Krautrock
tagStarted 1968Peak 1971-1976Last big hit still activeFrom Germany
Located in 3 routes
Experimental German psychedelia built on the hypnotic, metronomic 'motorik' beat: kick-heavy 4/4 pulse, looping bass, droning guitar and pioneering synthesizers. Spans tape-collage noise, ambient synth washes and psychedelic funk. Repetitive, forward-flowing and machine-precise, it rejects blues and pop structure for trance-state momentum and electronic texture.
History
Emerged around 1968-70 as young West German musicians broke from Anglo-American rock, fusing psychedelia, the avant-garde and early electronics in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Munich. Can and Neu! defined the motorik pulse; Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk pushed synth frontiers. It profoundly shaped post-punk, ambient, electronic and indie music worldwide.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Wikipedia: Krautrock
- The Quietus
- AllMusic
- Pitchfork