Top 20 kraut rock

Posted by: jcs_smith on 07 July 2008

Haven’t had a top 10 for a while so how about Kraut Rock/Kosmiche Musik. I’ve restricted the list to 1 per act/person; otherwise it would be full of Klaus Schulze – actually I cheated in that 5 of the records do have a Klaus connection in some way. Also I’ve only listed stuff from the classic period – no Pete Namlook, David Moufang, Ludwig Reiberg, Bern Kistenmacher, Din A Testbild, Einstürzende Neubauten, DAF, Der Plan, etc.
No Kraan, Amon Duul I or II, Birth Control, Spermull, Thirsty Moon or Harmonia either. Sorry but they just don’t do it for me

1.Sergius Golowin – Lord Krishna von Goloka
2.Walter Wegmüller– Tarot
3.Ash Ra Tempel – Inventions for Electric Guitar
4.Neu! – Neu!
5.Kluster – Zwei Osterei
6.Faust with Tony Conrad – Outside the Dream Syndicate
7.Klaus Schulze – Moondawn
8.Tangerine Dream – Atem
9.Xhol – Motherfuckers GMBH
10.Popol Vuh – Couer du Verre
11.Cosmic Jokers – Galactic Supermarket
12.Wolfgang Dauner - Für
13.Eloy - Floating
14.Richard Wahnfried – Time Actor
15.Guru Guru – Kanguru
16.Deuter – D
17.Kraftwerk – Computerwelt
18.Edgar Froese – Epsilon in Malaysia Pale
19.Erdenklang
20.Can – Tago Mago

Posted on: 07 July 2008 by droodzilla

Great isea jcs!

My knowledge of Krautrock ends with Can/Neu/Kraftwerk, so I'll watch this thread with interest.

Cheers
Nigel

Posted on: 07 July 2008 by Jet Johnson

Ok I could probs name more than 20 fave Kraut rock albums in my collection but I'd also be choosing between about 10 or so Kraftwerk choices and about 7/8 Can records! but ..."Neu's NEU! is fab as is Can's Ege Bamyasi ....oh yes jeez I've got some Tangerine Dream platters as well I haven't played in yonks...and (hang on) some Klaus Schulze lingering around! ....

But I do remember Amon Dull's "Live in London" is pants!

I'll also be interested in what choices other better informed Krauter's (?) will pick.

..As a footnote ...a firm favourite tune often spun at the Sunderland Locarno Ballroom Friday night rock disco in the 70's was Neu's "Fur Immer" ...what chance something like that being played now eh?

Posted on: 08 July 2008 by Guido Fawkes

Good list JCS, here is my attempt, but I differ from you in my liking for Amon Düül II - I have most of their albums on vinyl up until Vortex, I used to buy them as they came out and have never been disappointed.

Amon Düül II - Tanz Der Lemmings
Floh De Cologne - Fliessbandbabys Beat-Show
Faust - The Wümme Years
Amon Düül II - Yeti
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express
Amon Düül II - Carnival In Babylon
Wallenstein - Cosmic Century
Kraftwerk - Ralf and Florian
Amon Düül II - Wolf City
Neu! - Neu! and Neu! 2
Amon Düül II - Vive La Trance
Kraftwerk - Man Machine
Tangerine Dream - Atem
Eloy - Ocean
Can - Tago Mago
Grobschnit - Grobschnit
Kraftwerk - Computer World
Karat - Schwanenkönig
City - City
Eloy - Power and the Glory
Anyone's Daughter - Piktors Verwandlungen
Floh De Cologne - Tilt Rock Show

A lot of great music has come out of Germany and I have only listed some of my favourite records. Ougenweide are, of course, a fantastic band too, but not sure if they count as KR.

ATB Rotf

Posted on: 08 July 2008 by ewemon

I used to love Kraut rock but totally went off it when I got shot of all my albums.

So here is a few more suggestions for your list

Harmonia- Deluxe
Ash Ra Tempel-S/t
Cluster-'71
La Duseldorf- Viva
Popol Vuh- Attensunde
Ashra- New Age
Manuel Gottsching- E2-E4
Conrad Schnitzler- Rot

Those were also some of my favs in amongst many others.

Posted on: 09 July 2008 by Ghom

Not sure I can list my top 20 favourites off the top of my head, but some good ones are:

Faust - "So Far"
Can - "Future Days"
Neu! - "Neu!"
Cluster - "Zuckerzeit"
Harmonia - "Deluxe"
Amon Duul II - "Yeti"
Yatha Sidhra - "Meditation Mass"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Walter Wegmuller - "Tarot"
Ash Ra Tempel - "Schwingungen"
La Düsseldorf - "La Düsseldorf"
Tangerine Dream - "Alpha Centauri"
Agitation Free - "Malesch"

Julian Cope's "Krautrocksampler" is worth a look - you have to respect his deranged enthusiasm.

Posted on: 09 July 2008 by J.N.

Sort of 'On Message' - any other takers for 'The Spliff Radio Show' from 1980?

'85555' by Spliff is wonderfully whacky too.

John.

Posted on: 09 July 2008 by BigH47

I was going to say Yello but apparently they are Austrian! Sounded German to me.

Posted on: 09 July 2008 by jcs_smith

quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
I was going to say Yello but apparently they are Austrian! Sounded German to me.

Thought they were swiss

Posted on: 09 July 2008 by Guido Fawkes

I forgot Embryo.

Posted on: 09 July 2008 by BigH47

quote:
Thought they were swiss

Ooops!

Posted on: 13 July 2008 by JamieL

I have always thought of Krautrock as being a sound, not defined by nationality, in the same way that 'Modernism' is a movement not the most modern/recent development in art.

The majority of the artists are German, as the movement/sound originated there, but I would not think of that as the sole criteria.

I would make a list, but for me it would be all Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream.

Posted on: 20 July 2008 by Kevin-W

Mine's quite mainstream, but here goes with my top 20:-

*This was a budget priced (£1.09, I think) sampler of artists on the Brain label, which I acquired in 1977 and which led me to Neu! among others.

The Kevsterx

PS - I've forgotten La Dusseldorf's first record, which is awesome! Also, I've left Kaftwerk out 'cause I think everything after Ralf & Florian isn't really Krautrock, it's kinda sui generis if you know what I mean...