Schlager Nicht

Krautrock - The Rebirth Of Germany

Here's a nice quality capture of the excellent BBC4 documentary looking at the roots and development of the German music phenomena (it's not a genre after all), from the early days of Amon Düüll (and dubious Baader Meinhoff links), Can and Faust, through to early Kraftwerk, Neu!, Cluster, Harmonia and later Kraftwerk. It  includes fascinating chats with a few main players including Michael Rother, Holger Czukay,  Dieter Moebius, and Wolfgang Flür. There is an impromptu performance by Faust, and a few interjections from Iggy Pop (whilst drilling a coconut!). The documentary ends with a look at Krautrock's influence on subsequent music and quite rightly exposes Brian Eno, who clearly should have given Harmonia a great deal more credit in the development of his own solo career, and also Bowie's transition from glam to über-cool euro-rock. The video is in the mastroka (MKV) format which will playback nicely in 720P on most media drives, or on desktop freeware such as VLC. Enjoy!

Sour Kraut

Faust - First

I am going to end the current wave of Germanic postings with two more Faust albums and a tv documentary. If you have never heard the first Faust long player then you are in for an audio treat. I know the roots of German experimental music can be traced back a long way, but Faust did more by adding overdubs and samples -  you can hear the Beatles and The Stones, though sampling, as is it is now known hadn't been invented yet, you can still hear the light crackle and occasional pop from the vinyl used. More mainstream instruments such as drum, guitar and bass are there, but there is much more going on and you can spend many listens trying to work out where Faust got their sound.

Ripped from a compact disc reissue of an album originally released on Polydor Records in 1971 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

1. Why Don't You Eat Carrots

2. Meadow Meal

3. Miss Fortune

Faust - So Far

Alongside Faust IV, So Far is their finest work. Faust mix conventional song construction with their own unique twisted humour mixed with noise, melody and psyche beats. Like all other Faust albums, you just can't dip in or out listening to the odd tracks, you need to listen to them in their entirety from beginning to end. This is not music for the i-pod shufflers.

Ripped from a compact disc reissue of an album originally released on Polydor Records in 1972 to high quality lossless FLAC audio.

1. It's A Rainy Day Sunshine Girl
2. On The Way To Abamae
3. No Harm
4. So Far
5. Marnie Is Blue
6. I've Got My Car And My TV
7. Picnic On A Frozen River
8. Me Lack Space...
9. ..In The Spirit

Art-Errorists

Faust - IV

As we are tinkering around the edges of 70's German experimental rock, it would be rude not to pay homage to Faust. Their music can be very difficult and demanding, but Faust IV, recorded in the UK and released on a fledgling Virgin Records, is occasionally accessible and wholly enjoyable. The opening 12 minute electronic drone opus of Krautrock sets the tone for a twisted journey through the creative minds of Zappi Diermaier and his co-conspirators. After the drone, Faust pound us with pogo-punk, psychedelia, prog, classic rock, squelchy electronica, more drone and finally a little bit of West Coast Jam Band influenced German folk.

Originally released on a Virgin Records album in 1973, but ripped from a CD reissue to lossless FLAC.

1. Krautrock
2. The Sad Skinhead
3. Jennifer
4. Just A Second (Starts Like That!)
   Picnic On A Frozen River
   Deuxieme Tableux
5. Giggy Smile
6. Läuft...Heisst Das Es Läuft Oder Es Kommt Bald...Läuft
7. It's A Bit Of A Pain
8. The Lurcher