Processing your request, Please wait....Between 1968 and 1977 bands like Neu!, Can, Faust and Kraftwerk would look beyond western rock and roll to create some of the most original and uncompromising music ever heard.
They shared one common goal – a forward-looking desire to transcend Germany’s gruesome past – but that didn’t stop the music press in war-obsessed Britain from calling them Krautrock.
Not sure about it.
I visit Germany often. I like the straightforwardness of the people; admire the heritage of classical music, advanced engineering;and generally they do ‘things’ well.
This form of course is a reaction as much against the influence of an American and British occupying presence post 1945-as it is a reaction against their garndparents music and parents music.
‘Change for change sake is not progress for me. In one music rendition -a drum beat was reminiscent of a native American tom-tom beat-yet the band members were adament that they were striving for the antithesis of American music.
Just as the ‘doc’ went into technical problems-the ubiquitous Bowie was ‘brought in’. If he is still regarded as an influence-how do they maintain that they are moving in a different direction from the ‘Anglo/American’ genus?
While writing-I have the remnants of “she’s a model..and she’s …..dudu-dududu-dudu’. I think it’s by Kraftwerk. That I like!.
This ‘Krautwerk’ (a pejorative if ever there was one)is an acquired taste. I may not have it-but as a 55 yo–maybe I’ll just stick somewhere between Beethoven and Becker &Fagan of Steely Dan.
Maurice Aherne
Ireland