Where to start with German Krautrock

German Krautrock is a music scene from West Germany (Düsseldorf, Cologne, Berlin), 1968–1975. Its principal artists include Kraftwerk, Can, Neu! and Tangerine Dream. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 12 dated events.

Start here

1
Neu!
Neu! · 1972
Original release: Billingsgate · BG 1001 · 12″ Vinyl · US 1972
It established the motorik beat that defined krautrock's rhythmic identity and shaped later electronic dance music.
2
Tago Mago
Can · 1971
Original release: United Artists · UAS 29 211 X · 12″ Vinyl · Germany 1971
Its mix of machine-steady drumming, tape editing, and glossolalia vocals made it one of the scene's most extreme records.
3
Autobahn
Kraftwerk · 1974
It fully embraced electronic instrumentation and became the record that introduced electronic music to pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Go deeper

4
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk · 1970
Original release: Philips · 6305 058 · 12″ Vinyl · Germany 1970
The debut is free-form experimental rock, guitar, bass, drums, organ and flute run through tape echo and electronics, made before the classic quartet existed and before Kraftwerk had anything close…
5
Ege Bamyasi
Can · 1972
More accessible than Tago Mago but still deeply experimental, the album included the hit single "Spoon" and proved Can could fold its instant composition method into genuine pop sensibility without losing its edge.
6
Neu! 2
Neu! · 1973
Original release: Brain · BRAIN 1028 · 12″ Vinyl · Germany 1973
Half new material, half manipulated versions of existing tracks, the record was born from running out of studio money.
7
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream · 1974
Original release: Virgin · V 2010 · 12″ Vinyl · UK 1974
Their first release for Virgin Records reached the UK Top 15.

For the obsessed

8
Rubycon
Tangerine Dream · 1975
Original release: Virgin · Vinyl · Germany 1975
The follow-up to Phaedra reached the UK Top 20 with two side-long pieces built from sequenced synthesizers and Mellotron.
9
Trans-Europe Express
Kraftwerk · 1977
A concept album about train travel that perfected Kraftwerk's minimalist electronic pop.
10
The Man-Machine
Kraftwerk · 1978
With its constructivist cover art showing the quartet in matching red shirts and black ties, and its streamlined production, the album fixed Kraftwerk's visual and sonic template for good.

The stories behind every record are in German Krautrock.