KRAUTROCK Listening Klub! - New Albums Every Wednesday

yep. thanks!

ok, anyone else want in?

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.

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

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.

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

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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

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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.

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.

Not a Spotify link.

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.

Not a Spotify link.

excellent choices!

Popol Vuh - In den Gärten Pharaos Spotify Link

Can - Landed Spotify Link

You better ask a mod to update title, i think they will be fed up with me.

so as you guys are all listening to these albums together, do your menstrual cycles start to sync up?

So far I've only managed to listen to Amon Düül II but I'll try to catch up this week/weekend.

Yeah, I'm halfway through AshRaTempel, but hey.

Looking forward to hearing that Can one- I've never ventured beyond their "Can"onical records (sorry)

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...

Just moved onto the La Dusseldorf one from finishing the AshRaTempel.

A bit like following The Orb with the Glitter band, but "..hey"

Bloody 'ell that Walter one is long. Is there a track I can knock off so I can fit it onto 1 CD?

Doubt it! These are great choices. Walter Wegmuller album is the best thing to come out of all that RU Kaiser Cosmic jamming hoohah.

OK, so my options be:

1) Write it as mp3s to a data disc
2) Write 2CDrs, one LP per
3) Write one as sides one to three, and get a 3" cdr for side 4 (going by the review above)..

Option 3 sounds good to me

Yeah, decided I like that one...

(oh, which track kicks off side 4?)

"Die Sterne"

tku

Mark what did you think of my choices from last week?

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...

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.)

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.

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.

I've never understood the love for Soon Over Babaluma. Of the later records I much prefer Landed and Saw Delight.

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?

I hadn't heard it until the last round of reissues, I think you're okay.

I've not ever heard Landed! Does this strike me out of Can fandom?

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.

Agreed

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.

I was put off by people from listening past the "classic" era but ignore them, some good stuff was made.

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...

I've never understood the love for Soon Over Babaluma. Of the later records I much prefer Landed and Saw Delight.

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 :)

I've never understood the love for Soon Over Babaluma. Of the later records I much prefer Landed and Saw Delight.

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!

What's Out Of Reach like? - I've never heard it, or even knowingly seen a copy, but I think I might like it :)

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.

soon over babaluma has the best side 2 of all can albums.

^ the truth

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!

Future Days is my fave these days

future days has always been my fave. it's gorgeous.

Mine used to be Tago Mago but Future Days has taken over the past few years.

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!

(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...

worth checking out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B89-69icyc&feature=related

u r nuts IMO- I'm choosing a Michael Rother album when my week comes round...

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)

this kraftwerk documentary has tons of cool krautrock footage and reminiscing from various players:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289806/

the documentary on BBC3 was pretty good.