Krautrock
Experimental German rock from the 1970s that mixed electronic sounds with repetitive rhythms.
History
Krautrock is a name given by British writers to experimental German music of the late 1960s and 1970s s1. The groups mixed rock instruments with synthesizers, tape effects and long, repeating rhythms s1. Can's 'Vitamin C' (1972) and Neu!'s 'Hallogallo' (1972) are well-known examples of the style's steady, hypnotic beat s1. Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn' (1974) used electronic sounds and a motorway theme to make a pop record s1. Tangerine Dream made long, calm electronic pieces that shaped ambient music s2. Many krautrock groups rejected normal pop song structures and experimented with sound s1. British and American musicians, including David Bowie, were influenced by the style s2. Its repetitive rhythms later fed into electronic dance music and ambient s1. Many of the groups played long pieces at art events and rock clubs s1. Their music was not popular in Germany at first but was admired in Britain and the United States s2.
Sound
- Repetitive, hypnotic rhythms
- Early synthesizers and tape effects
- Long tracks with few chord changes
- Experimental, unusual sounds
- A steady, mechanical feel
Key figures
- Kraftwerk — Düsseldorf group central to the style
- Can — Cologne group known for hypnotic rhythms
- Neu! — Düsseldorf duo behind 'Hallogallo'
- Tangerine Dream — Berlin group known for long electronic pieces
Labels
- Brain Records — Hamburg , 1972
- United Artists — London , 1957
- Philips Records — Amsterdam , 1950
Defining tracks
Connections
Led to: Ambient , Early Electronic , Industrial , Synth-Pop
Sources
- Krautrock — Wikipedia
- Krautrock: the 1970s bands which helped post-war Germany overcome its dark history — BBC Culture (2024)