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 23:30 (thirteen years ago) link
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/album/E2+E4/4329331
― this skit is ba-na-nas (onimo), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 23:46 (thirteen years ago) link
thanks.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Thursday, 20 May 2010 00:06 (thirteen years ago) link
E2E4 is wonderful and i think its great its crossed over into the big canon in the past few years.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Not much of a fan of "E2-E4".
1st Faust isn't my favourite Faust either but still genius.
"Sowiesoso" - I got this, one lunchtime, in a little record shop called Casa in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. This was a shop which nobody seemed to buy anything out of, it appeared to be run by middle-aged women, their stock was ancient and mostly easy listening and Scottish folk music. This album was in a German folk music section (between the French and the Greek sections), alongside "Zero Set" by Moebius, Plank & Neumeier and "Double Cut" by Moebius & Beerbohm - hey, I don't know much about German folk music but I know what I like! So, yes, "Sowiesoso" is great, but not quite their best.
― Whirlwind Bromance (Tom D.), Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:09 (thirteen years ago) link
E2E4 does sound good. remember it being mentioned in the big observer article in, er, 2007
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/apr/22/features.musicmonthly7
― koogs, Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:10 (thirteen years ago) link
casa cassettes? I never did find out where that shop actually was! used to see it listed all the time though
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:12 (thirteen years ago) link
That's it, Casa Cassettes! It's amazing they managed to stumble into the 1990s.
― Whirlwind Bromance (Tom D.), Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:14 (thirteen years ago) link
It started as Casa Cassettes then shortened to Casa. The same woman also had a shop at the traffic lights on Oswald St (I think it became the AA test centre or it was next door to it?).
― this skit is ba-na-nas (onimo), Thursday, 20 May 2010 11:11 (thirteen years ago) link
listened to In den Gärten Pharaos this afternoon. cool record but I have to admit that I strongly prefer the title track to "vuh".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DON-CogKcfk
― original bgm, Thursday, 20 May 2010 21:21 (thirteen years ago) link
i love that first faust record. it contains just the right mix of silliness and experimentalism that in other albums doesn't quite balance. and that x-ray cover - just fab. kurt graupner is the most unsung 'member' of the group. he built the boxes that helped produce the great 'synth' sounds on all their early records and his engineering and mixing is superlative - that snare drum sound: i've never heard it anywhere else.
― nonightsweats, Thursday, 20 May 2010 21:46 (thirteen years ago) link
"E2-E4". no-one gotta nottaspotifya ?
― Mark G, Friday, 21 May 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link
stream it here
― this skit is ba-na-nas (onimo), Friday, 21 May 2010 16:03 (thirteen years ago) link
Streaming is nice, but..
― Mark G, Friday, 21 May 2010 16:07 (thirteen years ago) link
whisky's quicker
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 21 May 2010 16:11 (thirteen years ago) link
krautrocks slower with liquor
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 21 May 2010 16:12 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqlx_8MtoSk
― ( `ハ´)☞ ☜(´∀`☜) (am0n), Sunday, 23 May 2010 21:46 (thirteen years ago) link
where's that from? couldn't see any credits and it's too long to be the recent(ish) bbc4 documentary.
― koogs, Monday, 24 May 2010 11:50 (thirteen years ago) link
26/05 - Neil S2/06 - Tom D 9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 24 May 2010 16:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Neil are you primed?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 25 May 2010 16:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Hope everyone's enjoyed my picks!
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 25 May 2010 16:16 (thirteen years ago) link
there wasnt much chat, was there?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 25 May 2010 16:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Hey, Koogs, that youtube clip is from a film called Kraftwerk and The Electronic Revolution. It is available on DVD.It's a doc about Kraftwerk that delves into the rest of the krautrock phenomenon with some detail.
― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 25 May 2010 16:19 (thirteen years ago) link
thanks. dvd probably a better option than sneaking 18 10 minute segments whilst at work.
was something that covered similar ground on BBC4 at the end of last year. might be taken from the same sources though.
― koogs, Tuesday, 25 May 2010 16:34 (thirteen years ago) link
actually, amazon has recommended that to me before, but i'd thought it was a book 8)
― koogs, Tuesday, 25 May 2010 16:36 (thirteen years ago) link
Right, it's today!
― Mark G, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Something coming shortly...
― Neil S, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 11:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Then after that you will post this weeks albums?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 11:23 (thirteen years ago) link
It's a Michael Rother themed week this week- my favourite of Neu!'s unimpeachable run of first three records, a well-known collaboration with Cluster, and a perhaps less well known solo record.
Neu! - Neu!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IeVEawIpC_k/SaaJAf6N0bI/AAAAAAAAHYM/L9gkXYCWqj8/s320/neu_1235647396_crop_300x300.jpg
AMG review by Thom Jurek:
Fresh after leaving Kraftwerk in the fall of 1971 for what they perceived to be a lack of vision, guitarist Michael Rother and drummer Klaus Dinger formed their own unit and changed the face of German rock forever -- eventually influencing their former employer, Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk. The 1974 album Autobahn was a genteel reconsideration of the music played here. Neu! created a sound that was literally made for cruising in an automobile. While here in the States people were flipping out over "Radar Love" by Golden Earring, if they'd known about this first Neu! disc, they would never have bothered. Dinger's mechanical, cut time drumming and Rother's two-note bass runs adorned with cleverly manipulated and dreamy guitar riffs and fills were the hallmarks of the "motorik" sound that would become the band's trademark.
Spotify linkLast.fm link
2. Harmonia - Musik Von Harmonia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/MusikVonHarmonia.jpg
AMG review by Ned Raggett:
The debut Harmonia album is at once a product of their source bands and a fine new twist on them, resulting in music that captures what for many is the Krautrock ideal, or more accurately, the motorik ideal. It's not Kraftwerk's all-synth, clean, clinical pulse, nor Neu!'s seemingly effortless glide, nor Can's stomping art world funk. Instead it's at once playful and murky, steady and mechanical, a supergroup of sorts who easily achieves and maintains such a seemingly overstated status by embracing a variety of approaches that work wonders. The players bring their usual multi-instrumental roles to the fore, ensuring that the end results achieve their own distinct sound -- this isn't simply Cluster with Rother's assistance or Rother trying for a solo record with Cluster's backing.
Last.fm link Grooveshark link(sorry, no Spotify!)
3. Michael Rother - Sterntaler
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_l3447Elf0wM/ScfqJZ-5rXI/AAAAAAAAAOE/ATs2YLqKS6M/s320/michael_rother_sterntaler_rem07.jpg
Sterntaler marked the beginning of Michael Rother's deep preoccupation with introspective melodies projected outward. Where Flammende Herzen was full of anthemic instrumental rock that was constructed to be just that, Sterntaler is more reflective even if its drive is as insistent and mechanically accurate. Again collaborating with producer Conny Plank and Can's drummer, Jaki Leibzeit, Rother set out with Sterntaler to create true electronic rock music -- even if what he came up with was the first real ambient trance music. Unlike his former bandmates in Kraftwerk and Harmonia who had wholeheartedly embraced electronic music as an end in and of itself, Rother was deeply entrenched in the idea that the entire idea for synthesizers and drum machines was to make rock & roll itself more futuristic. What's so odd about that notion is his method of composition.
Last.fm link(sorry, no Spotify!)
― Neil S, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 11:43 (thirteen years ago) link
All fairly "obvious" choices, but I hope people will have some strong views- I know that Michael Rother solo has already split opinion!
― Neil S, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 11:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Obvious schmobvious. I like "Sterntaler" but I'm not sure that anything Rother did beyond the first three tracks of "Flammende Herzen" is particularly vital. It's nice, polite music but...
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 12:16 (thirteen years ago) link
That was the objection upthread- it has the tendency to be too blissed out and polite. I think there's enough going on with Rother's guitar paying and the subtly changing motorik rhythyms to keep you interested, though.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 12:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Interested yes, excited no IMO... by the time you get to "Lust" (and he's ditched Jaki) you're not even interested
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 12:23 (thirteen years ago) link
Love the first two albums you mentioned (though Neu! never quite did it for me like Neu! '75, which is their high water mark). I have not heard the Rother solo album, I'll have to check that one out...
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Rother is a giant imo. I've heard all the Neu!/Harmonia stuff, Flammende Herzen and Sterntaler, but not the rest of the solo stuff.It would be very nice to see the reunited Harmonia, but I that probably won't happen for me.I wouldn't mind hearing other solo things, but even if they are bland beyond words, I'll still think he rules.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:25 (thirteen years ago) link
the harmonia albums are basically the pinnacle of krautrock for me
― original bgm, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 14:30 (thirteen years ago) link
I bought all three Neu! albums in relatively quick succession a year or two ago, so in some ways they all blend together for me. None are pure genius front-to-back, but their highest points are transcendent, or nearly so.
I re-listened to the first album this morning on my way to work and it reminded me how varied Neu! could be from song to song, yet how myopic people's view of them (or of "krautrock") can be. I suppose we have Stereolab to thank for ripping off/shining the spotlight on "Hallogallo" - but what would this album be without "Sonderangebot" or "Im Gluck"? It needs those more abstract songs to make the others really shine, especially "Weissensee," in my opinion. (That said, the last track still sounds like Rother and Dinger were on drugs both when they recorded the song and when they listened to it and deemed it worthy of putting on the record.)
I have De-Luxe, which I like, though I've yet to hear the first Harmonia album - need to find time to listen to it this week. I do know the song "Watussi" which I think is genius.
As with Neu!, I came across Rother's first three albums all at once, so it's taken some time for me to tell them apart. After the other day's Rother debate (upthread), I went back and listened to his album Katzenmusik, which I actually realized I liked! I'm still unconvinced about Sterntaler though. One of the things I like so much about Rother's playing on the first Neu! album is how textural it often is. Those albums are so rhythm-oriented with Rother providing an almost abstract backdrop. Sterntaler on the other hand is extremely melodic, and I'm not really certain that melody was Rother's strongest point. I'll listen to the album again this week, however, just to be sure I'm not totally misguided. (I'm sure you'll all tell me if I am.)
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 17:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Nice thoughts Scott.
I need to get hold of Deluxe. The rest of Musik... doesn't quite live up to the incredibly high standard of "Watussi" (like Cluster's Zuckerzeit a pre-figuration of huge swathes of electronic music that followed it), but is still excellent.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 18:12 (thirteen years ago) link
Just listened to Sterntaler again... taken as a whole I think it's mostly pleasant and inoffensive, but never truly awesome. Kinda reminds me of Brian May's guitar tone without the epic-ness of Queen's songwriting. Also, "Lichter von Kairo" is truly dreck... god, that synth! That one song nearly torpedos the whole record!
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 18:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Lichter von Kairo is a bonus track from circa '93. That might explain its awfulness.
Original tracklist is A1 Sonnenrad 6:01A2 Blauer Regen 3:09A3 Stromlinien 8:11B1 Sterntaler 6:46B2 Fontana Di Luna 6:39B3 Orchestrion 3:40
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 27 May 2010 06:38 (thirteen years ago) link
I need to get hold of Deluxe.
Title track is one the greatest things I've ever heard in my life. I prefer that album to the first.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 27 May 2010 09:05 (thirteen years ago) link
^what he said
― lemon lime & butters (electricsound), Thursday, 27 May 2010 09:52 (thirteen years ago) link
Okay, will be having a look for that in Fopp this lunchtime.
Re. Lichter von Kairo: that track sounds like a poor Enigma out-take, and ruins the end of that album.
― Neil S, Thursday, 27 May 2010 11:25 (thirteen years ago) link
I've been checking up if my albums for next week are on Spotify, I hate the idea that people might think that bonus tracks have anything to do with the orignal albums!
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 27 May 2010 11:33 (thirteen years ago) link
oh yeah, those bonus tracks are straight-up garbage!
― original bgm, Thursday, 27 May 2010 15:30 (thirteen years ago) link
I knew the last dance remix was a bonus, but not the others. That definitely makes this a better album than I'd realized. (Still not my favorite though.)
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Thursday, 27 May 2010 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Gonna chip in a weekend bonus album here since it kinda ties in with this weeks choices as he was once in a band with Michael Rother (And Wolfgang Flur)
RIECHMANN - wunderbarhttp://shopbase.finetunes.net/shopserver/BinaryCacheServlet?albumid=1237809461132&datatype=fc300
Reissued from the vaults of the legendary Sky Records, Wunderbar was the first, and sadly only solo album by Wolfgang Riechmann, whose life was tragically cut short after a knife attack in 1978, just three weeks before this record was released. Riechmann's musical background stretched back to the late sixties when he met Michael Rother (of Harmonia and Neu!) and Wolfgang Flur (of Kraftwerk) with whom he formed the band Spirits Of Sound. Through the mid-seventies Riechmann played with the popular group Phonix, who released two albums on the Streetmark label, but once they disbanded in 1977 he devoted all his energies into this oft-overlooked classic of synthesizer music, recalling the sounds of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze in addition to the Dusseldorf school from which he emerged. In the most literal sense of the word, there's a mercurial feel to this music - the album brimming with a slippery, metallic quality thanks to the sweeping synth motions running through tracks like 'Silberland' and 'Abendlicht'. Wonderful stuff, and highly recommended to fans of both pioneers like Cluster to more recent exponents like Emeralds.
Hope you all enjoy!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 28 May 2010 14:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Again, mit der bonuses! Dude was murdered, by the way, else killed in a bar room brawl
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Friday, 28 May 2010 14:44 (thirteen years ago) link
Album's good but not up to Cluster's standards
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Friday, 28 May 2010 14:45 (thirteen years ago) link
it's well worth checking out though!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 28 May 2010 14:46 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh yeah, absolutely
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Friday, 28 May 2010 14:46 (thirteen years ago) link
and it just fits nicely with this weeks picks
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 28 May 2010 14:47 (thirteen years ago) link
do you own it tom?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 28 May 2010 15:52 (thirteen years ago) link
nice one, thanks Herman!
― Neil S, Friday, 28 May 2010 16:13 (thirteen years ago) link
So what do you think of those albums above? I know you're a Neu! fan...
― Neil S, Friday, 28 May 2010 16:20 (thirteen years ago) link
well i love the neu and harmonia. need ti hear the rother again, its been a while.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 28 May 2010 16:25 (thirteen years ago) link
oooh, this REICHMANN album sounds right up my alley...
― original bgm, Friday, 28 May 2010 16:33 (thirteen years ago) link
What a terribly old fashioned question
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Friday, 28 May 2010 16:48 (thirteen years ago) link
The answer is yes,isn't it?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 28 May 2010 18:43 (thirteen years ago) link
Alan N , I think it most probably is.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 29 May 2010 01:41 (thirteen years ago) link
2/06 - Tom D9/06 - pfunkboy16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - pashmina
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 29 May 2010 02:35 (thirteen years ago) link
I'll trade my place with someone else already in that list who hasn't gone yet if they like, in interests of fairness. First call gets it.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 29 May 2010 02:38 (thirteen years ago) link
ME!
― dead flower :( (Pashmina), Saturday, 29 May 2010 02:41 (thirteen years ago) link
Done
2/06 - Tom D9/06 - pashmina16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - pfunkboy
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 29 May 2010 02:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Any thoughts on the Riechmann?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 31 May 2010 11:28 (thirteen years ago) link
Won't be on the internet this Wednesday, so thought I'd jump the gun by posting my selections today:
1. POPOL VUH - Sei still, wisse ICH BIN (1981)
http://image-7.verycd.com/abef9b9b09b236ca59c8a84cf462e05f54887%28600x%29/thumb.jpg
Here's what I said about it here, a long long time ago:
Probably the most idiosyncratic Popol Vuh album of them all and one of the best. Soundtrack to Fricke’s extremely odd “film” of the same name (sometimes also called “Sinai Desert”) The mantra-like chanting and extreme repetition that Fricke had been exploring in more and more detail finds its ultimate expression on this truly unique album. Using the choir of the Bavarian State Opera, Fricke builds dense and rather unsettling walls of vocals over thundering, thumping percussion and Fichelscher’s pleasingly primitive guitar or else strips the music right down to simple modal melodies. Pretty special.
So, this is one of my favourite Vuh albums, still can't think what or who sounds like this... and the punk rockers got it wrong, three chords is still two chords too many.
Spotify Link (First seven tracks are the album, last track has nothing to do with it.)
2. ROEDELIUS - Jardin Au Fou (1980)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5jqVJD9To-A/SxeHUIGOwzI/AAAAAAAAAbM/TJw7qkQT_lo/s320/Roedelius+-+1979+-+Jardin+Au+Fou.jpg
I got given this as a birthday present by a friend of mine years ago, which was nice! Recorded at Peter Baumann's studio in Berlin, this is better produced and a bit more focused than a lot of his other solo albums. Basically, if you like the melodic, twinkly, childlike side of Cluster then this is the fellow for you. The fact that so many of the song titles are in French makes me wonder if this album isn't, in some way, an homage to Erik Satie, whose ghostly presence hovers over much of it. (By the way, does anyone have a version of Roedelius' first album, "Durch die Wuste" which isn't in mono?)
Spotify Link (First ten tracks are the album, don't know what the rest of it is.)
3. SYPH - Pst/SYPH (1980/81)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7St4jD20p0o/Rbva6ji88FI/AAAAAAAAA58/kQ86jcpIBEg/s400/syph_pst.jpg
Ever wondered if there was any kind of missing link between Krautrock and Punk Rock? Well look no further! SYPH were one of the first German punk bands and a punk band they definitely were, there's enough ramalama shoutiness in their back catalogue to satisfy even our own Colonel Poo. There was always something else going on with SYPH however, hence Holger Czukay producing (and playing on) "Pst", their second album, at Can's Inner Space studio. Czukay persuaded the band to adopt the Can approach to composition and recording, doesn't always come off tbf - 20 year old punk rockers being less adept at improvising than 30-something former students of Stockhausen perhaps. Their fourth, self-titled, album consisted of more (exploratory) material from the sessions with Czukay, so these two albums truly belong together, think of this pairing as the punk rock "Tago Mago"! Includes the classic (to my earholes anyway) "Little Nemo", which Czukay edited down, added a bunch of silly vocals to, and made the title track of his second solo album, claiming sole authorship in the process, naughty Holger!
Non Spotify Link
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Tuesday, 1 June 2010 16:11 (thirteen years ago) link
Bollocks. Crappy PV cover:
http://www.enricobassi.it/seistillfront.JPG
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Tuesday, 1 June 2010 16:13 (thirteen years ago) link
SYPH intriguing
― NUDE. MAYNE. (s1ocki), Tuesday, 1 June 2010 16:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Nice, 2 out of 3 on Spotify too!
― Neil S, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 16:24 (thirteen years ago) link
That SYPH double pack's great.
Durch die Wüste isn't mono originally is it? Do you have a weird rip of it? I've got no setup to rip vinyl unfortunately. Bureau B has reissued high quality Roedelius/Cluster vinyl last year that I highly recommend (got Cluster II and Grosses Wasser for my birthday a few monts ago).
― willem, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 19:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Interesting choices Mr D
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 2 June 2010 00:49 (thirteen years ago) link
Durch die Wüste isn't mono originally is it? Do you have a weird rip of it?
Weird rip, yeah. I only noticed because I have "Johanneslust", which is one of the greatest things Roedelius ever did, on a compilation called "Auf Leisen Sohlen", and when I was listening to it on my copy of "Durch die Wüste", I was thinking, "Hold on, this isn't very good", then I realised it was mono - and that's one track that definitely benefits from stereo!
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Wednesday, 2 June 2010 11:34 (thirteen years ago) link
... oh and "Durch die Wüste" is awesome too
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Wednesday, 2 June 2010 11:38 (thirteen years ago) link
good choices now to listen to syph..
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 4 June 2010 01:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Bonus album:
4. CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Con (1978)
http://www.enricobassi.it/krauto_pic005.JPG
Couldn't really begin to describe Conrad Schnitzler's discography, how many albums is it now? 50? 75? 100? The majority of them private releases, on cassettes, on vinyl, on CD-Rs, in limited runs from 25 upwards, some sold in galleries, some sold on the streets of various German towns by Con himself. On his earliest albums you really get the sense of a musician finding his milieu, coming home even, I swear this guy IS electronic! This particular album (aka "Ballet Statique") however was his first for a proper record label (his release schedule becomes truly ridiculous from hereon!) and was recorded and produced by Peter Baumann at his Paragon Studios in Berlin - clearly a man of great taste and refinement! I wouldn't describe this as exactly commercial but it's a lot more so than most of his stuff. Suffice to say, to make music as minimal as "Con" and still make it so compelling demonstrates an understanding of pure sound that is, well. profound. Lots of musicians are described as "experimental", Con is the real deal.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Sunday, 6 June 2010 15:03 (thirteen years ago) link
the roedelius is pleasant enough. i love harmonia and cluster but their solos things leave me a little unimpressed. finally listened to the reichmann today - certainly has a lot of strings pads and sounds like vangellis or other sountracky electronic music. not my cuppa.
― nonightsweats, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 03:00 (thirteen years ago) link
9/06 - pashmina16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - pfunkboy
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 11:52 (thirteen years ago) link
I like the Reichmann! Got it from Ultima Thule a while back - it is nowhere near as good as yr classic electronic instrumental kraut stuff, but it has its own charm.
Will try to download the SYPH on the mister's computer as I know nothing about it - sounds interesting.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 9 June 2010 11:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Pashmina's pRoxy picks
#1 Klaus Schulze - Timewindhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6SchU8D-e1s/SODMwR8xnZI/AAAAAAAADqA/aT58csAMrUg/s400/klaus-schulze-timewind-cover.jpg
Spotify Link
#2 Amon Düül II - Yetihttp://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/files/2009/07/amonduulyeti.jpg
#3 Popul Vuh - Das Hoheleid Salomoshttp://dreamchimney.com/slvs/07_big_20070322043220.jpg
Not A Spotify
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 12:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Popol Vuh be ruling this thread
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 12:24 (thirteen years ago) link
What an album cover!
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 13:05 (thirteen years ago) link
Listened to that Conrad Schnitzler album yesterday - it's pretty good. I actually like the four short tracks more than the intro long track...
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 14:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, my favourite track is actually "Metall I"
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 14:19 (thirteen years ago) link
So it would appear.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 9 June 2010 22:06 (thirteen years ago) link
that's one PV i haven't heard.
― nonightsweats, Thursday, 10 June 2010 08:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Listening to the excellently named "Timewind" now, very nice it is too. The only other Klaus Schulze record I've heard is "Moondawn", which is also excellent.
― Neil S, Thursday, 10 June 2010 10:55 (thirteen years ago) link
Cyborg is great too.
― koogs, Thursday, 10 June 2010 11:55 (thirteen years ago) link
Cant go wrong with any of his early-ish albums.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:02 (thirteen years ago) link
I've only ever heard "Irrlicht" and "Picture Music" and didn't like either of them
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:10 (thirteen years ago) link
.. and "Black Dance", didn't like that either
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:12 (thirteen years ago) link
You're fae Paisley though.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:12 (thirteen years ago) link
They didn't like modern sounding stuff there. It was all C&W clubs round there when you were a lad, admit it!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:18 (thirteen years ago) link
You saying Chou Pharot weren't modern sounding?
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Chou Pahrot even
hah, I remember you ysi-ing that once.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Gotta support yr local artists!
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:34 (thirteen years ago) link
other famous sons of Paisley: Andrew Neil, Paulo Nutini, my dad.
― Neil S, Thursday, 10 June 2010 13:06 (thirteen years ago) link
I had no idea paulo nutini was from Paisley.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 14:44 (thirteen years ago) link
Sadly true. Also Tom Conti. But, in our defence, there's Fulton Mackay. And David Tennant.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 14:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Gerard Butler too, apparently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paisley#Notable_people
― Neil S, Thursday, 10 June 2010 14:48 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh yes, I think his maw lives in near my maw
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 14:50 (thirteen years ago) link
Still, Krautrock, eh? Ye cannae whack it!
isnt steven moffat from paisley too?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 14:59 (thirteen years ago) link
hey tom was Krautrock popular in paisley when you were a lad?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:00 (thirteen years ago) link
In my household, for sure. My sister had "Neu 2", and Faust "So Far" (think she borrowed that one).
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:02 (thirteen years ago) link
When did you leave Paisley?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:05 (thirteen years ago) link
Not soon enough... also remember a guy at school bringing in one of his big brother's Amon Duul II albums to play
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:09 (thirteen years ago) link
See, yer wrong, it was a veritable hotbed of Krautrock!
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:11 (thirteen years ago) link
I started primary school in East Kilbride in 77 then moved to Blackwood march 78, and I dont recall any krautrock at all funnily enough :). Most of us boys were into Madness in about 1980-ish. Dont recall anything before that musically tbh.
EK has had a few famous folk too.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:16 (thirteen years ago) link
I bet the Reid brothers had Krautrock lps.
I bet they didn't. Older brothers and sisters required - the older the better.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Tago Mago, certainly.
― Mark G, Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Was there record shops in Paisley that sold krautrock? or was that glasgow only?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:20 (thirteen years ago) link
More than one. Stereo One, for instance, that's where I bought "Bruder des Schattens, Sohne des Lichts".
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I remember the Kraftwerk double album being in our local Newsagent's Lp racks. This'd be just after Autobahn was a hit.
― Mark G, Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:24 (thirteen years ago) link
Plus that second hand shop where I got "Live at the Crypt" by AMM (not Krautrock, but you get the idea) and countless others (xp)
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:24 (thirteen years ago) link
Got this in Paisley:
http://www.feelmybicep.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/R-793715-1163194517-500x525.jpg
Lots of stuff
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:26 (thirteen years ago) link
TBH, there was as prolly much K/rock available in Paisley as Glasgow, later on Stereo One opened up an upper floor that was absolutely crammed with new + 2nd hand 70s albums - over-priced because people had started collecting stuff by then
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:33 (thirteen years ago) link
was paisley as good in the 80s for buying music as the 70s?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:51 (thirteen years ago) link
Dunno, there was a branch of Listen in Paisley in the 70s. Not my era though. Record collecting, as a LOL-U-Nerd hobby, didn't really take off to the mid-to-late 80s, I think?
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:57 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh I thought you had bought all this Krautrock in the mid-late 70s , lol.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Cheers for that
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:59 (thirteen years ago) link
I thought you were of marcello's age and was buying stuff as a young teen, before you think I thought you were ancient!
xp
too late!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:00 (thirteen years ago) link
its your own fault, you kept talking about 70s stuff, i assumed that was when you were buying it all.
Marcello was buying Stockhausen when he was 9 and shit tho! In his local Woolies.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Yes, in the 80s and 90s!
Funnily enough, that woolies was where I was buying my Madness singles!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link
never heard this popol vuh before. took like a second and i knew i loved it.
― sonderangerbot, Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:14 (thirteen years ago) link
Big in Paisley in the late 80s and 90s apparently!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:38 (thirteen years ago) link
Well, no, I'd never heard that one then. This stuff was still next-to-impossible to find, you might occasionally luck out tho.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Sort of surprised you don't hear more about this particular Vuh record, actually.It sounds of a piece with their epics "Letzte Tage, Letzte Nacht" and "Einsjager und Siebenjager."That is Renate I hear, right?
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:43 (thirteen years ago) link
Djong Yun
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:44 (thirteen years ago) link
Ah.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:48 (thirteen years ago) link
^ Opening track on "Hosianna Mantra"!
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:52 (thirteen years ago) link
I also bought all of this stuff (IE krautrock, also lesser-known UK progressive rock and folk rock) in the '80's. I remember getting into Klaus Schulze, not knowing shit about him, and winding up with three copies of "Irrlicht" all with different covers becuase I kept forgetting I had that one/went on the record cover rather than the title.
"Timewind" is I guess kind of typical of KS albums from the time and probably interchangeable in places with "Moondawn" and maybe bits of "X" which I was listening to the other day. I like all this stuff loads but I must admit I rarely sit through a whole piece, he did tend to go on a bit. I like the musical primitivism of his approach at this time, all cool-sounding synthi noises and pounding sequencers (the latter moreso on "X" than "Timewind") but sometimes the uh tunelessness of it all gets to me.
"Yeti" is I think not just a fantastic album, but a fantastic whole package, the cover is great in its own right and matches with the music perfectly. The music is great, totally driving feel and sonically intense. this is one of those albums where no matter how loud you turn it up, you still want to turn it up one louder. I went through a phase of digging heavy rock w/electric violin and bits of this are second only to High Tide for "that" sound. I dig some other ad2, but I don't think anything else they did even came close to this.
Popol Vuh link to KS and AD2 because KS bought Florian Fricke's big Moog off of him and also Danny Fischelsher used to drum for AD I think. My favourite kind of Popol Vuh music is this period - layered electric guitars, splashy, cymbal-heavy drums, other-worldly female vox, and I think this is the best one. I try to think of why I like this so much, but it's really hard to explain. The music just sounds magical and "other" to me in some way, I can't really put it any other way than that.
― dead flower :( (Pashmina), Thursday, 10 June 2010 17:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I need to play this one now. not heard it (popol vuh)
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 11 June 2010 12:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Really enjoying the Popol Vuh! Great pick Norm!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 11 June 2010 15:28 (thirteen years ago) link
16/06- GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ23/06 - Von Kelson30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - pfunkboy
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 22:55 (thirteen years ago) link
HEY krautduders
I will have my picks ready in a few hours, sorry. I don't actually have my record collection with me atm so I'll have to find DL links or Spotify or something.
― I DRIVE A PORSCHE! WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?! (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 22:59 (thirteen years ago) link
DOM - Edge of Time (1971)
http://i45.tinypic.com/2ppable.jpg
"You will meet me there at the edge of timethe fire-sea licking my feetgas and damp,wind and rain,snow, heat, waters, ice and paindamned souls cry "forgiveness!"the past will be future and future will be pastnot one thing in our world that will ever lastonly you and meuntil eternity shall that spiritone containing twowander through space and peace we knew"
One of those albums you can really get lost into. A concept album about an acid trip, and it does sound like it. A very creative interpretation, expressing and evoking a host of different states of consciousness and deep internal emotion. The album is a trip to listen to, especially if you're already under a psychedelic influence, as this is psychedelic, tangential, breathing, pulsing, exploratory music. It took me a while to really appreciate, so i suggest at least a few spins (preferably in different mind states, and when you can really be present with the music).
The music is mostly a mixture of krautrock flavors, psychedelic folk, electronic textures/effects, and ambient atmospheres, with the latter being the most pervasive. The music is very dreamy and psychedelic, and is imbued with a melancholic atmosphere not unlike many other more reflective kraut bands of the era. There is no electric guitar here, mostly just acoustic guitar, organ, percussion, flute, some harp-like instrument, bells, probably a few other instruments. The music is mostly instrumental, though there is a bit of soft spoken word type talking.
Not A Spotify Link (and they're not from Denmark despite the filename, and ignore the bonus tracks!)
Silberbart - 4 Times Sound Razinghttp://i46.tinypic.com/2u6iqsy.jpg
Really, really, really heavy freakout rock stuff. Really. Kind of reminds me of Guru Guru's Hinten but with ridiculous vocals and more straight-up rocking out, almost metallic, especially on "Chub Chub Cherry." But then there's "Brain Brain," which goes all kraut-y and subtle until the guitars tear reality like a paper curtain.
A.R. & Machines (Achim Reichel) - Die grüne Reise
http://i49.tinypic.com/v6j4na.jpg
Originally issued by Polydor in Germany in 1971, Reichel played all the instruments here, and produced the entire thing himself in partnership with Frank Dostal, who also penned the English lyrics and had previously done time with Reichel in the popular West German beatgruppe, The Rattles. The Green Journey is a masterpiece of doubly/triply-tracked, tape-machined, echo-plexed and looped space-guitar-madness, with a host of skronk, thunderous percussion, tribal whoops, and head-busting, three-dimensional, lysergic lyrics. As the artist himself proclaimed, "I was just trying something out with my guitar, when out of the blue, the Akai X-3300 began to repeat endless cascades of guitar echoes. My guitar suddenly sounded like ten." Initially, The Green Voyage was intended as "a soundtrack for an imaginary movie," and this has now been achieved by some 60 students of the Lippe and H�xter's University of Applied Sciences, who, over the course of two terms produced a 42-minute video for the ten album tracks.
This record isn't as "krauty" as his later releases, especially Echo.
Not A Spotify link
― I DRIVE A PORSCHE! WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?! (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 11:03 (thirteen years ago) link
God I hope all of these links work. Apologies for the lateness of the post, but all of my records are on the east coast, this computer sucks, and I had to jack the links from blogs.
― I DRIVE A PORSCHE! WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?! (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 11:05 (thirteen years ago) link
Blimey. I actually haven't heard any of these.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 11:07 (thirteen years ago) link
i've been meaning to check out Achim Reichel for a long time. nice picks.
― gnarly sceptre, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 12:00 (thirteen years ago) link
I know the Dom and A.R. & Machines very well but don't know Silberbart at all.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 12:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Just catching up to that last Popol Vuh album... first track is awesome but the rest I have mixed feelings about. I think most the album is set to simmer but it never boils - wish a few of these tracks would coalesce into something that was bigger, more crushing. But instead they just kinda noodle around. That said, the whole is better than the parts. Also, it reminded me of Fairport Convention in spots (not a bad thing but it also suffered by comparison).
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 17:08 (thirteen years ago) link
I really enjoyed that popol vuh, and I had not heard it before.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 17 June 2010 22:48 (thirteen years ago) link
People still listening to the krautrock klub albums?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 20 June 2010 15:19 (thirteen years ago) link
I grabbed the Silberbart but haven't listened to it yet.Been sidetracked by a ninety minute Springsteen mix project.
― Trip Maker, Sunday, 20 June 2010 17:16 (thirteen years ago) link
i've been playing along. for some reason i always overlook that a.r. & machines album so thanks for reminding me to pull it out- i want to see that film!
only was able to casually listen to dom, but i was into what i did hear. will check out the silberbart next.
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Sunday, 20 June 2010 17:20 (thirteen years ago) link
I think I'm gonna play Brain Brain on the radio show this week.Maybe.
― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 22 June 2010 02:22 (thirteen years ago) link
You should! Practically guaranteed to get at least one bewildered/amazed caller!
― I DRIVE A PORSCHE! WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?! (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 22 June 2010 07:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Nice choices. Was getting a bit too Popol Vuh and/or Motorik there. Having said that, the Dom album's never impressed me. Silberbart isn't really my bag either, but if you like that sort of post-Hendrix heavy acid rock freakout thing then it's a really very very good example of a post-Hendrix heavy acid rock freakout thing! Wonder whatever happened to that band? Achim Reichel album is, at its worst, entertainingly nutty and, at its best, pretty mindblowing. Technically, 1971 after all, it's awesome and bits of it will have you wondering how on earth he did it!
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Tuesday, 22 June 2010 12:57 (thirteen years ago) link
Von Kelson you are up
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 22 June 2010 23:24 (thirteen years ago) link
My picks are all from the heavy psych side, which is more my cup of meat. All descriptions from The Crack in the Cosmic Egg:
Golem - Orion Awakeshttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nBxphzetGjo/SJos66DEdcI/AAAAAAAAAHU/RAUwFUdSnl4/s320/orion.JPG
A space-rockin' hybrid of Gila and instrumental Hendrix type moves, Golem were another band from the lost Pyramid Records archive. Totally instrumental, and a feast for guitar fans, Golem's style was highly derivative, yet also full of invention. On first listen Golem come across as a lost classic of Krautrock without a doubt, with a music that blends everything from Neu! to Novalis, and all crammed full of solos. But, after a few listens, it's easy to see that this was never intended as an album originally, as it's distinctly taken from at least three different sessions, each with a different studio sound and style. The slightly new-wave edge that dogs the last track would indicate that the recordings here vary from around 1972 to 1976, however no firm details are known.
Lots of guitar work, but also a lot of heavy synths on this one. Good stuff.Not a Spotify Link
Gomorrha - I Turned To See Whose Voice It Washttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Cgo7YYXogcM/SFqk59RBKbI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/QorbEVIpWn0/s320/portaduquihe2%5B1%5D.jpg
Gomorrha's finest moment however was I TURNED TO SEE WHOSE VOICE IT WAS, where Gomorrha's identity had become firmly established: complex psychedelic rock fronted by angry guitars and organ, that could be simultaneously aggressive and spacious, with bizarre lyrics about life, religion, death, etc. They presented a unique, adventurous and constantly surprising form of rock music that has become an island unto itself.
A bit more of a hippie/free jazz vibe - a proggier version of Agitation Free, in a way.Not a Spotify Link
Guru Guru - UFOhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TtrAN5tGS0s/SHR9B1FQlbI/AAAAAAAAAos/p4V5QFXVIUU/s400/UFO.jpg
Formed in Zurich in summer 1968 by former Irene Schweizer trio musicians: Mani Neumeier (drums) and Uli Trepte (bass) as Guru Guru Groove. the history is abridged here, but they were quick to develop an original music from their free-jazz roots, moving on and developing a new type of psychedelic rock music. Ex Agitation Free Ax Genrich joined a guitarist who could do unbelievable things with his instrument - he could even make it talk! Instantly Guru Guru were one of the hottest bands on the scene and were promptly signed by Ohr Records, making the extraordinary free-form rock album UFO. This proved to be amongst the ultimate musical acid-trips, with greatly condensed versions of music thrashed out in concert jams. Titles like "Stone In" and "Der LSD-Marsh" instantly tell us where they were at! With rattling drums, scuttling, shuddering bass, and a swamp full of guitars, with vocals used mainly for effect, incredible through and through, right down to the ultimate space-trip, "UFO" itself!
Couldn't leave this one out, since no one has posted it yet. Probably the best guitar freakout album of the genre.Not a Spotify Link
― von kelson, Wednesday, 23 June 2010 02:01 (thirteen years ago) link
I love Guru Guru. I have heard the Golem before but cant remember much about it other than i liked it. Not familiar with Gomorrha at all. Tom D probably will though..
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 23 June 2010 12:22 (thirteen years ago) link
... I think I almost bought that album but I'd had my fingers burned too many times by then. Don't know Golem. Fave Guru Guru's are "Hinten" and "Kanguru".
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 23 June 2010 13:16 (thirteen years ago) link
this thread makes me want to take a lot of acid and listen to krautrock all summer
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Wednesday, 23 June 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link
UFO is awesome! gonna check out gomorrha. the a.r & machines from last week was also pretty cool so thank you for that.
― sonderangerbot, Wednesday, 23 June 2010 16:15 (thirteen years ago) link
UFO is really great, a lot more unhinged than pretty much all the other Guru Guru albums.Reminds me most of Tangerine Dream's Electronic Meditation.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 23 June 2010 16:24 (thirteen years ago) link
there's so much stuff in the 'a crack in the cosmic egg' book that i've been meaning to check out but could never find, so thanks for picking stuff like this! stoked for both golem and gommorha
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Wednesday, 23 June 2010 18:24 (thirteen years ago) link
A Golem song just came up on shuffle and I thought it was Wooden Shjips.I know that's not too crazy, but it still surprised me. Record is cool, it's hard for me to pay attention through a whole instro lp sometimes, tho.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 24 June 2010 20:58 (thirteen years ago) link
gomorrha is amazing, thanks for posting that!
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Thursday, 24 June 2010 21:33 (thirteen years ago) link
wikipedia discography page for conrad schnitzler is a laff - "partial discography" lists 99 albums!
― dead flower :( (Pashmina), Thursday, 24 June 2010 21:59 (thirteen years ago) link
I wonder if there exists someone who has all of his records....
― dead flower :( (Pashmina), Thursday, 24 June 2010 22:01 (thirteen years ago) link
who wants a friday bonus pick?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 25 June 2010 15:43 (thirteen years ago) link
OK, have one lying around I didn't use first time, give me a minute or two
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Friday, 25 June 2010 15:50 (thirteen years ago) link
ok!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 25 June 2010 15:57 (thirteen years ago) link
Friday Bonus:
DEUTER - Aum
http://www.frenzy-distortion.de/Bigware_Shop_2_0/picture/o719843.jpg
1972 album from Georg Deuter. A lot of people prefer his 1st album, which is more Krautrocky I suppose, it's good but this is better. Herr Deuter ended up as an avowed "New Age" musician but I will try not to hold that against him - after all Roedelius, Popol Vuh and other worthies have flirted with New Age. This album has New Age elements, some of it reminds me of what Popol Vuh were doing 6/7 years after this was released. Album flows together really well, you don't really notice just how sparse the instrumentation is.
Non spotify link
... don't know if this is on Spotify, it wouldn't surprise me if it was though.
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Friday, 25 June 2010 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link
It isn't. I've not even heard of it.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 25 June 2010 16:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Listening to Dom now - the electronics and effects are awesome. It's very woozy and trippy, but I don't feel like it's overly tainted with the hippiness that some peripheral kraut bands tarnish themselves with.
― emil.y, Friday, 25 June 2010 23:24 (thirteen years ago) link
my neighbor is in the band von himmel (contemporary krautrock group), told him about this thread and he said DOM is his favorite krautrock album of all time, will listen tonight
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Friday, 25 June 2010 23:54 (thirteen years ago) link
*the Dom album posted above
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Friday, 25 June 2010 23:55 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh man, 'Let Me Explain' is on now. IMMENSE.
― emil.y, Friday, 25 June 2010 23:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Why ignore the bonus tracks when they're THIS GOOD?
― emil.y, Friday, 25 June 2010 23:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh, I've just checked, and it was recorded one hell of a long time afterwards. But it is great.
― emil.y, Saturday, 26 June 2010 00:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Should've specified I actually haven't heard the bonus tracks in a long time, I've got the earlier reissue with only four tracks.
― I DRIVE A PORSCHE! WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?! (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Saturday, 26 June 2010 01:33 (thirteen years ago) link
emil.y it's your go30/06 - emil.y7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - pfunkboy
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 00:13 (thirteen years ago) link
Okay, cool. Should have them up by mid-afternoon, though I am still fluctuating over one album choice. If I mail you in advance of putting them up do you think you could track down links? I could probably find some but have no way of checking they're the right thing.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 00:17 (thirteen years ago) link
sure, you know my email or you can pass via msn
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 00:34 (thirteen years ago) link
The Cosmic Jokers - Planeten Sit-In
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YJjO71Wur0w/SlQieCFixeI/AAAAAAAAAXo/A9VkVag9yGs/s400/R-318517-1210581252.jpeg
In 1972, Rolf Ulrich Kaiser founded "Die Kosmischen Kuriere" where will be signed all the Cosmic jokers albums. The COSMIC JOKERS is not really a band but a reunion of several German musicians and personalities from the 70s psychedelic and esoteric philosophies (the mystic Sergius Golowin in the Lord Krishna project or the gipsy folk artist Walter Wegmuller in Tarot). The interest of this side project was to create a cosmic music with a virtual musical tribe to develop the world consciousness thanks to LSD. The COSMIC musical team gathered around the same message a bunch of well known musicians from the Berlin scene (Klaus Schulze, Manuel Gottsching...). The COSMIC JOKERS is an extreme musical trip, a unique adventure throw time and space. The music is for a large part improvised with proto-electronic gadgets combined to bluesy & spacey musical sentences built around the talented Manuel Gottsching's electric guitar style (always spacey and bluesy). This is real German acid music, a 'music of paradise', transcending music, breaking of the materialistic world, a protest against the reality. The combination of acid, music and fun acted as a catalyst for Kaiser's visionary powers. - from Prog Archives
La Dusseldorf - La Dusseldorf
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j-p64PbHheA/Sj25KGV0YgI/AAAAAAAAABs/JCV9lIdFGFk/s400/la-dusseldorf-la-dusseldorf-1976.jpg
La Düsseldorfisn’t even the most revered La Düsseldorf work, ceding that title to Viva, which contains the frothy 19-minute opus, “Cha Cha 2000” and decidedly Neu!-like cover art. But Dinger never crafted a more glowingly seamless full-length than La Düsseldorf. Built on four lengthy tracks, La Düsseldorf laid floorboards over Neu!’s famous rhythm-mongering and fearlessly stacked punk’s rallying instincts, disco’s body-reverent trance, and pop’s vain sheen on top. - from Stylus
Brainticket - Cottonwoodhill
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vERXdKOTltE/SfYHtynMdDI/AAAAAAAAAR0/BTnf1HXcmUI/s400/Cottonwoodhill.jpg
Cottonwoodhill is one of the trippiest records ever made, capturing the intensity of the peak LSD experience far more successfully than any Timothy Leary recording, and even today, when many such documents from that era can sound silly and dated, Brainticket's fascinating debut still holds hallucinogenic potency. The record has only two proper songs, "Black Sand" and "Places of Light," with a side and a half of the album taken up by the three-part "Brainticket." "Black Sand" opens the disc with a driving funk beat and powerful organ and guitar interplay, adding in vocals distorted beyond coherency. "Places of Light" begins in a slightly lighter vein as a flute leads the proceedings, a looser jazzier piece that throws in some of Dawn Muir's odd spoken word vocals. Before one realizes what has happened, the piece has faded out and there is suddenly a crashing sound, car horns, and engines starting up. "Brainticket" is a bizarre roller coaster ride through weird sound effects and electronics, an endless organ riff, and Muir's acid-rush ramblings from hushed whisper to urgent screams, as any coherency she had earlier becomes lost to mind-expanding visions. Rather than the laid-back mellow groove of some psychedelic music from this era, Cottonwoodhill has a hyper energy in the frenetic organ riff and Muir's voice, like an acid trip out of control, while at times the various sound effects take over completely. - from Allmusic
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:41 (thirteen years ago) link
La Düsseldorf isn’t even the most revered La Düsseldorf work, ceding that title to Viva
This is a comparatively recent development
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:46 (thirteen years ago) link
Before anyone else (i.e. another pedant) butts in, Brainticket were not German
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:47 (thirteen years ago) link
It is also a terribly terribly wrong development.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:48 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh, and I know Brainticket were (mostly) not German, and in fact I don't even count this album as krautrock (I'd say it was psychedelia). However, they are consistently listed as a krautrock band these days, and it's an amazing record, so I thought it was better to put up an album that I completely adore, rather than something like Eloy that I only like half of.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:49 (thirteen years ago) link
Of course, I posted a punk record after all. I don't think any of Brainticket were German. Swiss/Belgian/English based in Italy, something like that?
Absolutely!
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:51 (thirteen years ago) link
I was sure there was at least one German member, but the only evidence I can find is wikipedia, which doesn't really count. Looking at the LP now, maybe Werni Frohlich or Wolfgang Paap? Both names sound kind of German (more so than Joel Vandroogenbroeck, anyway).
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Joel Vandroogenbroeck was the band basically... probably still is
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 11:57 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh yeah, definitely. There's some other project that he was involved in that I remember the guys from Ultima Thule saying was completely batshit mental, but I can't think for the moment. Can't even remember if I picked it up after that recommendation. Come on, brain.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:00 (thirteen years ago) link
Okay, in searching for that, I found the bit from Crack in the Cosmic Egg on Brainticket, which seems to affirm that there is at least some German connection.
Brainticket were born out of a 60's jazz group featuring Belgian born keyboardist Joel Vandroogenbroeck, and as history was made, Brainticket became (like many other bands) the project of a visionary talent.
The early primeral roots of Brainticket can be traced back to 1968, as the nucleus of 'Dee Dee, Barry and The Movements, with Joel Vandroogenbroeck (organ, flute), Ron Bryer (guitar), and Wolfgang Paap (drums), thought this was more typical soul-spiced jazz and pop, typical of the era, and far away from the music they were later to create, as what Brainticket would unleash was extraordinary!
Together with a few like-minded musicians active in the South of Germany, Joel and friends inevitably gotcaught up in the fertile Krautrock scene, and like many other bands from the area, they formed an internationalcombo that drew on a wide range of influences.
Their debut COTTONWOODHILL has long been one of the most revered of psychedelic albums. Based next in Italy, a new version of Brainticket had evolved and the second album PSYCHONAUT covered a wide range of styles.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Yah, quite like "Psychonaut" too
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:11 (thirteen years ago) link
emil.y i posted those links to you
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:52 (thirteen years ago) link
Thank you for the Kerrautrock!
The Cosmic Jokers - Planeten Sit-InNot a Spotify link
La Dusseldorf - La DusseldorfNot a Spotify link
Brainticket - CottonwoodhillSpotify link
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 13:35 (thirteen years ago) link
I suppose, for those who don't know the Cosmic Jokers story, I should give you the potted wiki version:
The Cosmic Jokers was never an ensemble, per se; its members did not play together as Cosmic Jokers, and in fact were not even asked to join the group. Their music was created from sessions put together by Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser early in 1973. He arranged for several acid parties to be held at the sound studio owned by Dieter Dierks, where musicians were offered drugs in exchange for recording tracks. Participants included Manuel Göttsching and Klaus Schulze of Ash Ra Tempel, Jurgen Dollase and Harold Grosskopf of Wallenstein, and Dierks. Prior to this, all of the musicians involved had been in the Cosmic Couriers, which had played on experimental recordings by Sergius Golowin, Walter Wegmüller, and Timothy Leary.
Kaiser took the tapes from these sessions, edited and mixed them with Dierks, and released them on his label, Kosmische Musik, complete with the musicians' pictures on the LP sleeve, without asking for their permission. Göttsching didn't find out about the record release until he heard it playing in a record store in Berlin and asked the counter help what was playing. Kaiser released five records under the name Cosmic Jokers in 1974, one of which was actually a label sampler and a second, Gilles Zeitschiff, consisted of Kaiser's then-girlfriend Gille Lettmann speaking over sounds taken from prior label releases. While none of the musicians were very happy with the recordings, Schulze was so angry after the release of Gilles Zeitschiff that he sued Kaiser. In 1975, Kaiser was forced to discontinue and withdraw the recordings, and he fled the country over the affair, abandoning the record label over the threat of impending legal problems.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 13:37 (thirteen years ago) link
always been curious about the cosmic jokers, but was turned off by, yknow. that story.
and cottonwood hill is a great psych record! looking forward to giving it another listen
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 15:04 (thirteen years ago) link
Tom D & Emil.y and I will never agree on the best La Dusseldorf album, will we?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 15:27 (thirteen years ago) link
Well, me and Emily agree, you're the one that's wrong
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 15:28 (thirteen years ago) link
nah, I'm right.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 16:24 (thirteen years ago) link
emil.y I'm interested in why you'd pick that Cosmic Jokers album over their first two, which I like a lot. I consider Planeten Sit-In and the subsequent ones to be diminishing returns with the same material remixed over-and-over.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 17:06 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm going to fence-sit, and say that I like Viva and La Dusseldorf equally- both great records. Looking forward to hearing the Cosmic Jokers and Brainticket.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 17:22 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm afraid the answer to this is rather prosaic - I only own Planeten Sit-In, Gilles Zeitschiff and the label sampler for the US on vinyl, and I have computer problems so can only listen along sporadically if I'm relying on mp3. Out of the three, I thought that Planeten Sit-In was probably more representative of the whole thing, so chose that. I do know and like the others, but I would rate them all about equal in terms of quality.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 17:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Fair enough. Oh, and for anyone interested, by "first two" I meant "Cosmic Jokers" and "Galactic Supermarket". I think their albums were all released at the same time and I'm not sure where I got the order I have them listed in.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 17:52 (thirteen years ago) link
I forget which I liked best as it's been so long. I remember reading an anti krautrock thing on perfect sound forever that hated cosmic jokers especially
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 20:36 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.furious.com/perfect/krautrock.html
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 20:37 (thirteen years ago) link
Florian Fricke of Popol Vuh comes off even worse in the article
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 20:46 (thirteen years ago) link
It didn't seem that way to me--more that the author of whatever article misrepresented or oversold Fricke.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 22:05 (thirteen years ago) link
he kept slagging him off!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 22:32 (thirteen years ago) link
Was there more to the article than just that one page?
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:03 (thirteen years ago) link
The most funny thing was that a man who is known for literally HATING electronics from about 1974 until recently, Florian Fricke (of "Popol Vuh"), was called THE EXPERT of electronic instrumentation in that magazine. Disgusting. The same author was named as "authority" and "adviser" when a German film company asked us to take part in a TV film about "Krautrock". We said no. As long as this man was a "authority" for them, we didn't want to participate in a film like that. Ask the people who were present, and who have no interest to make promotion, who are not just (foreign) fans, and who tell the simple truth. Today, all musicians tell the press that they used "electronics" since ages just because "electronic" has finally won. And who want to be the loser?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:08 (thirteen years ago) link
I have a German friend like the guy who wrote that article - "Ach! These bands, they are a joke in Germany! You crazy English kinder!" (and then proceeds to exoticise the Canterbury scene). Thing is, we actually got him to admit he was an idiot and that Faust were great, once he got over the fact that other Germans didn't like them.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:43 (thirteen years ago) link
anyway, Individuellos is the best album *runs away*
― zappi, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:56 (thirteen years ago) link
YOU OF ALL PEOPLE are not allowed to speak such heresy.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:57 (thirteen years ago) link
(The first time I ever heard of La Dusseldorf was when you showed me, with much glee, the title/tracklisting/credits list of the first side of La Dusseldorf. It's all your fault.)
― emil.y, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 23:59 (thirteen years ago) link
haha! seriously tho Menschen 1 to Sentimental on Individuellos is as good as anything on the 1st & 2nd albums. side 2 isn't too hot tho. I AM OLD, I TALK ABOUT SIDES.
― zappi, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:01 (thirteen years ago) link
I read with much surprise that Stylus review suggesting that side 2 of La Dusseldorf is its crowning glory. I mean, wtf?
Will have to give Individuellos more of a listen. I remember liking it quite a bit when I first picked it up, but if I'm feeling Dusseldorfy I'll go for the first, and my mates only ever play Viva, so it gets neglected.
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:06 (thirteen years ago) link
Viva forever
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:08 (thirteen years ago) link
but this can only be settled by emil.y doing a poll
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:09 (thirteen years ago) link
guess i better listen to that Brainticket album then, i've nearly bought it twice (once from Loz of VTB!) but somehow i've managed to avoid listening to the damn thing. until now, dun dun DUN!
― zappi, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:12 (thirteen years ago) link
I am a bit shy of starting polls. Maybe after this has run its course we can poll all the albums and decide a winner (I'm guessing this thread has a limited lifespan - there aren't THAT many krautrock albums. It's not even that late on and we're already cheating a bit).
Also, man, how have you failed to hear Brainticket? It is AWESOME.
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:15 (thirteen years ago) link
but someone will pick all 367675066 stereolab albums before it ends
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:17 (thirteen years ago) link
But, I must warn you, a) after listening to this record your friends won't know you any more, and b) don't listen more than once a day - your mind could be destroyed!
(Genuine words of warning from the record sleeve, there.)
xpost to zappi
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:17 (thirteen years ago) link
im just worried someone might post albums by scorpions or frumpy or hairy chapter
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Inga Rumpf was in a band with Dagmar Krause at one point, so can't be all that bad. I'm sure there's at least one Frumpy track that's good (though I remember them being more bluesy-soul, is that right?)
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:21 (thirteen years ago) link
i cant really remember, i didn't get through the whole thing and we're talking back in the days of napster here where it took a long time to get an album yet i still couldnt play it through.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:40 (thirteen years ago) link
this was the one i heardhttp://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hzfexqu5ld0e
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:41 (thirteen years ago) link
cant see the hairy chapter album i heard. tom d probably owned them all.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:43 (thirteen years ago) link
hi krautrockers, i would do a week if anyone is still inerrested. thinkin' progressive german folk-rock/psych stuff, which ya'll don't seem to discuss too much.. Kalacakra record is great, so are some Witthuser & Westrupp moments. Def worth listening to imo.
been enjoying reading along with this thread too.
― ian, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:44 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, that review sounds pretty close to what I remember - not normally my sort of thing, but the guy who played it to me is one of those crate diggers who will find the gems if they are there to be found. Whereas I usually just go 'meh' and tune out.
xpost re: Frumpy
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:44 (thirteen years ago) link
thinkin' progressive german folk-rock/psych stuff, which ya'll don't seem to discuss too much..
Not a bad idea if we're going to extend this thing out a bit. I thought about Emtidi for my week, but wasn't sure if it was close enough to the remit.
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:46 (thirteen years ago) link
W&W always seem to be counted as 'canon krautrock', though, which I am dubious about, but will save those comments.
Witthuser & Westrupp
yeah that stuff is good. some great youtube footage abound
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:47 (thirteen years ago) link
7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - pfunkboy
Ian you can take my week and I'll do the week after. Emil.y or anyone want another shot?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link
I won't book in yet but I might do another one at some point.
― emil.y, Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:53 (thirteen years ago) link
Was possibly this one http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/albumofthemonth/150 I probably read this.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 00:54 (thirteen years ago) link
tbh I totally would post Hairy Chapter's "Can't Get Through" if I had a week.Reality has gotta DIE
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 1 July 2010 01:01 (thirteen years ago) link
then take a week. Maybe I'll like hairy chapter and frumpy now even if i hated it some years ago. Wont be the first.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 01:08 (thirteen years ago) link
I was considering picking the first Scorpions album "Lonesome Crow", it's the nearest they ever got to Krautrock but in reality it's more post-Hendrix psychy hard rock.
― A prog venn diagram for you to think about (Matt #2), Thursday, 1 July 2010 09:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Inga Rumpf was in a band with Dagmar Krause at one point
And here's the proof...
http://www.citypreachers.de/images/1970.jpg
That Klaus D. Mueller guy is famous Krautrock troll. Germans I met, before Krautrock got hip, were generally dismissive of what they considered to be a load of old hairy hippy music.
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Thursday, 1 July 2010 09:15 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J87aCyjxavQ
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 15:54 (thirteen years ago) link
any chance i could snag a week too? there will be no stereolab or scorpions, honest
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 1 July 2010 16:45 (thirteen years ago) link
sure i'll bump you up ahead of myself again
7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - Ian28/07 psychgawsple04/08 pfunkboy
Anyone else want to book in? (just dont forget when it's your turn.)
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 16:57 (thirteen years ago) link
sweet! tho i must say i totally would have chosen that conrad schniz album if it wasn't already a 'bonus' (that deuter is also a p good record)
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:06 (thirteen years ago) link
Do we get a 2nd bite of the cherry too?
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:10 (thirteen years ago) link
of course. book away
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:15 (thirteen years ago) link
11th August suit you?
Any time, let others who haven't had a go yet go first
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:17 (thirteen years ago) link
i dont think anyones left who hasnt had a shot that wants one7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - Ian28/07 - psychgawsple04/08 - pfunkboy11/08 - Tom D
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 1 July 2010 17:34 (thirteen years ago) link
i'll have a go, sirrah
― nonightsweats, Friday, 2 July 2010 03:28 (thirteen years ago) link
11/08 or 18/08 ?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 2 July 2010 14:39 (thirteen years ago) link
either are fine by me
― nonightsweats, Friday, 2 July 2010 21:32 (thirteen years ago) link
so i've been poking around for stuff on mutant sounds and other kraut-y blogs, and stumbled across some comments that basically insinuated that a bunch of stuff 'rereleased' on pyramid in the '90s, including that golem record, were actually recorded in the '90s and that it was all some type of hoax where people wanted to cash-in on the rare-krautrock-reissue madness. or something. anyways, feel free to dispel the rumors in these comments if you know them not to be true... http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/12/ultimate-spinach-mind-flowers.html
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Monday, 5 July 2010 17:24 (thirteen years ago) link
... heard those rumours before, and avoided all that stuff for that reason
― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 08:29 (thirteen years ago) link
I had not heard that, and unfortunate if true (which it may very well be). http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.krautrock-world.com%2FForum%2FmyBB%2Fshowthread.php%3Ftid%3D2594
― von kelson, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 10:43 (thirteen years ago) link
I suppose if its a good album it doesn't matter?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:24 (thirteen years ago) link
^ exactly. a very well-executed hoax! the story almost makes me appreciate it more tbh
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:31 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, I somehow don't really mind. It is interesting.
― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Verdammte Englanders!
― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 14:36 (thirteen years ago) link
I think the Golem album is quite good regardless - as is the similarly-impugned album by the band "Pyramid" - but I will admit to thinking it more impressive if it is in fact 20 years older. No big deal.
Is there room for me to take a shot at another week? End of the line is fine by me.
― von kelson, Tuesday, 6 July 2010 22:14 (thirteen years ago) link
Sure, anytime.7/07 - Matt #214/07 - Alan N21/07 - Ian28/07 - psychgawsple04/08 - pfunkboy11/08 - Tom D18/08 - von kelson
Matt #2 if you're around you can post now if you like.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 6 July 2010 22:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Not seen him post in a while actually. Not in here anyway.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 7 July 2010 01:00 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah sorry for being quiet, gimme a minute even though it's 2.45 am here
― A prog venn diagram for you to think about (Matt #2), Wednesday, 7 July 2010 01:46 (thirteen years ago) link
OK, sorry for the lack of download links, if someone wants to help me out with that feel free as I am a luddite.
KLAUS SCHULZE – Cyborghttp://www.insideoutshop.de/images/Cyborg72dpi.jpgSchulze's second album was a double one, consisting of four 25-minute long pieces of dark, sinister and spacey progressive electronics. You got to be quite a hardcore fan of this kind of progressive music to manage to listen through this monster in a row, but it would be ultimately rewarding if you are. The first track "Synphära" is a gloomy and sinister composition that sounds quite a bit Wagner-ish, and it's no big secret that Wagner is one of Schulze's favourite composers. "Conphära" is based on a flowing carpet of electronic sound with improvisations by a mellotron-sounding orchestra on top of it. "Chromengel" is a beautiful track with spacey electronic sounds built around a floating and warm organ. "Neuronengesang" is probably the spaceiest track on the record, with lots of primitive spacey electronic sounds that surrounds the orchestral improvisations. "Cyborg" is a monumental slice of early German progressive electronic music in its heaviest form.
ORGANISATION – Tone Floathttp://www.poecker.homepage.t-online.de/02/2bocdorg.jpgPERSONNEL:Ralf Hütter – Hammond organ.Florian Schneider-Esleben – electric flute, alto flute, bell, triangle, tambourine, electro-violin, percussionBasil Hammoudi – glockenspiel, conga gong, musical box, bongos, percussion, voiceButch Hauf – bass guitar, shaky tube, small bells, plastic hammer, percussionAlfred Mönicks – drums, bongos, maracas, cowbell, tambourine, percussionKonrad "Conny" Plank – sound engineeringTone Float is an LP by the German band Organisation. Organisation was a pre-Kraftwerk band, having only produced and released one album, Tone Float. After the release, members of the group went on to form Kraftwerk.
The album has not been officially reissued on compact disc.
The album sold few copies on its UK-only release in August 1970, and is remembered because two of the band members, Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider-Esleben, later went on to form the group Kraftwerk. It was produced by Konrad "Conny" Plank."The studio was in the middle of an oil refinery. When we came out of the door we could hear the sound of those big flames burning off the fumes – all kinds of industrial noises." —Ralf HütterSales were poor and RCA opted to drop the band, which then dissolved.
ANIMA-SOUND – Musik Für Allehttp://www.discogs.com/image/R-150-130347-1124346456.jpgPaul and Limpe Fuchs music, better known as Anima, represents the most original and obscure event among German Kraut Rock. Here they play a wonderful and very inspired duet on Paul Fuch's self-built instruments with the pot-production collaboration of Will Neubauer's Echolette Ringmodulater. Privately issued on LP record in 1972 for the artists' own label Altepfarhof, these two 17 minute long improvisations titled 'n da da uum da' and 'traktor go go go' can surely be considered as one of the best psychedelic experiences ever created.
“In the summer of 1971 the authors of this record parked their wooden stage caravan, hauled by a Hanomag tractor, in front of Willy Neubauer's recording studio in Dusseldorf. They had been travelling for 6 months at a speed of 20 km/h through the country, chugging and building up their stage. After touring, they spent three isolated days in the studio and let Willy and his newly discovered electronics add wings to their minds.”
― A prog venn diagram for you to think about (Matt #2), Wednesday, 7 July 2010 01:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Would appreciate links for that Anima-Sound album!
― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Wednesday, 7 July 2010 09:52 (thirteen years ago) link
hmmm my bookmark didnt work.
here is the Klaus Schulze spotify http://open.spotify.com/album/0TH15JSqX9JMYlyTPxhCRp
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 8 July 2010 15:49 (thirteen years ago) link
here is ANIMA-SOUND – Musik Für Allehttp://open.spotify.com/album/7JmMtuSvCx4WKRQvdCHLPb
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 8 July 2010 15:50 (thirteen years ago) link
Non Spotify links at all?
― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 July 2010 15:53 (thirteen years ago) link
What I do is just upload the albums to Megaupload - which is easy and free
― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 July 2010 15:55 (thirteen years ago) link
well i dont have them. plus its up to the person picking the albums to do that if they so wish. I think many would rather however give legal links to avoid the wrath of stet. But if i do see links of said stuff others uploaded then i dont mind posting links to the blog (until stet or someone says not to,i would think oop or rare stuff might be ok)
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 8 July 2010 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Suppose if you can find it on Spotify it isn't rare, but surprised you found Anima-Sound on there
― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 July 2010 16:00 (thirteen years ago) link
2010 release it says. Spotify is good with reissues.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 8 July 2010 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Also it's bloody bizarre
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 8 July 2010 16:21 (thirteen years ago) link
And i mean bizarre. Tom, I think you might dig it.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 11 July 2010 01:51 (thirteen years ago) link
I've heard one of their albums before, but I think I'd prefer this one, the other album was too much like music
― Oracle Crackers (Tom D.), Monday, 12 July 2010 09:56 (thirteen years ago) link
lol
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Alan N is up next14/07 - Alan N21/07 - Ian28/07 - psychgawsple04/08 - pfunkboy11/08 - Tom D18/08 - von kelson
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:57 (thirteen years ago) link
so, ignoring my request for a turn???
― nonightsweats, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 22:58 (thirteen years ago) link
no, i guess I forgot to add you. Would you like to take my turn or go on the 25th August?
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 23:01 (thirteen years ago) link
25th would be fine.
― nonightsweats, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 02:44 (thirteen years ago) link
apologies - I'll post my picks later this afternoon. (particularly busy at work.)
― original bgm, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 13:50 (thirteen years ago) link
ok - got a minute.
running theme will be underrated albums from some of the big players.
here goes!
harmonia - live 1974 (1974, 2007)http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p246/tapehiss/61HleCYfNtL_SS500_.jpg
killer live set comparable in quality to the two studio albums - which is saying something!
they're working in long-form mode on here and it is wonderful. the tracks streeeeeeetch into infinity. love this stuff.
ashra - blackouts (1977)http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrzVEXjp5mA/S6P7uqOI7tI/AAAAAAAADTM/30eN16zkwN8/s400/image.bmp
I believe this is all manuel göttsching's doing, which would make sense since it was later reissued under his name.
as you might expect from ashra/solo göttsching, you're in store for a slab of mellow electronics with clean soloing on top. but this is a particularly great example of the style. I probably listen to this more than anything else in the ash ra tempel/ashra/göttsching family.
quality youtube comment for standout track 'midnight on mars':
Good hypnotic sound to escape from the shit of society - For awile anyway.
amon düül II - wolf city (1972)http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000O78BEQ.jpg
ok, this is no yeti but a solid album nonetheless. epic psych rock. you know the drill.
― original bgm, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:04 (thirteen years ago) link
Live 1974 and Wolf City are both incredibly good.
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:06 (thirteen years ago) link
totally. all three of these picks have gotten much play from me over the last few years. live 1974 in particular.
was also tempted to pick circle's prospekt but wasn't sure if it would ruffle purist feathers. but seek it out if you haven't heard it!
― original bgm, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:10 (thirteen years ago) link
^^Holy SHIT I love all three of those records A LOT.Those are definitely my favorite records by by Amon Duul II and Ash Ra.I really think Wolf City is a more consistent and listenable record than Yeti, I listen to it way more.I also really REALLY love Vive La Trance, but that may have something to do with finding a cheap original VG vinyl copy of it.I should listen to that live Harmonia record again soon. It's really really good.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:10 (thirteen years ago) link
lol xpost^
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:11 (thirteen years ago) link
wolf city is definitely more consistent than yeti (not including a side of sprawling improv will do that) but I still think that the highs are higher on yeti.
in any case, both records RULE.
― original bgm, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:32 (thirteen years ago) link
I only know the song "wolf city," which is probably my favorite ADII song I've heard.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 14 July 2010 19:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge may be my favorite ADII song.I mean...besides Archangel's Thunderbird, which is pretty unfuckwithable, of course, but everyone knows that one.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 20:16 (thirteen years ago) link
Hurrah, all of these are on Spotify!
Ashra: http://open.spotify.com/album/140BMrMHrJKORgGdutEFdeAmon Duul II: http://open.spotify.com/album/2F6AmLF30r4QZbU59SQPUWHarmonia: http://open.spotify.com/album/2F6AmLF30r4QZbU59SQPUW
― Neil S, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 20:20 (thirteen years ago) link
Wolf City is ADII's last good album. After that they range from patchy to abysmal.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 15 July 2010 01:32 (thirteen years ago) link
i have listened to blackouts more times than i care to remember. amazing album.
for some reason i've never heard wolf city! i need to change this
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 15 July 2010 01:40 (thirteen years ago) link
Ya bastard, "Wolf City" was on my list for my next picks. FWIW this is probably my favourite ADII album, certainly the one that gets played most. Band was sort of falling apart all the time by this album, so it's like four different bands on one album, Side 2 doesn't even sound like ADII for the most part. Also greatest use of Jimmy Jackson and His Amazing Choir Organ on this album, outside of Popol Vuh's "Aguirre".
― R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 July 2010 09:01 (thirteen years ago) link
:-o
fwiw, I didn't know the back story behind wolf city until now or much of the ADII history in general. interesting stuff.
which reminds me, can anyone recommend a good book on this scene? obviously, there's julian cope's book but it's way oop and pricey. I've seen pdfs online but I don't think I would care to read the whole thing on a computer or screen of any sort.
anything else worth looking into?
― original bgm, Thursday, 15 July 2010 14:45 (thirteen years ago) link
i love wolf city, tom you can do tanz.. next
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 15 July 2010 15:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Nah, I'm actually not that a big a fan of ADII.
― R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 July 2010 15:49 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah, yeti and wolf city are the only ADII I listen to as well. given cursory listens to the rest of the early stuff but none of it ever clicked. not ruling them out but not in a rush to re-evaluate either.
love "between the eyes" tho:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSAk1O0B6sg
the riff 1:14 into that live clip is all-time.
― original bgm, Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:17 (thirteen years ago) link
^That is a good one.I was looking for a video for the AD2 song "Trap" from Vive Le Trance, it's a really great pop-rock song.Couldn't find one.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:22 (thirteen years ago) link
tanz der lemminge is great. As is Phallus Dei, Yeti & wolf city. Not heard vive le trance for years but i seem to recall liking it
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:54 (thirteen years ago) link
and i like this later period song a lot. Closest they got to a pop songhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKSVgOFO2ng
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:56 (thirteen years ago) link
tbh I play "Made In Germany" far more often than I play "Dance of the Lemmings"!
― R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 July 2010 17:01 (thirteen years ago) link
you would!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 01:34 (thirteen years ago) link
21/07 - Ian28/07 - psychgawsple04/08 - pfunkboy11/08 - Tom D18/08 - von kelson
what happened to this week's jams?
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 22 July 2010 03:36 (thirteen years ago) link
and this weeks???
― nonightsweats, Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:50 (thirteen years ago) link
did this go the way of the reggae listening club?
― demons a. real (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Ian didn't show up, will reschedule him.I'd like to keep it going, you all up for keeping it going?
21/07 - Ian28/07 - psychgawsple04/08 - Ian11/08 - Tom D18/08 - von kelson35/08 - pfunkboy
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 28 July 2010 22:09 (thirteen years ago) link
i'd like to keep it going too. will post mine in a few...
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 29 July 2010 01:13 (thirteen years ago) link
alright here goes... aiming for a couple albums of later period kraut electronics, maybe even some new agey/smoother stuff than most of the earlier selections but in a good way. and one is only tangentially german, but hope you guys dig these...
harald grosskopf - synthesist (1980)
http://i.imgur.com/S4xkH.jpg
(from mutant sounds)"German drummer and synthesist. Grosskopf is member of Ashra and has some kind of a cult status and he has been around for quite a while too. He has played with Agitation Free, the Cosmic Jokers, Ash Ra Tempel, Ashra and Manuel Goettsching, Klaus Schulze, Bernd Kistenmacher, among others, released several solo albums and is still actively involved in the production and playing for many artists. His albums are a must for Berlin School completist and simply a great listen.Here's his first solo recording!Absolutely stunning synth album!"
not spotify
michael shrieve - transfer station blue (1986)
http://dreamchimney.com/slvs/Transfer_Station_Blue_20090727125818.jpg
can't find a good writeup on this one. it's a sort-of solo album from shrieve, who was at one point the drummer for santana (in the 70s i believe) BUT don't let that dissuade you if that doesn't exactly sound promising. klaus schulze has really a pretty amazing presence on this album, credited with 'Yamaha C.S.80, Fairlight GDS, PPG Wave 2.3 synthesizers', and the percussion is also pretty incredible. lots of people think that lindstrom stole all his moves on 'where you go i go too' from this record, and i can definitely see why. also- the album was originally brought to my attention b/c the title track was used in dj harvey's 'sarcastic disco vol. 1' mix.
leda - welcome to joyland (1979)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2670125600_ffb91b9e8c.jpg?v=0
pretty amazing and often overlooked album from peter baumann, a former member of tangerine dream. recorded under a psuedonym in the late 70s, i also am having some difficulty finding any good writeups on this one but trust me! it is excellent.
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 29 July 2010 02:47 (thirteen years ago) link
sorry for the delay, esp for all the europeans on a much different time zone than me
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 29 July 2010 02:53 (thirteen years ago) link
These all look really interesting. A friend of mine was getting rid of a copy of Synthesist I think. I thought it looked cool. The Ashra connection is enough to encourage me to ask if he's still got it.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 29 July 2010 05:27 (thirteen years ago) link
Synthesist is a really good album. Great pick
― van smack, Thursday, 29 July 2010 05:34 (thirteen years ago) link
ahhh! i knew i forgot something!! fml. i'll remember this time. i'm setting a reminder on my retarded computer calendar.
― not everything is a campfire (ian), Thursday, 29 July 2010 05:39 (thirteen years ago) link
oh and just a warning, the leda one is pretty much italo disco. so if that's not really your thing, be prepared. if it is, you will definitely be rewarded
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Thursday, 29 July 2010 06:50 (thirteen years ago) link
Love that creepy cover for the Leda album, and German italodisco sounds great!
― Neil S, Thursday, 29 July 2010 08:40 (thirteen years ago) link
Okay, I'm not much into the new agey side of kraut, but this sounds like an amazing idea. Will definitely try to listen to this one.
― emil.y, Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:40 (thirteen years ago) link
I recognise that creepy Leda cover. In fact I seem to think I recognise all of these albums from bargain bins of yore, and yet I've never heard any of them. Harald = much better drummer than Klaus Schulze!
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:47 (thirteen years ago) link
ive only heard of the harald one
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 29 July 2010 15:15 (thirteen years ago) link
i'm going for a more dance-oriented approach to the digging this week, but i definitely love the more proggy/psychedelic side of things that has already been explored on this thread so i hope i'm not harshing anyone's mellow. i'd totally understand if some of you hated the last two, but it's a side of kraut i've been exploring more frequently lately and thought it'd at least add a little diversity.
also totally would have posted that conrad schnitzler if someone hadn't already beat me to the punch
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Friday, 30 July 2010 05:08 (thirteen years ago) link
i really like transfer station blue. it was an interesting divergence for shrieve. for those santana haters out there - try 'caravanserai': easily their best album - latin but jazzy; no hits; just great playing.
― nonightsweats, Saturday, 31 July 2010 06:30 (thirteen years ago) link
I like that Shrieve record too, thanks for introducing it to me, and no problem on the electronic bent to your selections, I'm all for it!
― Neil S, Saturday, 31 July 2010 09:13 (thirteen years ago) link
Harald Grosskopf album is really good - enough to have his old bosses, Gottsching and Schulze looking over their shoulders I would have thought - dude should have made more albums (maybe he did?)
Liked the 1st side of the Michael Shrieve album but lost interest when the guitars came in.
I confess i don't really know what Italo Disco is (I know, what am I doing on ILM?) Leda album sounds to me like an attempt to make a pop album - and better than Peter Baumann's own efforts at making a pop album!
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Monday, 2 August 2010 14:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Hello Krautrock listening club!This week I have a few minor suggestions for you all even though you might dislike them severely because you're not into fairies and wizards and whatever.
1. Witthuser & Westrupp: Trips Und Traumehttp://zengiz.mydnd.com/images/trips-und-traume.jpegblogged: http://spoiledmetropolis.blogspot.com/2007/06/witthuser-westrup-trips-und-traume-1971.html
I think this to be a strangely affecting listen, given that things in 'other' languages don't usually resonate with me emotionally, but a few of the songs here do. Really beautiful stuff, IMO, and a kinda goof track about smoking doobies too.
Will post two more albums as workday allows.
― not everything is a campfire (ian), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 17:39 (thirteen years ago) link
11/08 - Tom D18/08 - von kelson
Anyone for afters? I cant take a turn for a couple of weeks due to metal poll.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 18:04 (thirteen years ago) link
Surprised to find that there's stuff in my collection that hasn't been posted yet, so I'll gladly take a turn.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 18:14 (thirteen years ago) link
11/08 - Tom D18/08 - von kelson25/08
anyone else? Happy to keep club going as long as there is interest.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 18:21 (thirteen years ago) link
i can't do 25/8 but will be happy for the week after that
― nonightsweats, Thursday, 5 August 2010 05:40 (thirteen years ago) link
Record #2:http://www.psychedelicfolk.com/files/kalacakra.jpghttp://sharebee.com/d7d736fbKalacakra's "Crawling To Lhasa" is a much darker psych folk affair with more obvious eastern influence. The incomprehensible, mumbled and slurred vocals are a nice touch.
― not everything is a campfire (ian), Friday, 6 August 2010 03:29 (thirteen years ago) link
from 72.
i love that kalacakra album, as well as fairies and wizards and whatever
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Friday, 6 August 2010 04:41 (thirteen years ago) link
I've heard a lot about Kalacakra, but never heard it before so look forward to listening this.
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Friday, 6 August 2010 11:43 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pwHQlv4tuA&
CAN
― rideontime (mentalist), Saturday, 7 August 2010 14:48 (thirteen years ago) link
What's with the last two tracks on the Kalacakra album? They are obv. not from 1972!
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Sunday, 8 August 2010 13:35 (thirteen years ago) link
Bonus tracks dude.
― let's build a spliff (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 9 August 2010 01:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Indeed, but have they got anything to do with Kalacakra? They sound like they're from the 90s.
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Monday, 9 August 2010 10:39 (thirteen years ago) link
flutes certainly were an important instrument for these hippie bands, weren't they?
― nonightsweats, Tuesday, 10 August 2010 22:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Unfortunately, IMO. Quite easy to get a tune out of a flute - not easy to play well of course.
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:48 (thirteen years ago) link
1. CAN - Soon Over Babaluma (1974)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2T15FI3POt8/SScbf7V-KJI/AAAAAAAADYs/x_tnF6u3G5Y/s400/Can_Soon+Over+Babaluma*.jpg
OK, let's begin with a classic. It's where I began with Can because it was the first Can album I ever bought. Before this, I'd heard "I Want More" because my sister had the single (it was a hit and they were on Top of the Pops) and I'm sure John Peel once played "Mother Sky", because I distinctly remember hearing a track with a one note octave bassline plonking away endlessly (or maybe I remembered it from that film "Deep End", about a guy who looked like David Bowie and lived in a swimming pool (in the course of which Jane Asher got her tits out, but I digress)). This was long before the internet, kiddywinks. Anyway I don't know what I was expectiing but I was not expecting upside down reggae with gypsy violins and a wobbly bassline wobbling in and out of focus, or a twisted mumbly tango in cod-Italian - and that was just the first two tracks. This is the least straightforward Can album in a career not exactly renowned for being straightforward: instruments rarely sound the way they're supposed to; rhythms slither inside and outside or else mercilessly STOMP ON YOUR BRAIN; the rulebook on sound engineering and production is well and truly ripped up (not always a good thing - "Splash" would be so much better if the rhythm section was produced the way the rhythm section used to be produced on the early Can records). You haven't asked me, but I'm going to tell you anyway: the second side of this album and the title track of "Future Days" are the best things Can ever did. There I said it.
Spotted
Lesser Spotted
2. AMON DÜÜL - Paradieswärts Düül (1971)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oi_cYAgvy0I/R4Bv63dP7PI/AAAAAAAAAik/6BdpbFuC_Kg/s400/Amon%2BD%C3%BC%C3%BCl%2B-%2BParadiesw%C3%A4rts%2BD%C3%BC%C3%BCl_n.jpg
Talking of flutes, here's the Other Amon Düül, who smoked lots of pot, had cool haircuts and made a bunch of albums that only intense young men with beards and a complete collection of Boredoms albums can appreciate - except they also made an album the rest of might be able to appreciate, "Paradieswärts Düül". This album shows that Amon Düül actually had some talent after all: they are no virtuosos of course and they struggle with boring musicianly stuff like how to end a song... but Rainer Bauer is actually a much better singer than anyone in Amon Düül II (except Renate) and, particularly with the opening track on the album, "Love is Peace" and the two sides of their single included here, they come up with an slow motion enervated sort of psychedelic folk-rock which is novel and affectting. (Yes, you read that right, some strange person or persons actually thought it would be a good idea for Amon Düül to release a single!)
Spotless
3 . EDGAR FROESE - Epsilon in Malaysian Pale (1975)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_41Q3K6TRmxk/Sq1X_dlrXkI/AAAAAAAAFRE/bOpxTynmKAA/s800/EF.png
I sometimes think this might be my favourite Tangerine Dream/ Tangerine Dream-related album of all. Recorded between "Phaedra" and "Rubycon" (I think it's fair to say old Edgar was on a bit of a roll at the time!), so that'll give you some idea of the contents. Mellotron fans will love this album, esp. the title track. Apparently this was a big favourite of Iggy & Bowie's during their sojourn in Berlin chasing drag queens.
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:50 (thirteen years ago) link
great choices
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:52 (thirteen years ago) link
^^^^^^^Agreed.I just listened to the top two in the last five days, never heard the third! Can't wait, frankly.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:56 (thirteen years ago) link
you're in for a treat
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:57 (thirteen years ago) link
uh thank you for alerting me to the fact that can were on totp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l2K9Zigc0w
― plax (ico), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:01 (thirteen years ago) link
u r simon reynolds and i want my thirty dollars
― demons a. real (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:14 (thirteen years ago) link
;)
Obv. Michael Karoli was too embarrassed to appear on TOTP so they got Lou Reed to do it instead
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:35 (thirteen years ago) link
Holger and Irmin = almost ancient enough to be Radio 1 DJs
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:37 (thirteen years ago) link
oh man... paradieswarts duul. probably my favorite on the hippie end of the kraut spectrum.
never heard that particular froese album, so i'm definitely excited about that one too
― a lagoon par la mer (psychgawsple), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:33 (thirteen years ago) link
I sometimes think this might be my favourite Tangerine Dream/ Tangerine Dream-related album of all.
pretty much! though mp3's of live TD from 1970-74 definitely make all the things they decided to put out on vinyl seem too cautious
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 17:22 (thirteen years ago) link
the second side of this album and the title track of "Future Days" are the best things Can ever did
not so sure about future days but i agree wholeheartedly about chain reaction/quantum physics: so slinky and beautiful. definitely their last great album amongst so many.
haven't heard the amon so looking forward to that.
epsilon - i don't like this as much as aqua but they're fairly similar, i suppose. as for TD - how about ricochet: that was my 1st intro to them and still pretty fantastic.
― nonightsweats, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 22:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Love "Epsilon...". Just look out for the 2004 "remake" Froese put together. It doesn't hold up.
― Zooster vs. The Slapp (Capitaine Jay Vee), Thursday, 12 August 2010 01:51 (thirteen years ago) link
I have a feeling that listening to these mpfrees of Epsilon just can't compare with it on vinyl.I guess I should start checking the Tangerine Dream section again.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 12 August 2010 02:16 (thirteen years ago) link
guess I should start checking the Tangerine Dream section again.
be very very careful, most of it really does not hold up. it's important to keep perspective and hear what was actually finding the commercial audiences in the cosmic 70's, but it's been reassuring how the better bands have finally been finding the audience
― Milton Parker, Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:20 (thirteen years ago) link
TD up to 74 is definitely worth checking out, and if you're still interested keep going to 80 or so.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 12 August 2010 17:19 (thirteen years ago) link
TD were great til 1980. Force Majeure is prob my fave.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 12 August 2010 17:20 (thirteen years ago) link
FM gets a little goofy, but it's good. I think I started listening to it on your recommendation from a TD thread, pfunk.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 12 August 2010 17:23 (thirteen years ago) link
Phaedra & Stratosfear are my tops I'd say.
my 3 faves prob!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 12 August 2010 17:29 (thirteen years ago) link
I am pretty well-versed in the TD back catalog. It's easy to find cheap copies of the best lps.Phaedra is probably my favorite, but I like my 2fer of Alpha Centauri and Atem a lot. And Zeit is sweet, but I don't have that on vinyl.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 12 August 2010 17:59 (thirteen years ago) link
I have the early spacey stuff on cd
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Thursday, 12 August 2010 18:10 (thirteen years ago) link
TD LPs used to be incredibly cheap and common, now I don't see them nearly as much or I would pick some up again.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 12 August 2010 19:03 (thirteen years ago) link
Are we still doing Friday Bonus Albums? Anyway, here ye go:
SEESSELBERG - Synthetik 1 (1973)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61IpTJ%2Bq-8L._SS500_.jpg
I'm almost tempted to believe this might be one of those fake albums we've already discussed on this thread, perhaps the geezer from Nurse With Wound and some of his mates got together one weekend, cracked open a few beers and perpetrated a gigantic fraud on us. Fear not though, there exists YouTube footage out there of the Seesselberg boys, back in der tag, creating the unearthly racket that is Seesselberg. So, for certain, this album was the product of two brothers whose idea of fraternal togetherness was squeezing as many outlandish noises out of their homemade synths as humanly or inhumanly as possible and was recorded at various venues between 1971 and 1973. One of the tracks was recorded at an art gallery in London: about 4 years later Throbbing Gristle were doing the same thing and, coincidentally, sounding very much the same.
Non-stick
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Friday, 13 August 2010 13:14 (thirteen years ago) link
Dunno this, so thanks!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 13 August 2010 13:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Like both description & cover, will try this out. Found Epsilon in Malaysian Pale on LP really cheap a couple of years ago, just as I was dipping carefully beyond Can/Faust/Neu! et al. Bought it for the cover alone, really. Beautiful. As is the music. Didn't know it was a Bowie/Pop fave back in der tag, no wonder it works for me too ;)
― willem, Friday, 13 August 2010 13:24 (thirteen years ago) link
Epsilon is lovely.
Babaluma isn't my favorite Can (by far), but I do really like "Come Sta La Luna."
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Tuesday, 17 August 2010 02:13 (thirteen years ago) link
I picked up a reissue of that Paradieswarts Duul and hated it at first but will return to it and give it a second go.
Was at the Fort Greene flea market on Saturday too and saw a dude with Amon Duul II Hijack. Was unfamiliar so i left without it, but I am sooooo pissed I did when I went home and listened on youtube. Super good.
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Tuesday, 17 August 2010 21:19 (thirteen years ago) link
You might want to save Paradieswarts Duul for fall/winter if you still don't like it. That's when I "got it."
And there's one song on "Hijack" that's AWESOME. But I can't remember the title.
― let's build a spliff (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 18 August 2010 01:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Here are three more from me, descriptions again from The Crack in the Cosmic Egg:
Necronomicon - Tips Zum Selsbtmord (1972)http://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/2130/cover_165032122005.jpg
An obscure, yet legendary heavy and psychedelic underground band, whose only LP was released privately, instantly becoming obscure and collectable, not least because of its title, meaning "Tips For Committing Suicide". Also, aptly the music was dark, outer-edge bleak rock, with acid guitars and distinctly psychedelic wailing angst ridden German vocals. A kind of dark sinister Frumpy turned garage band, even stranger than the occasionally comparable Ainigma. The only shame is that none of Necronomicon's output is what one could call hi-fi, yet despite this, the brilliance of their music always shines through.
More of a garage/heavy blues sound. Also notable for having an organist by the name of Fistus Dickmann, apparently.Not a Spotify Link
Mammut - s/t (1971)http://www.longhairmusic.de/covermammut.JPG
Born out of the jazz scene in Villingen (near Stuttgart, Southwest Germany) from musicians formerly of the bands The Rope Set and Those. Mammut were an obscure underground band, whose sole album was the result of no-holds-barred late night jam sessions at the MPS studios. Dark sounds, with hints of Amon Düül II, heavy blues-rock (in the more freaky Frumpy or Tomorrow's Gift vein), with all sorts of strange, ethnic and gothic touches combined in their music. Although the band themselves quoted Deep Purple's IN ROCK as a major influence, their spirit was purely Krautrock. Their sole album is a legendary rarity, and rightly so. The CD reissue was withdrawn due to legal problems.
More free jazz than Frumpy, thankfully.Not a Spotify Link
Agitation Free - Last (1976)http://fotos.subefotos.com/5816ba9df2ce931ba51902f8ee8339a2o.jpg
It's unfortunate really that Agitation Free only really gained success in France, being barely noticed in their homeland, and totally ignored by the British media. Still, two studio albums were not the end of Agitation Free, and they kept on recording right up to their final session. The album LAST was posthumously released (only in France), it contains recordings from two concerts and is certainly the best document of the improvisational capabilities of this most innovative group of Teutonic pioneers, developing the Agitation Free sound beyond the guitar based music of Ash Ra Tempel onto purely cosmic floating realms.
A good mix of Agitation Free material - the first track turns into "Rucksturz" from Malesch; the second is motorik similar to the songs on 2nd; the third is a long Ashra-type drone.Not a Spotify Link
― von kelson, Wednesday, 18 August 2010 02:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Also notable for having an organist by the name of Fistus Dickmann, apparently.
I approve of this
― tom d: he did what he had to do now he is dead (Tom D.), Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:52 (thirteen years ago) link
Ta for the Agitation Free album, tho 1st album is a better intro for the initiated. Thx for the Mammut and Necronomicon albums too: both are terrible but at least I can now say I've heard them!
― It dreamed to Tom D. of the Caucasus (Tom D.), Monday, 23 August 2010 09:53 (thirteen years ago) link
can we get this thing going again?
― van smack, Thursday, 10 March 2011 01:32 (thirteen years ago) link
if there's interest then go for it
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 10 March 2011 01:33 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm into it.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Thursday, 10 March 2011 04:00 (thirteen years ago) link
Will deffo follow, might even manage a week...
― Neil S, Thursday, 10 March 2011 10:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, the Krautrock listening club was great.
Talking of kosmische sounds I just came in the door just now to see that my copy of La! Neu? 'Cha Cha 2000 Live in Tokyo' arrived. I've been waiting to hear this one for years. Exciting stuff.
― AnotherDeadHero, Thursday, 10 March 2011 16:47 (thirteen years ago) link
ok van smack pick this weeks albums then
9 March - Van Smack16 March - Scott pgwp23 March - Neil S30 March - AnotherDeadHero
Any more volunteers?
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 10 March 2011 16:52 (thirteen years ago) link
maybe just one or two suggestions would be more managable? three a week seemed to be a problem above for some people
― fit and working again, Thursday, 10 March 2011 17:10 (thirteen years ago) link
sounds fine with me
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 10 March 2011 17:12 (thirteen years ago) link
stick with 1?
add me!
― Damn this thread seems so....different without ilxor (ilxor), Thursday, 10 March 2011 17:13 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm in!
― JacobSanders, Thursday, 10 March 2011 17:16 (thirteen years ago) link
9 March - Van Smack16 March - Scott pgwp23 March - Neil S30 March - AnotherDeadHero6 April - ilxor13 april - jacob sanders
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 10 March 2011 17:20 (thirteen years ago) link
I'll have go.
― I am on a drug. It's called (doug watson), Thursday, 10 March 2011 23:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Two albums okay Herman?
― van smack, Friday, 11 March 2011 00:31 (thirteen years ago) link
lets see what preference others have. im ok with 1 or 2. But if one of them encourages more posts then thats fine
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Friday, 11 March 2011 00:36 (thirteen years ago) link
I would be okay with just one. And when that discussion or whatever fizzles, the next person can start their share.
― van smack, Friday, 11 March 2011 00:45 (thirteen years ago) link
if you have 2 to go then do it. will leave it up to the individual to decide what to do with their week
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Friday, 11 March 2011 00:50 (thirteen years ago) link
Okay I will do two albums then. Anyway, here is the first one (second one coming a bit later).
Kinda wanted to do a label listening club more than anything, but this thread is closer to what I wanted to go with anyway. Maybe this album is not full-on Krautrock -- more minimal synth/electronic, but comes from Kraut label Sky Records.
― van smack, Friday, 11 March 2011 01:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Deutsche Wertarbeit - Deutsche Wertarbeit (Sky Records, 1981)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1ZP2O_G176k/SrbTEralMyI/AAAAAAAAAYc/WyMfv7kBo6Y/s320/db.bmp
Fantastic and long out of print solo project of Dorothea Raukes. Dorothea is the ex-singer in of the famous German progressive, Krautrock band Streetmark (founded 1968 in Düsseldorf and released 4 albums between 1976-1981). Dorothea Raukes was one of the few female characters of German progressive rock scene. LP was previously released by Sky Records in 1981. The LP is instrumental and reminiscent of a style similar to other classic late 1970′s synth pioneers (Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Wolfgang Riechmann, etc.)....The LP consists of 6 beautiful synth tracks and will be certain to appeal of fans of the above mentioned artists or any fans of early minimal wave, synth soundtrack, or other lost classics from the era of late 1970s/early 1980s.
Non-Lemon-Party-Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6lmf_ZotTA
I like most of Streetmark's records and haven't heard this solo record. This will be exciting!
― JacobSanders, Friday, 11 March 2011 01:57 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm skipping town for the weekend, so I'll post my second album on Sunday.
― van smack, Friday, 11 March 2011 22:14 (thirteen years ago) link
thanks for posting the Deutsche Wertarbeit, absolutely loving it
― zappi, Saturday, 12 March 2011 17:06 (thirteen years ago) link
Really feeling the Deutsche Wertarbeit as well, hadn't heard it before but I love it!
― La descente infernale (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 14 March 2011 16:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Enjoying it too!
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Monday, 14 March 2011 19:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Next one coming up in a few minutes
― van smack, Monday, 14 March 2011 19:41 (thirteen years ago) link
Okay here's another one from Sky. No youtube previews found.
Earthstar - French Skyline (Sky Records, 1979)
http://i53.tinypic.com/2cnuiqp.jpg
French Skyline is the second full-length album by the American electronic band Earthstar. It was their first release for Hamburg, Germany–based Sky Records.
French Skyline was recorded in 1978 and 1979. The opening track, "Latin Sirens Face The Wall," was recorded at Klaus Schulze Studios in Hambühren, West Germany, and was engineered by Klaus Schulze. Bass and strings were recorded at Aura Sound Studios in New York. All other tracks were recorded at Deponté la Rue Studio in Paris, France. Additional recording took place at four different studios in Germany and New York State. The album was released by Sky Records in 1979.
French Skyline strongly shows Klaus Schulze's musical influence on Craig Wuest and Earthstar. Wuest's idea was to create a "wall of sound", as described by the New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock: "...his desire apparently is to create music that doesn't necessarily suggest a particular instrument, rather creates a new texture. Therefore, though there are credits for flute, guitar, bass, violin, viola, French horn, sitar and vocals, it's pretty hard to distinguish any of these." French Skyline was also the first of three albums on which Wuest made heavy use of the Mellotron and the rare Birotron, a variation on the Mellotron that can sustain notes beyond eight seconds.
― van smack, Monday, 14 March 2011 20:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Love this record, esp. the opener. Their other one, 'Atomkraft? Nein, danke' is pretty decent too, though not nearly as epic.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Monday, 14 March 2011 22:23 (thirteen years ago) link
that cover is SO APPEALING to me
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Monday, 14 March 2011 23:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Listening to the DW album now... Really good - like a lost cousin to Harmonia.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Tuesday, 15 March 2011 15:50 (thirteen years ago) link
I concur with the DW praise, really excellent stuff, Lindstrom for one was obviously listening.
― Neil S, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 16:01 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah, DW is a nice one for sure. it was reissued on vinyl last year. picked it up from aquarius records a few months back.
― original bgm, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 16:36 (thirteen years ago) link
have earthstar on now. was not familiar with this one before but things like "ashra," "popol vuh," and "blade runner" have been popping into my head and that can't be a bad thing.
― original bgm, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 16:47 (thirteen years ago) link
going to listen to these tonighthonestly, thank you so much.
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Tuesday, 15 March 2011 19:54 (thirteen years ago) link
On that DW album - "Der Grosse Atem" is really lovely.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Tuesday, 15 March 2011 23:12 (thirteen years ago) link
^^ Astounding song, only heard it this week through this but kept it on repeat for a while. Amazing.
― La descente infernale (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 15 March 2011 23:14 (thirteen years ago) link
I'll make this my commute listening this eve.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 00:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Earthstar reminds me of everything I love about Tangerine Dream -- spacey, kind of aimless, but grounded.
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 01:26 (thirteen years ago) link
i just realized that i was listening to this REALLY LOUD. hope my neighbors liked it and appreciated how massive it is.
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 01:34 (thirteen years ago) link
Glad you guys are liking the music. I really like both albums a lot.
― van smack, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 01:36 (thirteen years ago) link
Will grab these and report back. Include me in for a week.
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 11:21 (thirteen years ago) link
16 March - Scott pgwp23 March - Neil S30 March - AnotherDeadHero6 April - ilxor13 April - jacob sanders20 April - Tom D
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 13:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Embryo: Opal (1970)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WWIy23PK7tM/SqAbUEcS0tI/AAAAAAAACg0/sMcTUm-NMjk/s1600-h/cover.jpg
No Allmusic review. As I understand it Embryo eventually morphed into something jazzier and more influenced by world music (correct me if I'm wrong). A run of later albums from the group featured horn player Mal Waldron, who had previously accompanied Billie Holiday (!). This is their debut, from 1970, and to me it sounds at times a lot closer to Amon Düül's heavier and more focused moments—with saxophone. Psychedelic free jazz. The final, 26-minute "Läuft" was not on the original issue of the album
Link
Manuel Göttsching: Inventions for Electric Guitar (1975)http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B00000708P.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Allmusic review:
This album is sometimes credited to Ash Ra Tempel, but the music was composed and performed by Manuel Göttsching alone. All sounds were created with guitar, but Göttsching's use of echo, delay, and assorted treatments give these pieces the flavor of sequenced synthesizer music, occasionally reminiscent of Tangerine Dream's work from the period. The opening "Echo Waves" is a trance-inducing space guitar masterpiece, with repeating rhythm figures and gradual phase shifts creating a warped sense of time. The first 14 minutes of the track consist of short, subtly changing melodic phrases, until Göttsching questionably chooses to close with a searing, acid-fried guitar solo. "Quasarsphere" is much more contemplative, with Göttsching processing his guitar to sound like a synthesizer in the vein of Robert Fripp. The closing "Pluralis" consists of endless variations constructed around a simple guitar sequence; it possesses a structure similar to "Echo Waves" (down to the late-breaking blast of psychedelic soloing) with a bit more space and a slower tempo. In some respects a precursor to the groundbreaking proto-techno of E2-E4, Inventions for Electric Guitar is an essential document for space rock enthusiasts.
I had to scroll through this thread to make sure I didn't pick this album up via ILM. I don't know where I came across this last year but it was a true find. This is a gorgeous all-guitar ambient record. I like this more than any of the Ash Ra Tempel stuff I've heard so far.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 14:16 (thirteen years ago) link
Embryo: Opal (1970
http://prettygoeswithpretty.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54eeeec0788340120a95c3e56970b-pi
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 14:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Sorry for the double post - the Embryo image didn't load the first time around.
OTM on "Opal". In fact, OTM on both!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 14:20 (thirteen years ago) link
I think I'll grab the Gottsching album for the cover alone
BTW; last weeks albums were really good
― frogbs, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 14:21 (thirteen years ago) link
seriously excellent smirk for the ages he's got there
has this been posted about elsewhere? it's enjoyable ambient guitar musichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-GUSF-Y6As
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 14:29 (thirteen years ago) link
i guess it's not krautrock if it's from clevelandunless it is
anyway, not sure i could carry a week of this, but i am enjoying listening (and reading)
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 14:37 (thirteen years ago) link
that gottsching album is a big fave of mine.
― original bgm, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 15:45 (thirteen years ago) link
There are other excellent Ashra/Gottsching ambient guitar albums. You should hear Blackouts, New Age of Earth, Dream and Desire, E2-E4, among others.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:06 (thirteen years ago) link
... stick around, you just might
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Tho, of course, none of them have has much guitar as "Inventions"!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:08 (thirteen years ago) link
blackouts might! (my fave btw)
― original bgm, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:09 (thirteen years ago) link
"Inventions" is ALL guitar tho. Said it before, but i prefer Ashra to Ash Ra Tempel.
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:11 (thirteen years ago) link
oh, never realized that inventions has no synths at all!
I definitely prefer ashra. guitar loops + snyths = gateway to pleasure
― original bgm, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:12 (thirteen years ago) link
Think in this thread (club?), the electronic/ambient/motorik side of K'Rock tends to be predominate at the expense of the psych/ freakout/ jazzrockin' sides
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:17 (thirteen years ago) link
it does. needs some to balance it up
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:21 (thirteen years ago) link
Can't help it if that's what the kidz prefer
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:22 (thirteen years ago) link
damn pesky kids?
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm with the kids on this one
― Tom D (Tom D.), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:24 (thirteen years ago) link
i don't qualify as a kid, but comparatively i am definitely a noobjazz/psych/freakout for up times and ambient drone for down times ime
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:42 (thirteen years ago) link
The good Ash Ra Tempel freakouts are without compare, tho. I mean...AMBOSS is freaking huge.But I haven't listened to the rock jams much since I've discovered the electric inventions, it is true.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:46 (thirteen years ago) link
Hey, check the Embryo record for jazz/psyche/freakout! There was a lot of Popol Vuh/Guru Guru/Amon Duul II on this thread earlier, too...
Definitely want to check more Gottsching. E2-E4 was posted on this thread a while back but iirc it was only a spotify link so I couldn't listen to it.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:51 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6HVroMFP6M
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:53 (thirteen years ago) link
^Dude, this is awesome
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 17:03 (thirteen years ago) link
been wanting to get into Embryo for a while now
― hapshash jar tempo (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 18:04 (thirteen years ago) link
Curious to know if anyone out there has heard any of their later material. Like a lot of krautrock bands, their discography is vast and they went through a lot of changes. Their drummer is the only consistent member. This is all I've heard from them, personally.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 18:06 (thirteen years ago) link
That Earthstar album is so incredibly massive. Love it
― frogbs, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:21 (thirteen years ago) link
I have an Earthstar record called for Humans Only and I've been wanting to check more of their music. Just downloaded it. I hope it's as blissful as the one I have.
― JacobSanders, Thursday, 17 March 2011 01:15 (thirteen years ago) link
I have been listening to Opal a lot lately. Weird.
Rocksession is really good, sort of longer-form jazz rock freakout stuff. Great trippin' embryo-ear cover, too.
― There's nothing left alive but a pair of ashy thighs (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 17 March 2011 01:36 (thirteen years ago) link
Thanks for the Embryo. Haven't heard them before.
Inventions is my favorite Ashra/Gottsching album. I like it much better than E2-E4 and it rivals Rainbow Dome Musick for total supremacy.
― van smack, Thursday, 17 March 2011 01:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Curious to know if anyone out there has heard any of their later material.
Yes. It's OK. It is what it is, it's jazz rock. Some good tracks here and there. Agree that "Rocksession" is quite consistent however. Oh, they dabble in ethnic/Eastern textures on quite a few albums, which can be interesting (tho I prefer Wolfgang Dauner and Dzyan's similar efforts).
Thanks to scott pgwp for restoring my faith in this thread and in the notion that there might be some "Krautrock" out there that I haven't heard yet that might actually be worth hearing! Thought we were kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel towards the end last time round. Deutsche Wertarbeit is totally up my strasse, could say that it's shading into Neue Deutsche Welle a bit (1981 after all), also reminds me of Chris Carter in places! Great sounds on that Earthstar album! There's a bit of wandering about aimlessly trying to find a tune, a la Klaus Schulze, but I can forgive that.
― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:17 (thirteen years ago) link
... sorry it was van smack not scott who posted those albums!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:19 (thirteen years ago) link
Must have been von smack, right? ;)Will get that Deutsche Wertarbeit album tonight, curious after all the praise (somehow I've never seen this thread?!)Bought Opal] a couple of years ago but it's (was?) not up my Straße, I'll try again. Sounded way too "crowded" (krauted lol sorry) for my taste
― willem, Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:42 (thirteen years ago) link
Catching up to that Earthstar record posted a couple weeks back... some of it sounds like it could be dropped directly into an Emeralds album and no one would blink.
Is it somebody else's turn this week?
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Tuesday, 22 March 2011 16:44 (twelve years ago) link
Neil S is this week. Where is NEIL?
― van smack, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
uh oh sorry guys will put something together now
― Neil S, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:23 (twelve years ago) link
Ashra - New Age of Earth
http://img262.imageshack.us/i/covercustombi9.jpg/
Allmusic review, which credits the record to Manuel Gottsching solo:
Opening track "Sunrain" sounds like it could soundtrack a narrativeless documentary on just that, or at least some sequence of nature photography; bright and sparkling, the synths and drum machines blend together nicely. "Ocean of Tenderness" has a similar sense of film accompaniment, being a gentle, minimal flow of keyboard shading, electronic chirps deep in the mix, and a soft lead melody that carefully unwinds throughout the lengthy track, with a low-key bass pulse appearing a few minutes in as contrast. "Deep Distance" lives up to the title nicely, combining sweetly spaced-out drones with minimal percussion that sounds like raindrops as much as anything else as lead melodies slowly come to the fore. "Nightdust," which takes up the original second side of the album, captures the original psych-jam feeling of Ash Ra Tempel more than anything else.
Spotify link
I'm on an ambient tip for this week. First choice is a lovely, lovely record from Ashra, with burbling synths and psychedelic guitar to spare. I also really like the record cover, for ages I thought it was a prehistoric monolith, only lately did I realise it's a skyscraper.
More thoughts and another choice to follow.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:31 (twelve years ago) link
oops album cover is:
http://rebels.img.jugem.jp/20110129_1806257.jpg
― Neil S, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
One of the best ambient albums. Great choice. I also like the other cover to New Age Of Earth:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xR09LKGOmXM/R53-luol1OI/AAAAAAAAAGw/fdMOBXKbW1E/s200/ashra.jpg
― van smack, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:37 (twelve years ago) link
Eno - Moebius - Roedelius - After the Heat
http://991.com/newGallery/Brian-Eno-After-The-Heat-475340.jpg
P1tchf0rk review
After the Heat differs sharply from its predecessor in tone, as well as its English language titles and the occasional vocal presence of Eno. "Most of the day we were at the machinery," he sings on "The Belldog", alluding perhaps to the creative ferment happening in Plank's studio.
Perhaps considered a minor record in both Eno's and Cluster's large back-catalogues, but I think a really good one. It perhaps shades a little too far into inertia in paces, but there's always interesting stuff going on.
I've also managed to do a cover connection of sorts!
So, have at it!
― Neil S, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:43 (twelve years ago) link
xp wow at that over cover, amazing!
― Neil S, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:44 (twelve years ago) link
I like the monolith cover, too.Reminds me of Holy Mountain.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:52 (twelve years ago) link
New Age of Earth on grooveshark for those who cannot access spotify
I have been on a virtually nonstop Gottsching kick for days thanks to this thread.
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 23 March 2011 22:02 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks LL.
― Neil S, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 22:03 (twelve years ago) link
Here's the other one for this week
After the Heat on grvshrk but as usual the sequencing seems to be a little screwy
― Ralpharina (La Lechera), Wednesday, 23 March 2011 22:07 (twelve years ago) link
After the Heat was sequenced differently on its original release vs later CD reissues
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 24 March 2011 02:23 (twelve years ago) link
"After the Heat" is the first EMR album? I prefer the 2nd one.
― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 24 March 2011 12:00 (twelve years ago) link
Ashra's New Age of Earth is one of my all time favourite krautrock/kosmische records, I can't vouch for it enough!
― La descente infernale (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 24 March 2011 12:21 (twelve years ago) link
Sorry folks, I have an album I want to share but mediafire, which I've never tried before, doesn't like me it seems. I'll keep on trying.
― AnotherDeadHero, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 18:31 (twelve years ago) link
i get probs uploading to them too, try m3gaupl0ad
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 18:32 (twelve years ago) link
try multiupload because it will upload to a bunch of those share sites.
― van smack, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 23:51 (twelve years ago) link
@ Algerian, add me to the queue, i think i have a couple i'd like to share
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Thursday, 31 March 2011 05:28 (twelve years ago) link
Ok, thanks for your advice Algerian Goalkeep and van smack. Think I'm good to go now. Here's goes;
La! Neu? - Cha Cha 2000 Live in Tokyo
http://www.allflac.com/covers/b_48443_La__Neu_-Cha_Cha_2000__Live_In_Tokyo_Cd1-1996.jpg
There's some discussion of this recording in the Klaus Dinger post-Neu! thread Klaus Dinger post-Neu
For me this is one of Klaus Dinger's high water marks. A lengthy two cd long version of the la Dusseldorf "Viva" classic 'Cha Cha 2000' released on the Japanese Captain Trip record label. The performance on disc 2 in particular is heavenly, one the the most profound examples examples of the Dinger beat in action.
Given the low key import release of the La! Neu? stuff I'm sure there'll be a few folks here who will be keen to check this one out. You won't be dissapointed.
Links;
CD1 - http://www.multiupload.com/TFZ9S2Q8T4
CD2 - http://www.multiupload.com/USBMANST9Y
Enjoy!
― AnotherDeadHero, Thursday, 31 March 2011 09:21 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks! I'm a bit worried about the idea of a 2CD with one song on it tho!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 31 March 2011 09:32 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah...I'm on this...thank you! I'm kind of with you Tom, but one of the La Neu releases I have is over an hour long and really only features two tracks - one is a 20-minute update of "Hero", and the other just a longform jam that goes for over half an hour. It totally rules. The disc is called Dusseldorf. I'd upload it if I could get a week in here *cough, cough, cough, cough*
― frogbs, Thursday, 31 March 2011 12:52 (twelve years ago) link
huh, somehow had the impression that the la neu material was slight without having ever heard it. but this sounds cool. definitely looking forward to spinning it.
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 13:53 (twelve years ago) link
I'm planning to go through all the albums sooner or later to get a better overview of it all. AFAIK the La Neu moniker was just a blanket term for whatever Dinger happened to be feeling at the time. I also have "Zeeland" and it's totally different, very low-key with a prominent female vocalist. It's generally fairly good, but way overlong.
― frogbs, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:31 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, I've never checked out anything dinger has done outside of neu before. which is kind of weird because I've dipped into tons of stuff from the neu/cluster/harmonia axis and have found value in everything I've heard.
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:38 (twelve years ago) link
Get the first two La Dusseldorf albums; I can all but guarantee you'll like them
― frogbs, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:38 (twelve years ago) link
oh, duh. I forgot about la dusseldorf. those are awesome, yes.
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:39 (twelve years ago) link
so, live in tokyo starts very low key. you can even hear lots of audience movement, coughing, a bit of chatter, and what sounds like some movement on stage. kind of digging the intimate feel so far.
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:43 (twelve years ago) link
He's sold before the music even starts, Klaus would love that
― Tom D (Tom D.), Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:45 (twelve years ago) link
tbh this pic was also a factor:
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/21998855/La+Neu+Laneu.jpg
aww.
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:46 (twelve years ago) link
david lee roth family reunion
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:47 (twelve years ago) link
just wrapping up the la neu lp. loved this one!
it comes off as a bit amateurish in spots, particularly when the cha cha 2000 groove flat-out falls apart suddenly once or twice. but that's also part of the draw too - there's a real sense of joy on this recording and the free nature of the performance is part of that. doesn't hurt that the motorik bits just sound unstoppable.
― original bgm, Thursday, 31 March 2011 16:15 (twelve years ago) link
Looking forward to this...Cha Cha 2K's such an epic, it stands to reason that he'd want to underscore those qualities in a major (2 CD's!?!!?!) way.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 31 March 2011 17:04 (twelve years ago) link
Glad your all enjoying this one so far. I'd encourage those that are sceptical about to give it a try, it really is more dynamic and engaging than the '2cd's worth of 1 song' premise sounds.
Dinger's playing guitar on this one I assume and his playing is fantastic at points.
― AnotherDeadHero, Thursday, 31 March 2011 21:02 (twelve years ago) link
Hmmmmmmmmm, can't agree, this just isn't very good. Did Dinger want this out or was it put out without his permission? Can't hear much of any worth in the 1st CD at all, it takes about 30 minutes(!) before anything interesting happens. 2nd CD is better, there is some good guitar playing, drummer(s) pummel away entertainingly, but whatever way you slice it, it's still a 50-odd minute jam. Thx again tho!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 1 April 2011 08:37 (twelve years ago) link
Kinda with Tom on this. It doesn't really feel like the type of recording that was intended for live use. It's not very high-quality and they flub a few things. Plus I don't really feel that it really picks up too much but maybe I'll have to have another listen. I don't really mind that it's just one song since Cha Cha 2000 is basically an amalgam of everything Dinger has ever done. I do like the communal, intimate vibe of it though.
― frogbs, Friday, 1 April 2011 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
6 April - ilxor13 April - jacob sanders20 April - Tom D27 April - ashra williams (san frandisco),
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Friday, 1 April 2011 15:55 (twelve years ago) link
can i get one?? (if i'm not banned by then)
― frogbs, Friday, 1 April 2011 15:58 (twelve years ago) link
6 April - ilxor13 April - jacob sanders20 April - Tom D27 April - ashra williams (san frandisco),4 May - frogbs
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Friday, 1 April 2011 16:00 (twelve years ago) link
push me back plz :(
― hey ilxor, thanks for contributing, glad you stopped by (ilxor), Friday, 1 April 2011 16:17 (twelve years ago) link
I don't really mind that it's just one song since Cha Cha 2000 is basically an amalgam of everything Dinger has ever done
Sacrilege probably, since "Viva" seems to be everybody's favourite LaD LP these days, but I always thought "Cha Cha 2000" was too long anyway, well the piano bit in the middle really.
― Tom D (Tom D.), Saturday, 2 April 2011 13:11 (twelve years ago) link
Listening to live in tokyo volume 2 just now. Worth looking into if you dig the live version of "cha cha".
I understand the comments criticising the lengthy periods of nothingness on cd 1 of the "cha cha" live recording but its worthwhile for the perpetual climax that is the second disc.
If factforthose that are sceptical about checking this one out i'd implore you to perhaps download cd 2 by itself.
― AnotherDeadHero, Saturday, 2 April 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
Nah, download both, don't let critics put anyone off
― Tom D (Tom D.), Saturday, 2 April 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link
I thought i was the only one that thought this...
― Night Nurse with Wound (Jack Battery-Pack), Saturday, 2 April 2011 15:21 (twelve years ago) link
Did we skip a week?
― JacobSanders, Thursday, 7 April 2011 07:39 (twelve years ago) link
oh ilxor requested to be banned so i guess we need to bump everyone up a week. Want to post now jacob?
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 7 April 2011 23:28 (twelve years ago) link
give me an hour and I've have them uploaded and posted?
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 01:38 (twelve years ago) link
ok
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Friday, 8 April 2011 01:49 (twelve years ago) link
Carol Of Harvest - Carol Of Harvest 1978
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1734/carolofharvestfront2.jpg
A surprising release for 1978, Carol Of Harvest created progressive folk similar to The Trees or Hoelderlin. Maybe not exactly krautrock, but it has it's mystical kraut freak out moments. A short record too, never overstaying it's welcome. It's also nice to have a lady singing amongst all the men in here. Not a Spotify link
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 04:13 (twelve years ago) link
LILIENTAL- LILIENTAL 1987
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4866/24970320.jpg
I didn't plan on posting two records from 78, but it turned out that way. LILIENTAL could be called a supergroup, but almost every kraut one off project could be called a supergroup. The line was Dieter Moebius, keyboard, guitar, percussions/Conny Plan, keyboard, guitar, manipulated voices/Johannes Pappert, altosaxophon, bass, flute/Helmutt Hattler, e-bass guitar/Okko Bekker, keyboard, musical saw, percussions/Armus Tietchens, keyboard, drums. The music is really all over the place, sometimes cosmic freakouts, sometimes synth noodling, sometimes cheesy smooth blissed out jazz. Maybe the record fails in places, but there are plenty of beautiful passages here too. Not A Spotify link
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 04:20 (twelve years ago) link
My links didn't work? I'll try again
Carol of Harvest Spotify Link
Liliental Spotify Link
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 04:28 (twelve years ago) link
Anybody know what I'm doing wrong?
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 04:30 (twelve years ago) link
OK, so now I have to cross the Liliental album off of my albums to post
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 08:11 (twelve years ago) link
I actually would called Liliental a supergroup, as much as the Cosmic Jokers were. Conny Plank, half of Kraan, Armus Tietchens and Moebius!! I almost choose an Armus Tietchens record, but I think Lilental captures everything that was unique and creative about the late era of Kraut rock. A rare appearance of Conny Plank playing along jazz rockers with two synth wizards.
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 09:14 (twelve years ago) link
It's an excellent album, I don't think it fails anywhere! Sort of wish they'd used the Kraan guys a bit more tho, not that I'm a fan of Kraan by any means, but when the jazz + electronic elements collide it's nice
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:22 (twelve years ago) link
the Krautrock doumentary is on BBC4 again at the weekend btw
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nf10k
― koogs, Friday, 8 April 2011 12:43 (twelve years ago) link
None of those non-spotify links are working for me.
― van smack, Friday, 8 April 2011 12:48 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B89-69icyc
^ that documentary is all up on youtube too btw
― ridic beau (NickB), Friday, 8 April 2011 12:59 (twelve years ago) link
contains a small amount of nakedness btw
― ridic beau (NickB), Friday, 8 April 2011 13:00 (twelve years ago) link
hadn't seen the clips on the webpage before, specifically Klaus Schulze and his synthi
― koogs, Friday, 8 April 2011 13:02 (twelve years ago) link
> None of those non-spotify links are working for me.
cut and paste them into url, replace the %3F with a ?
― koogs, Friday, 8 April 2011 13:14 (twelve years ago) link
(by url i mean the place in your browser where the url displays)
― koogs, Friday, 8 April 2011 13:15 (twelve years ago) link
I'm not sure why my links didn't work, but here we go again, I'm trying to make the link google proof, just add mediafire.com them. Is this ok. I'm trying to keep from just posting the links outright.
Carol of harvest/?4fhe4zwr6639mvz
Liliental/?1zwxeaah1dj2dbn
― JacobSanders, Friday, 8 April 2011 18:48 (twelve years ago) link
I will get these at home later. Really curious/excited about this Liliental.
― Trip Maker, Friday, 8 April 2011 18:59 (twelve years ago) link
I watched that documentary last night... wow, really good. So many details I didn't know. The only unfortunate thing is that the 6th clip (out of 6) features totally fucked audio, so I wasn't able to see the last ten minutes.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Friday, 8 April 2011 20:53 (twelve years ago) link
Docu. was on telly again last night. I noticed that the pop song that opens the programme, and which is meant to stand for everything the Krautrockers were fighting against, was a German language version of "Sound Asleep" by the Turtles, which is kind of a cool song to cover!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Sunday, 10 April 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
Suppose we give a Krautrock Listening Club and nobody comes...
So, I assume we assume that everyone's already heard a "Soon Over Babaluma" or a "Radio-Activity" so we're not bothering with the more well known stuff? Anyway, I had a whole list of albums I intended to post here but I realised they were very much in the motorik/ electronic vein of the rest of the thread so I junked them and decided to try something different. Both of these albums are by, for want of a better phrase, "jazz rock" bands - but don't run away yet, they don't sound too much like jazz rock, believe me I wouldn't do that to ya.
XHOL CARAVAN - Motherfuckers GmbH & Co. KG (1972)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IsCG0nFn9M8/SZkqJJKI6pI/AAAAAAAAAEc/AHo4AvFIJlY/s320/xhol.jpg
Recorded in 1970, between their first album (which was a sort of ramshackle mash-up of Zappa and Soft Machine, but definitely ahead of its time for Germany in 1969) and their pretty boring (IMO) second album (I think they were trying for Soft Machine "Third"). Don't know why this album works so well, as I suspect it's comprised of outtakes and rejected experiments, I mean you wouldn't expect a 9 and half minute organ solo to be much cop - but, by Odin's beard, it surely is!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GF48G0KY"">Not Spotted
ET CETERA - Et Cetera (1971)
http://www.longhairmusic.de/coveretcetera.jpg
Calling this "Krautrock" is a cheat as this is nominally at least a jazz album. What it is in fact is an album made by jazz musicians that's miles more imaginative and adventurous than the majority of what gets touted as Krautrock. This was a product of keyboardist Wolfgang Dauner, who, late 60s/early 70s, put out a lot of interesting albums in a diverting variety of styles. Better than stuff like Embryo in my opinion. I've included the three bonus tracks that came with the CD reissue, which I wouldn't normally do, because they fit with the rest of the album really well and are perhaps even more krautrocky!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9W625J1N"">Not Spotted + http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JHHJLDK1"">Lesser Spotted
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Friday, 22 April 2011 11:04 (twelve years ago) link
... oops, something went wrong with the links there, but they still work
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Friday, 22 April 2011 11:05 (twelve years ago) link
great thread. anyone have any of the phantom band (jaki liebzeit post-CAN outfit) re-issues? i'll try and get these posted, soon.
― dronestreet, Friday, 22 April 2011 17:09 (twelve years ago) link
ah, now i see. i'll take the next open week, whenever that is.
really digging on that Liliental record, also.
― dronestreet, Friday, 22 April 2011 17:11 (twelve years ago) link
really busy at work today, will be posting the records a little bit later!
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Wednesday, 27 April 2011 17:52 (twelve years ago) link
Sorry for the super late post, but here it goes. There's no real theme to the three albums i decided to post and like Tom D. mentioned above I didn't want to follow with more from the big names. We are kind of getting to the more obscure and so i decided to get a little adventurous with my three.
RICHARD SCHNEIDER JR. - FATA MORGANA (1980)http://discohorror.com/pics/fata%20morgana%20.jpg
First up is an album following the more jazz rock cosmic vibe of last week's post. Richard Schneider Jr.'s Fata Morgana from 1980 is easily one of my favorite albums because it incorporates so many elements of some of my favorite music from that time. The acoustic guitar is from his earlier release Dreamlike Land is there, but he leaves the Latin bossa vibes of that release behind. There is definitely more structure than many other krautrock albums in this thread and there are moments when fusion and jazz rock elements come through, but the cosmic element pervades the entire album. An incredible album to say the least and one worth coming back to over and over again.Not A Spotify Link
THOMAS DINGER - FÜR MICH (1982)http://discohorror.com/pics/thomas%20dinger.jpeg
This album I'm less fond of, but I only came across it recently (thanks to Jaxon). It's the only solo album put out by krautrock legend Klaus Dinger's little brother, Thomas Dinger. Thomas is credited for vocals, playing drums and writing on several Neu! and La Düsseldorf albums and you can definitely hear the influence of those groups in the album's most winning track "Für Dich". However, the use of samples of animal sounds is pretty interesting and there are definitely unique elements. Worth a listen at least.Not A Spotify Link
TYNDALL - TRAUMLAND (1981)http://discohorror.com/pics/tyndall%20traumland.jpg
The second album from German synthesizer duo Jurgen Krehan and Rudolf Langer. This is really the only Tyndall album I can listen to with any sincerity. The other ones remind me too much of awful classical musicians exercising their chops on massive modular boards and are far too cheesy for my taste. This one has some really redeeming moments though with "Unterwegs" in particular shining through. The album is minimal arpeggiated synth krautrock but has much more of a melodic slant than Conrad Schnitzler. While the other albums, and this one at times can be compared to other minimal synth experimenters of the time like Jean Michel Jarre there's a certain element that makes me think of it more as krautrock,Not A Spotify Link
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Thursday, 28 April 2011 07:40 (twelve years ago) link
'Golden Blue Ball' is an enormous song. The synth that really comes in around 2 minutes in the song is hypnotic. I've always wanted to open a dj set of cosmic jams with it. Also loving the direction the listening club is going. Looking forward to listening to TYNDALL.
― JacobSanders, Thursday, 28 April 2011 13:38 (twelve years ago) link
well for some reason in the last 24 hours, the site www.eggcityradio.com that posted the thomas dinger album has gone under. i'll work on another link and repost it later today
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Thursday, 28 April 2011 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
new link for the thomas dinger album:http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WOZGFBSI
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Friday, 29 April 2011 02:09 (twelve years ago) link
The cover of that Tyndall album scares me, but I'll give it a go
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Friday, 29 April 2011 12:41 (twelve years ago) link
I was going to post that T. Dinger album but I'm glad someone else did, it's a really good album by the way!
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:13 (twelve years ago) link
richard schneider album rules. and this was my first ever listen but I KNOW I've heard "fata morgana" (the track) before, but for the life of me, I can't recall where. a mix, I guess?
― original bgm, Friday, 29 April 2011 15:44 (twelve years ago) link
Really enjoying this Richard Schneider album. Definitely one of the unexpected highlights of this listening club so far.
― Non-Stop Erotic Calculus (bmus), Friday, 29 April 2011 16:22 (twelve years ago) link
The other ones remind me too much of awful classical musicians exercising their chops on massive modular boards and are far too cheesy for my taste
(Re: Tyndall) Interesting 'cos one of the better things about this album, from my point of view, is that it sounds sort of awkward and a bit amateurish - some of it is pretty awful but overall I enjoyed it! Obv. I'm missing something with the Richard Schneider album, just sounds bland and anonymous to me, best thing is Jaki Liebezeit's drumming on the title track, tho the album as a whole makes the Phantomband sound like "Tago Mago". Thanks for all contributions as always!
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Sunday, 1 May 2011 09:26 (twelve years ago) link
Maybe you would like 'Dreamland' Richard Schneider's previous record from 77. It's a almost like kraut rock aimed at a beach party, a odd record, silly and serious. Hello Beach Girls!!
― JacobSanders, Sunday, 1 May 2011 18:17 (twelve years ago) link
@ Tom D. yeah the amateurish feeling of Tyndall can be charming, with mixed results obviously. some great moments and some utterly awful ones. unfortunately i think the other 3 albums have much more of the latter, but you can easily track them down on the interweb.
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Monday, 2 May 2011 08:32 (twelve years ago) link
is the thread dead? i think frogbs was up (bump)
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Friday, 6 May 2011 21:21 (twelve years ago) link
I'd love to do one if I could jump on the list. And if anyone is still interested.
― wk, Friday, 6 May 2011 23:27 (twelve years ago) link
I'd like to see this thread continue.
― JacobSanders, Saturday, 7 May 2011 00:33 (twelve years ago) link
Algerian Goalkeeper sends me with a message. Wk, if you'd like to go next then that would be fine, as frogbs is currently off-board. Would be interested to see what you want to put up myself.
― emil.y, Saturday, 7 May 2011 01:05 (twelve years ago) link
That Tyndall album sounds way better at 45, not very useful information with a download I grant you.
― mechanic destructive commando (Matt #2), Saturday, 7 May 2011 01:08 (twelve years ago) link
So should I wait until next Wednesday, or is that idea out the window?
― wk, Saturday, 7 May 2011 03:59 (twelve years ago) link
i guess whoever was moderating the thread before has gone MIA, i'll take over the posting of the queue for now. why don't we resume on wednesday if that works for u wk?
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Monday, 9 May 2011 17:30 (twelve years ago) link
5/11 - wk5/18 - ??5/25 - ??
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Monday, 9 May 2011 17:31 (twelve years ago) link
i'll take 5/18.
― dronestreet, Monday, 9 May 2011 18:15 (twelve years ago) link
5/11 - wk5/18 - dronestreet5/25 - ??
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Tuesday, 10 May 2011 06:54 (twelve years ago) link
Count me in
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Tuesday, 10 May 2011 10:58 (twelve years ago) link
5/11 - wk5/18 - dronestreet5/25 - Tom D.
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Tuesday, 10 May 2011 22:38 (twelve years ago) link
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2VJCjTxApSA/Sihnek0E0dI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/7s_5BlBougU/s1600/SandGolem.jpg
Sand - Golem
This is one of the darkest Krautrock albums and to my ears one of the strangest. A lot of the German groups were making "out" kinds of music but usually with some kind of fairly clear precedents (west coast jams, Mothers of Invention or Fugs, free jazz or fusion, Stockhausen, etc). But where were these guys coming from? They sound almost oppressively gloomy and yet at the same time somehow childlike in a sparse and ramshackle way. Klaus Schulze's binaural recording has a distant, roomy quality that balances out the sometimes thin and scratchy sound of the band and gives the whole thing a uniquely atmospheric feeling.
Not a Spotify Link
Kluster - Klopfzeichenhttp://www.enricobassi.it/krauto_pic002.JPG
Here's another dark one that seems to anticipate industrial music with its metallic clangs and plinky spring reverb sounds. It's somewhat in the spirit of the first Tangerine Dream album (also featuring Conrad Schnitzler) but more focused and spartan in a way that I think works really well.
Floh De Cologne - Profitgeierhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p-E9PrNygBo/SaRC60tn9qI/AAAAAAAAQoU/7RSl8SJk6lM/s400/Floh_de_Cologne_1971.jpg
This is kind of a hard one to take but I love the way the band sounds. They have lots of cool riffs and a fat bass and guitar sound that remind me of The Deviants. But like the Deviants, the goofy singing and spoken word can be off-putting. But if you have a high tolerance for that kind of nonsense and if you don't understand German (I imagine that understanding the rock opera lyrics might only make it worse) it's worth checking out.
― geir was right (wk), Thursday, 12 May 2011 01:28 (twelve years ago) link
Any chance you can upload these to mediafire or some such? That sharebee site wants my email and home address so it can send me junk mail.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Thursday, 12 May 2011 03:02 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks for posting Sand! I love that record. Great short write ups too. I haven't heard that Kluster record and haven't listened to Floh De Cologne in many years. We're at a nice mix of cosmic and pre industrial music.
― JacobSanders, Thursday, 12 May 2011 04:09 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, that Sand record is pretty excellent. Pretty unique sounding. I remember listening to it on headphones for the first time, and thinking that noise was coming in from the street...only to find out it was the record. Good stuff.
― dronestreet, Saturday, 14 May 2011 13:46 (twelve years ago) link
next two weeks have been spoken for. any takers for june 1st?
5/18 - dronestreet5/25 - Tom D.6/1 - ??
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Monday, 16 May 2011 23:30 (twelve years ago) link
Hey, sorry I missed this. Don't click on the giant flashing download button, but just on one of the green links that say zshare, badongo, megaupload, rapidshare, etc.
― geir was right (wk), Monday, 16 May 2011 23:57 (twelve years ago) link
I'll gladly take another week!!
― JacobSanders, Tuesday, 17 May 2011 00:25 (twelve years ago) link
really like the T. Dinger lp--thanks!
― nerve_pylon, Tuesday, 17 May 2011 00:34 (twelve years ago) link
5/18 - dronestreet5/25 - Tom D.6/1 - JacobSanders6/8 - ??
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Tuesday, 17 May 2011 17:27 (twelve years ago) link
sign me up again, why not..
― solitary posts that effortlessly summarize the spirit of ilxor (ilxor), Tuesday, 17 May 2011 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
whoops, left my files at home...i'll be posting records when i get back there in a bit.
― dronestreet, Wednesday, 18 May 2011 19:11 (twelve years ago) link
5/18 - dronestreet5/25 - Tom D.6/1 - JacobSanders6/8 - ilxor
― ashra williams (san frandisco), Wednesday, 18 May 2011 21:10 (twelve years ago) link
Moebius & Plank - Rastakraut Pasta (Tracks 1-7) and Material (Tracks 8-12)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/couldyoudefine/moebius_plank-rasta.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/couldyoudefine/Moebius--Plank-Material-440046.jpgMediafire link
Two LPs (1979, 1981) by 1/2 of Cluster and producer-extraordinaire Conny Plank. Getting past one of the worst album names of all time, Rastakraut Pasta is largely a dubby, world-influenced record (CAN's Holger Czukay plays on 3 tracks); I find it to be an almost chopped-and-screwed Cluster. There are exceptions, the piano-heavy "Two Oldtimers", which ends with synth/guitar harmonics reminiscent of Harmonia & Michael Rother's solo work, and "Feedback 66" which is as close as this record gets to the driving, panoramic feel of Plank's work with NEU! Material is a different affair from the beginning, the drums out in-front of everything at the opening of "Conditionierer" with Moebius adding flourishes as the track motors along. The pieces here are less laid back, both "Infiltration" and "Tollkuhn" flirting with different ends of electronica, ambient soundscape on one & a phase-heavy attacking piece to follow. The sound throughout is much darker than on Rastakraut Pasta, closing on a spaced-out instrumental that rides a quivering bass note to the finish.
― dronestreet, Thursday, 19 May 2011 00:17 (twelve years ago) link
I always wanted Rastakraut Pasta to be more dubby than it actually is. Material is the better release in my opinion. The proto-techno songs and synth washes are nice.
― JacobSanders, Friday, 20 May 2011 21:13 (twelve years ago) link
You accidentally typed "worst" there instead of "best."
― unmetalled world (wk), Friday, 20 May 2011 21:26 (twelve years ago) link
You prefer Rastakraut Pasta over Material?
― JacobSanders, Friday, 20 May 2011 21:37 (twelve years ago) link
haha, no was making a joke about "one of the worst album names of all time"
― unmetalled world (wk), Friday, 20 May 2011 21:54 (twelve years ago) link
"Rastakraut Pasta" is miles better than "Material" IMO. Why is it one of the worst album names of all time?
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Tuesday, 24 May 2011 10:31 (twelve years ago) link
Shrug, I just cringe every time I hear it. Just a gut reaction.
I too prefer it to "Material"...a little much of an industrial vibe for me.
― dronestreet, Tuesday, 24 May 2011 13:40 (twelve years ago) link
"Solar Plexus" from Rastakraut Pasta is terrifying. Like waking up from surgery in something like that final weird hall in 2001: A Space Odyssey and not being able to feel your limbs, and hearing ambient alien chatter from a few rooms away. Robert Ashley-type horror.
― Clarke B., Tuesday, 24 May 2011 13:49 (twelve years ago) link
Two Oldtimers is an all time favorite of mine. So gorgeous.
― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 24 May 2011 14:44 (twelve years ago) link
MOEBIUS, PLANK & NEUMEIER - Zero Set (1982)
http://991.com/newGallery/Moebius--Plank-Zero-Set-440042.jpg
OK so we've started with Moebius + Plank. so let's continue. From earlier in the thread:
"Sowiesoso" - I got this, one lunchtime, in a little record shop called Casa in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. This was a shop which nobody seemed to buy anything out of, it appeared to be run by middle-aged women, their stock was ancient and mostly easy listening and Scottish folk music. This album was in a German folk music section (between the French and the Greek sections), alongside "Zero Set" by Moebius, Plank & Neumeier and "Double Cut" by Moebius & Beerbohm - hey, I don't know much about German folk music but I know what I like!
So here is "Zero Set". Hard to describe this album, sort of dense rhythmic electronic jiggery-pokery from Plank and Moebius with Neumeier clattering away on top (Mani being the polar opposite of the Liebezeit/ Dinger metronomic school of drumming). Bit let down by the last two tracks perhaps, but I'll leave youse to make your own mind up about that.
DZYAN - Electric Silence (1974)
http://www.qpratools.com/gallery/big/dzyan-electric_silence-front.jpg
Trying desperately to post some music that doesn't include Dieter Moebius here. 3rd album by Dzyan: 1st album was prog rock bollocks, 2nd was closer to this album but got a bit too Mahavishnu Orchestra in places. This album is in a similar vein to the Et Cetera album I posted earlier: jazz rock elements, ethnic elements, bit of improv, sprinkling of mellotron, dash of electronics here and there, title track goes slightly Mahavishnu Orch. on us again but some people like that sort of thing.
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 09:37 (twelve years ago) link
lol @ that cover
I've completely falling in love with the Thomas Dinger album, it feels so personal and idiosyncratic. I love music that feels like it could fall apart and there's plenty of those moments on here. What an opener "Ballgeflüster" is...
― willem, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 10:00 (twelve years ago) link
― Clarke B., Tuesday, May 24, 2011 8:49 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark
This totally made me want to listen to an album that I had been avoiding for a long time because its name evokes either the world's most repulaive food (like chocolate cheese tilapia casserole) or embarrassed me to say out loud for whatever reason. It's a lot better now that I'm on the second track.
It's dark and rainy outside, so this seemed liked a good day for terrifying music.
― Garyln (La Lechera), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 13:12 (twelve years ago) link
Miss Cacadou is really cute, kind of half what I expected. I like that there can be one album with a song this cute and one that sounds like alien chatter.
Can someone describe for me the following: who bought this record when it originally came out? I mean, what was the audience for this music?
― Garyln (La Lechera), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 13:19 (twelve years ago) link
I bought it. I discovered Cluster via Brian Eno, and somehow, new vinyl imports started to show up in Pittsburgh, so I bought them when I could. I don't think I ever heard it on any radio stations.
― Echo Alona (doo dah), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 14:37 (twelve years ago) link
By the way, a little bit off topic, but my husband wrote a piece for his blog that might be interesting to this thread.
― Echo Alona (doo dah), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 14:40 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks for posting Zero Set, I have been wanting to hear the whole thing after catching a youtube with one of the songs.
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 14:41 (twelve years ago) link
Thank you doo dah! Looks like a great read and I cannot get enough of these cosmic fashions. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3s5BmGhL2E/TdvpoyC7ovI/AAAAAAAAAHA/WvLzH53AFvA/s1600/Cosmicfashions.jpg
― Garyln (La Lechera), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 14:44 (twelve years ago) link
Great article, thanks! It's great to learn some of these little details like the Macht das Ohr auf / Macht das Tor auf pun that I never would have otherwise realized.
― unmetalled world (wk), Wednesday, 25 May 2011 18:48 (twelve years ago) link
In reference to Rastakraut Pasta, thanks to Garyln for putting my album title distaste into more understandable terms:
an album that I had been avoiding for a long time because its name evokes either the world's most repulaive food (like chocolate cheese tilapia casserole) or embarrassed me to say out loud for whatever reason.
Looking forward to checking out the Moebius/Plank/Neumeier record...I Moebius/Beerbohm's Double Cut, though that's probably one of my least favorites.
― dronestreet, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
Love the first track on Zero Set--those drums!--but I'm kinda ambivalent to the rest.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Friday, 27 May 2011 04:40 (twelve years ago) link
Wolfgang Riechmann & Streetmark - Wolfgang Riechmann & Streetmarkhttp://img815.imageshack.us/img815/3234/r9094741269414876.jpg
There seems to be two releases of this record with different track listings and art work. I prefer order of the songs on this one. Streetmark's second album from 77. Dreams is a bubbling cosmic jam.
http://www.mediafire.com/?c1ubl12yx5awf4h
Randy Pie - Randy Piehttp://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1040/randypiecopy.jpg
Randy Pie were ex Rattles who were maybe not quite Krautrock. Maybe cosmic blue eyed soul jazz?
http://www.mediafire.com/?ech2u7we8gq7d5s
― JacobSanders, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 17:51 (twelve years ago) link
Awesome. Thanks for the Streetmark/Riechmann. I haven't heard that one yet and will listen in the morning.
Last Saturday, I went to a yard sale and saw Riechmann's Wunderbar lp in a stack of used records and wanted to buy it, but the guy wanted $125 for the damn thing. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me. I'm pretty sure it was the 2009 reissue and not an original Sky release.
― van smack, Thursday, 2 June 2011 06:00 (twelve years ago) link
No love for Randy Pie?
― JacobSanders, Friday, 3 June 2011 03:50 (twelve years ago) link
Oh man, the cover of 'Rastakraut Pasta'. I'd forgotten how great these album covers were. Did Sky have an in-house designer? Or was it Moebius who was really into design?
― geeta, Friday, 3 June 2011 15:14 (twelve years ago) link
Moebius trained as a graphic designer I think
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Friday, 3 June 2011 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
Moebius studied art with Joseph Beuys, right? Then again, so did Schnitzler, but Schnitzler wasn't much into design. i think Schnitzler was really into the sculpture side of Beuys. Beuys did do some great design work, though.
Those Cluster/Harmonia/etc records are so insanely well-integrated, on a conceptual level--the song titles, the graphic design, everything.
― geeta, Friday, 3 June 2011 16:11 (twelve years ago) link
Streetmark album is pleasant (what is a Streetmark anyway?) but given that Dorothea Raukes was responsible for the Deutsch Wertarbeit album, I think she deserves her name on the cover too! Other than the fact that it's German, can't see any reason to be interested in the Randy Pie album however. Thx for all contributions as always!
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Saturday, 4 June 2011 11:30 (twelve years ago) link
I wonder if I can "like" Randy Pie on Facebook.
― PJ Miller, Thursday, 21 July 2011 08:53 (twelve years ago) link
Won't someone help me find other things that sound like the Earthstar and Deutsche Wertarbeit albums posted upthread? I have been listening to both of them pretty constantly since.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:06 (twelve years ago) link
Michael Shrieve's "Transfer Station Blue" (referred to upthread IIRC) is full of burbling synthy goodness. More well known, but Ashra's "New Age of Earth" is also fantastic. Peter Baumann's "Leda Welcome to Joyland" is more in the proto-Italo disco vein, but is v nice, and I think was also discussed upthread.
― good luck in your pyramid (Neil S), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:43 (twelve years ago) link
Love Ashra, haven't heard the other two. Thanks!
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:48 (twelve years ago) link
Couldn't find either of these on spotify, and could only find Transfer Station Blue (and other Peter Baumann, enjoying Bicentennial Presentation) on youtube. Didn't want to download the wrong thing by accident.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Monday, 10 October 2011 16:29 (twelve years ago) link
I think non-spotify links are on this thread if you wind back through it.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Monday, 10 October 2011 18:16 (twelve years ago) link
oh ok, got it. i don't know if anything could be better than earthstar.
― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Monday, 10 October 2011 18:24 (twelve years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tengger-spiritual-2/
Had never heard of Tengger before, but this review got me listening and this is great. The opener is so up my street, it immediately won me over. Meditative mantras, soft buzzing drones and motorik beats discreetly chugging along... Recommended.
― Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Friday, 7 June 2019 10:51 (four years ago) link