Krautrock: Cologne's Studio Revolution
From Cologne's Inner Space to Forst, Can, Neu!, and Kraftwerk, with Conny Plank, invent the motorik beat and ambient soundscapes that redefine rock.
Tracklist
- Halleluwah — Can
- Hallogallo — Neu!
- Vitamin C — Can
- Ruckzuck — Kraftwerk
- Hollywood — Cluster
- Walky-Talky — Harmonia
- Rheinita — La Düsseldorf
- Krautrock — Faust
Transcript
Welcome to OffStereo. Evening's here — let's set the mood.
Halleluwah — Can
Can formed in Cologne in 1968, blending avant-garde and jazz. Their Inner Space studio near the city fostered improvisational sound, reshaping German identity, as heard on "Halleluwah."
Hallogallo — Neu!
Neu! members Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother pioneered the 'motorik' beat, a driving, uninterrupted rhythm Dinger called the 'endless straight.' Producer Conny Plank captured this signature sound, redefining rock's rhythmic possibilities on "Hallogallo."
Vitamin C — Can
Can's groundbreaking approach involved improvising daily from midday to midnight in their Inner Space studio near Cologne, then editing the results. This intense process yielded their distinctive sound, exemplified by the endlessly sampled "Vitamin C."
Ruckzuck — Kraftwerk
Before Autobahn, Kraftwerk blended traditional instruments with nascent electronics. Producer Conny Plank, who attended Stockhausen's new-music courses in Cologne, shaped this early experimental phase and their electronic sound, as heard on "Ruckzuck."
Hollywood — Cluster
Cluster, formed by Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius, moved to the rural village of Forst in 1971, creating their own studio for ambient explorations. Their extensive collaborations with producer Conny Plank were pivotal, pushing electronic music beyond rock structures. This track, "Hollywood," showcases their distinctive, evolving sound that laid groundwork for future ambient genres.
Walky-Talky — Harmonia
Harmonia, featuring Neu!'s Michael Rother and Cluster's Roedelius and Moebius, recorded in Forst. Brian Eno famously called them "the world's most important rock band" in the mid '70s, influencing global music, as heard on "Walky-Talky."
Rheinita — La Düsseldorf
Klaus Dinger, co-founder of Neu!, refined the motorik beat with La Düsseldorf. Their driving, rhythmic style, exemplified by "Rheinita," captivated artists globally, with David Bowie calling their sound "the soundtrack of the eighties."
Krautrock — Faust
Krautrock, initially a pejorative term coined by British journalists, became synonymous with a culturally and politically charged movement redefining German musical identity. Artists like Faust, with their track "Krautrock," embraced this experimental spirit, pushing boundaries with innovative studio techniques and electronic soundscapes, leaving an indelible mark on global music.
Thank you for sharing this journey through sound with us on OffStereo. The enduring spirit of innovation from those studios still invites us to hear music differently.