re-up : TURZI live Paris Point Ephemere, 21.3.2006

I'm not sure the old lilnk was working.
If you're in krautrock or modern psychedelic rock, you have to know Turzi, whose 2nd album has just been released - I have not listened to it yet. More info on his MySpace I suppose. Great "modern" krautrock (but with the "old sound" we love), somewhere between Neu and Ash Ra Tempel, with an Agitation Free touch. Played live, it's very tense, there are not many bands that give such a psychedelic impression on scene.
Try this live show (imcomplete, I was late at the show!) here.

Et pour les copains de Paris, Turzi joue au Point FMR le 21 juin à la fête de la musique, même que c'est gratuit, à voir absolument!!

NURSE WITH WOUND, live Paris Trabendo 8.6.2007

What a crazy night... 15mn after PATTON / FENNESZ, it was NWW's turn. It is their first performance in France (and how many in the world from their beginning..? Maybe 10?). I must say that NWW was maybe the band that initiated me to "difficult" sounds 15 years ago. And, more recently, I discovered krautrock and its extraordiary word thanks to Steve Stapleton too.
In such a case, you're really afraid to be disappointed : I imagined Stapleton alone with samples and a mixer and nothing more. But it was far from that : a 10 meter long table with so many things that I cannot describe them (guitar, sound generators, toys, bikes etc... almost everything played live, except the drums), 4 guys (Stapleton, Collin Potter and??) + David Tibet singing on the first and last track, + legendary french underground musician Jac Berrocal singing his own track "Rock'n roll session".
In this 1 hour long performance, you'll find everything we like in NWW : gloomy atmospheres, threatening but sometimes funny sounds, industrial attacks and "groovy" kraut rythms. Extraordinary night (but my pirate tape may not translate the tension we had during the show).
Enjoy it here.

FENNESZ / PATTON, Live Paris Trabendo, 8.6.2007

(photo form another show)
Wouch!! I almost don't know Mike Patton, but one week after a live performance you'll find below, Fennesz made once again something different, and I confess Patton made some incredible and powerfull things just with his voice and some simple effect device. A little too short maybe (35mn), but perfect!!
You'll find this performance here.
Reminder for another FENNESZ collaboration posted in this blog : FENNESZ with SPARKLEHORSE link is still active, and it's a very good performance too.

MUSLIMGAUZE, Mort aux vaches

Honestly I'm a bit disappointed, you don't seem to be so many to want some "Mort aux vaches" albums...
So I may not share all the CDs I stated bellow, but I've begun the job, so... Here is the 1st.
The main problem with the MUSLIMGAUZE's is that it consists in one single track, sometimes it's excellent, sometimes so so, but of course it's hard with your CD to choose the track you'd like to listen and you have to listen to it as a whole. Even if I'm really not a specialist of MUSLIMGAUZE, I think his Mort aux vaches is one of his very good albums.
Can anyone help to say what the good albums are, among the 600 CD released..?
Anyway, for Mort aux vaches it's here.
(I could not find a larger picture, sorry...)

FENNESZ / TIM HECKER, Live in Nanterre, Maison de la musique, France - 1.6.2007

Two separate live performances. First PAN SONIC were planed before they cancel and were replaced by TIM HECKER.
I love TIM HECKER in studio, but I confess that it was a little boring on stage. On the contrary, I think the sound is good enough here to listen to it almost as a new lo-fi album, even if nothing here is really surprising for who knows his beautiful ambient laptop soundscapes. He played first.
Then, FENNESZ, once more, made a brand new live performance, I've seen him more than 10 times and each time it's different, and often outstanding. Here he plays guitar live and processes the sound with his laptop.
Try this here.

Other FENNESZ links are still ok, you'll find here :
1. Paris, Nouveau Casino, 17.12.2001
2. Paris, La Villette, 22.9.2004

If I look for it I may find older live performances but I'm not sure...

MAIN, Ligature remixes (1996?, electronic soundscapes)

By request.
A good introduction to MAIN's world, with some tracks that can be regarded as transition from his previous band LOOP. It's MAIN remixed by : Paul Kendall, Paul Schütze, Jim O'Rourke, and MAIN itself.
But I still prefer other real MAIN albums.
Enjoy it here.
And : I'm still waiting for your "votes" to work on my "Mort aux Vaches" series - see below. I've forgotten one I have : MUSLIMGAUZE (a good one). Thanks for your contribution, special thanks to those who already signed.

MAIN, Mort aux Vaches (2002, ambient electronica)

By request.
Honestly, I have not listened to this short Mort aux Vaches album enough to comment it fairly; all I can say is that it's not MAIN at its best in my opinion : too many "Fennesz-like computer disruptions" in it, I love it when it is FENNESZ, but in MAIN's music I'm not sure. For those who like ambient music, from TANGERINE DREAM's "Zeit" to SUNN O))) (yes!), try "Hz" before this one. It's MAIN's best effort, you'll find this outstanding double LP in an older post here.
Download MAIN's Mort aux Vaches here.

Maybe for the occasion I could share my other "Mort aux Vaches" CDs. I only have : Scanner (from a MD), Mitchell Akiyama, Tim Hecker, Troum, Oren Ambarchi (a must have!), Rger Rotor, Pan Sonic / Charlemagne Palestine, Zoviet France, Ryoji Ikeda, Stillupsteypa (last two I'm not sure...). Maybe some of you have more...
Anyone interested? Let's say that I need 10 votes to work on it if you don't mind...

Thanks for your attention.

ADD N TO (X), singles (1997/2002, electro rock)

I discovered ADD N TO (X) and PANASONIC the same year en 1997, and I confess it was a shock, and the beginning of a true passion for vintage synths - I bought a Korg MS20 immediatly after seeing them playing live...
Regularly, ADD N TO (X) have released rather good singles, apart from their always rejoincing LPs, sometimes containing surprising tracks. You'll find some of them (not all...) here : "Little Black Rocks In The Sun" (1997), a powerful 10 minutes industrial / pop tune, one of their best track in my opinion; "Metal Fingers In My Body" (1999) their "avant-hard" absolute hit; "Revenge Of The Black Regent" (1999), a good 4 tracks EP (2 are not on the LP); "Plug me in" (2000) that contains a good unreleased track; and "Take Me To Your Leader" (2002) from their last album.
If anyone has other EPs (particularly from their 2nd album "On the wire of our nerves") can he post it??
Find my EP selection here

Their live in Paris (Nouveau Casino, 25.10.2002) link is still working. Good live performance, their last in Paris before the end of the band!

20' to 2000 Raster-Noton series (electronica, 1999)

THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3RD LINK IS FIXED, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ALL NOW.
For collectors more than for difficult and minimalist electronic lovers, here are the 12 EP CDs (one per month) released by Raster-Noton in 1999 to celebrate the new century / millenium that was to come at the end of the year. Maybe you have some of them, maybe none, in any case it's interesting for those who love Pan SOnic / Ikeda / Pole etc...
Just one comment about this series : in my opinion some artists are really lazy here; if PanSonic Vainio and Vaisanen (Vaisanen first!) make a great job with very interesting vintage electronics, what about Ikeda with his 440Hz sine wave (divided in 99 tracks - against MP3..?), or the rather mediocre performances by Byetone, Noto or Komet. Brinkmann, COH, Senking and somehow Scanner tracks are ok.
Download this 12 CDs series in 4 parts (click on link) :
Komet / Ilpo Vaisanen / Ryoji Ikeda (Jan / Feb / Mar)
COH / Byetone / Senking (Apr / May / Jun)
Ester Brinkmann / Scanner / Noto (Jul / Aug / Sep)
Mika Vainio / Wolfgang Voigt / ELph (Oct / Noc / Dec)

Thanks for your attention.

CURRENT 93 / HOH, Island + The Nodding Folk

Another thing from the CURRENT 93 galaxy, in its "pop" area. "Island" the only "electronic" album made by David Tibets and his friends. Yes, it's BJORK you hear in the 1st track, but, fortunately, far enough in the mix, so it remains a CURRENT 93 track! You'll find there some of the most beautiful tunes made by C93 (the Dream of a Shadow of Smoke, Fields of Rape, To Blackened Earth...), but some others are hard to listen to in 2007 : old beat box and production don't help...
In "bonus", you'll find in my post a short EP, "The Nodding Folk", released (in 1993 maybe) with a comics paper that told the story of Tibet / Noddy in crazy psychedelic adventures. Two tracks, the 1st one "Children Of The Nodapoc Gathering Round" is a must have!
Download it here.

SPELL, Seasons in the Sun (60s' covers, 1994)

Thanks folks for all your encouraging comments, don't hesitate to add some others of course. To make it clear for the future here, I'll keep on posting some of my prefered krautrock albums (as a krautrock introduction for beginners), some good electronic / drone music, live performances and generally the music I like (even new wave and goth rock!). My goal is not to propose the rarest music like Mutant Sounds, nor an entire collection of rare (and not always good...) kraut like Out of Focus / Krauteam, but only things I like and often seem forgotten.

So here is the easy listening album Boyd Rice made aside from his noise industrial NON project. For this occasion Rose MacDowell (CURRENT 93) joined him, for a beautifull covers' album that I still have pleasure to listen to today. The ideal music for your summer, you'll listen to it in your garden, under a warm sun. And it's here.
More info about Boyd Rice discography on http://www.mutelibtech.com/non/discog.html.

WE WANT YOU

Before I go further, a question if you don't mind : what do you expect from this blog?

From the beginning, I've posted more and more krautrock, but I'm not sure it's my job to do that - "Out of Focus" and "Krauteam" know much more than me about kraut. So... I'm not sure this blog is still usefull, as my electronic, drone and other genre's posts don't seem to interest you much...

Please tell me before I go on... or stop!

Thanks!

AMON DUUL II, Vortex (1981, krautrock?)

By request.
In 1981, Renate Knaup and original members of A.D.II try to come back with songs in the vein of "Wolf City", an album I don't like much. Therefore, of course, I can't like this one, even if there's some rather good pop tracks there (like the opening instrumental). On the contrary, you'll find their worst, like "Wings on the wind", a song that no one will listen entirely I think... I'm really sad to end this AMON DÜÜL II series with such a deceptive album. Nevertheless, try it hereif you want.

What's next? An ASH RA TEMPEL discography maybe..? Anyone interested? Or maybe some vintage goth rock. Well, we'll see...

AMON DUUL II, Utopia (1973, krautrock)

By request. A side project with members of the jazz rock band UTOPIA, composed and released in the "Carnival in Babylon" / "Wolf City" area. Personnaly I don't like it too much, but some tracks are ok. It lacks some craziness of their debut albums, but many titles are well composed. So ok, it's a 5/10.
Download it here and say thanks!

COMETS ON FIRE, live in Paris, Point Ephemere, 23.5.2007

By request.
First performance in France for this incredible psychedelic noise band. A very good show, though I hoped guitarist Ben Chasney (from Six Organs of Admittance) would begin alone with his acoustic guitar; but no.
Recorded with my own mic, sound quality is correct, but don't ask too much... Anyway, everyone interested in psych and kraut should buy their "Blue Cathedral" (at least!).
Download this live performance here , then leave a comment.

AMON DUUL II, "Don't turn to stone" Alternative version (1978, krautrock)

I don't know where this version is from, but certainly not from de CD version of "Only Human". Rythm, guitars and voices seem the same, but the bass line changes and the mix is not the same. Who could tell us where it is from? Anyway, listen to this excellent groovy track here.

At last, here is my top of AMON DÜÜL2 official albums (click on link for Rapidshare downloads) :
1. Yeti
2. Phallus Dei
3. Carnival in Babylon
4. Tanz der Lemminge
5. Vive la trance
6. Wolf City
7. Made in Germany
8. Almost alive
9. Pyragony X
10. Only human
11. Hijack

What's yours?

AMON DUUL II, Only Human (1978, krautrock)

My last post for this AMON DÜÜL 2 series - for me the albums they made in the 80s / 90s are absolutely of no interest. I've stolen this one from OUT OF FOCUS, thanks to him. I will add later an alternative version of one track, definitely the best pop track of the later A.D's albums, "Don't turn too stone" (excellent!!).
For the rest, "Only Human" sounds strictly the same as "Almost Alive", though it might be a little weaker in its compositions. Only 3/10 for this last one you can download here.
For those who want to discover the band, I repeat, once more : go down in this page and try the albums before 1973!
I'm almost sad to end this series, as AMON DÜÜL was a major evolution in the way I listen to music. Discovering it at 25 was the same shock as listening to JOY DIVISION at 15 or SONIC YOUTH at 20... I hope you'll enjoy the same way.
Later, with the "Don't turn to stone" post, a reminder of the links and gradings of their entire official discography.

AMON DUUL II, Almost Alive (1977, krautrock)

"Almost alive", almost the last A.D's album I post here. Here, the best psychedelic band of the early 70s goes even further in its bizarre progressive pop tries; they often seem not to know where they're going, you can find suddenly a beautiful moment (Feeling Uneasy) following the worse (Live in Jericho)... Anyway, it's a very cool and soft pop, in sharp contrast with the punk music of the era. Somehow, I like it, but sometimes with a sense of humour I admit... And you? A 4/10 for me.
Try it here.

AMON DUUL II, Pyragony X (1976, krautrock)

For those who come for the 1st time on AMON DÜÜL, please forget this period and go down on this blog to download their first four albums.
From this one, it's a curious series of bizarre pop / kraut / prog tries; some tracks you can't hear, some very surprising, some are mixed of both. Here for instance, I really enjoy "Lost in Space" or "Crystal Hexagram". Anyway, their sound here has nothing in common with their 1st 3 years, what is easy to understand when you know that it's not really the same band any more, many original members are left and replaced but pop musicians, who have come with their own compositions...
Thanks to some tracks, I give a 4/10 (but be aware, some tracks are really shit, 0/10!!).
Will you dare..? It's here .

AMON DUUL II, Made in Germany (1975, krautrock)

Very ambitious concept / kraut album, often considered as the last A.D's creative effort before their ultimate fall, but deceptive too. Obviously, "Phallus Dei" or "Yeti" are very far now, but personnaly I really like it : you'll find there beautiful instrumental tracks and pop songs but, unfortunately, mixed with some others that are really not convincing. Nevertheless, to my ears it's a 5/10.
Download it here.
PS : please note that it's the full original double LP, a single LP was issued in some countries and for some re-editions.
PS2 : it's also their first awful artwork... and the last album where you hear their singer Renate Knaup.

AMON DUUL II, Hijack (1974, krautrock)

Certainly not recommended for the newcomer in kraut or A.D.'s world! It's by far the worst album the band made. Nothing is good in it, except - how is it possible - their best pop song "Traveller", a kind of classic to my ears. For the rest, it's only lazy 70s pop tunes and maladrwa production. Just boring! Of historical interest only!! I rate it 2/10.
If you're tempted, it's here.
For your information, the upload was made by OUT OF FOCUS, who never put the titles on the tracks. Find them on the artwork he's scanned for you. Thanks to OUT OF FOCUS.

AMON DUUL II, Vive la trance (1973, krautrock)

Hard to describe. A side may contain the best pop material A.D. made, with such strange and magical tracks as "A morning excuse" and "Jalousie". But, after the 6th track (the 1st on B side, "Apocalyptic Bore", still very good), the album turns to a very ordinary pop music, most tracks are of no interest at all. Alas, it's the beginning of A.D's fall, the worst is to come...
Rating : 8/10 for A side, 3/10 for B-side.
Find it here.

AMON DUUL II, Wolf City (1972, krautrock)

Recorded the same year as the magnificent "Carnival in Babylon" and considered by many as its direct follow up (it is said that both could have been gathered as a double LP), "Wolf City" is the 1st failure in A.D's discography in my opinion. The way Renate Knaup's voice is recorded is often too shrill, and on the whole the production is too clean to suit to A.D's sound (their craziness is far now). Nevertheless, you'll find there some beautiful tracks : "Green Bubble Raincoated man", "Jail House Frog" or "Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge" are among my favorite A.D. pop tunes. My rate for this one : 5/10.

Complete your collection here.

AMON DUUL II, Carnival in Babylon (1972, krautrock)

Consider this as a break after 3 different but very psychedelic and excessive albums, as the beginning of their "2nd period" : the tracks are shorter, much more melodic, this is a kind of pop/folk in the Bowie vein of the same era. At first I confess I was disappointed; but be patient and listen to it attentively, you may find (like I do) it's one of their best efforts, with lots of emotion. This is also the 1st time you hear so often the fascinating Renate Knaup. But... why is it so short!? I rate it 9/10.

Download it here and then buy it (we're still waiting for a remastered edition).

AMON DUUL II, Tanz der lemminge (1971, krautrock)

After the heavy psychedelic and distorted guitars of "Yeti", AMON DUUL II try transpose this formula with many and varied instruments, such as 12-strings guitars, sitar, horn, synths, organs etc... But of course in some tracks you'll find those heavy guitars and fabulous "circular" bass you've loved in "Yeti". Like me, you may find some tracks a little boring, like the "Chasmin soundtrack" and, the 1st time you hear it, the 1st track. But some are particularly exciting, most of all the fabulous (even if repetitive) last track.
Less improvised than their first efforts, this album appears as a transition towards their pop/folk/kraut albums to come. My personal rating : a 7/10.
Download the remastered version there.
And of course, if you like it don't hesitate to buy it, the digipack edition is beautiful and cheap!

AMON DUUL II, Yeti (1970, krautrock)

Best album in my opinion, an incredible psychedelic trip, in comparison THE GREATFUL DEAD seem a classic blues / folk band. If you know nothing about kraut, a good album to begin with. But 8 days in april blog, who has uploaded the album, describes it better than me : "This is Krautrock in all it's immense, epic, primal, psychedelic glory. Originally released as two LP's, this features side-long suites and long improvisations marked by a dense, thick sound with inventive instrumental interplay, massive guitar riffs, herculean bass lines and smoldering vocals, male and female. At first listen some of the long improvisations at the end may seem a little too long, but they grow on you."
In my opinion, 10/10!

If you're ready to try it, go there (I don't know which version it is as I was not the uploader, but you have to know that the REPERTOIRE re-edition is far better than the 1st CD editions)
And, of course, IF YOU LIKE IT, YOU BUY IT!

AMON DUUL II, Phallus Dei (1969, krautrock)

Even if I think that every one interested in psych rock should buy at least one AMON DÜÜL's album, I could'nt help sharing all of them. So here starts an AMON DÜÜL II series, I will upload all the official albums, what it's no use for kraut & psych freaks who already owne all of them (I suppose).

At first, their incredible "Phallus Dei", that appears to my ears as a "pre-SONIC YOUTH" album (same strange chords with bizarre distorted guitar), though it's much crazier. Not the easiest way to enter the A.D.'s world. The sound seems a bit amateurish, but it's a good thing : it mixes rock elements with tribal drums and shouts, to the best. Highly recommended (I'd give a 9/10).

Here you'll find the remastered version (re-edited by REPERTOIRE), without the bonus tracks. YOU LIKE IT, YOU BUY IT.

DEUTER, Celebration / Haleakala (1976/77, ambient krautrock)

Back to kraut.
After his second album "Aum" (his best in my opinion), Georg DEUTER moved to India, the country he seemed to dream of when making his music.
Here are the first 2 recordings he produced there; logically, they are even more meditative than "Aum", but, maybe because they are not so richly textured, because they are more abstract and also sound brighter, they are not so touching, though still fascinating (especially "Haleakala"). They are considered a new step towards "new age" music, but are far better than its cliché.
Two CDs in one file that you'll find here.

SETI, Pharos (1995, ambient electronica)

After the incredible TERRE THAEMLITZ album previously posted, another item from the "Instinct Ambient" label (and its awful artworks). Very good floating electronics, meditative and sweat melodies. Not to be confused with Lagowski's S.E.T.I.
Two CDs : 1st here and 2nd here.

UNIT, Hello my name is (electronica)

End of UNIT downloads, with this first EP, a good introduction to its follower, NARCOLEPTIC SYMPHONY.

Try it here

UNIT, I care here to tell you how it's going to begin (2004, electronica)

Back again, sorry for being so long, and thanks for your very appreciated comments.

Here is the 2nd album by UNIT. By far not so interesting as his first, though it contains some interesting tracks. I was told that UNIT is preparing a new album that could be released on WARP. To be confirmed of course.

Download it here
(no artwork found)

UNIT, The Narcoleptic Symphony (1999, electronica)

1st "electronica" post. UNIT made 2 LPs and 1 EP of very good ambiant electronica, a kind of melodic and minimalist AUTECHRE that is easier to listen to, by far. But not as good, in my opinion.

Try it here

Comments are always highly recommended, as I may feel that this blog is no use and stop... Thank you.

CLASSIC EXPERIMENTAL MOVIES ON THE WEB

Take a look at Brothers Quay, Patrick Bokanowski, Alejandro Jodorowski, Gaspar Noé and more posted at http://merzboy-goes-conceptual.blogspot.com/, who makes a great job.

BRAINTICKET, Celestial Ocean (1973, krautrock)

3rd album by Brainticket, a band that made 3 freaky albums in the early 70s, before re-emerging in the 80s with very different but interesting ambiant recordings. Celestial Ocean is probably the strangest, the most interesting but also the most pretentious, and may contain some irritant tracks. But it's full of inventions and is really worth trying for those who love Pink Floyd-styled krautrock.
Download it here .

It's the last krautrock album posted here for several weeks, I've tried to post the best I have. I'll try in the next days an "electronica" section (1995/2005). But feel free to ask, if I have albums you want I'll post them.

Thanks.

SAND, Ultrasonic Seraphim (1974, krautrock, re-up)

Finally, here is the link to download the entire demo album included in the CD version of Ultrasonic Seraphim. Don't be to tough when a link or a file seems corrupted and just say it...
Thanks.

DEUTER, first 2 albums (1971/72, ambiant krautrock)

Very good debut album from Georg DEUTER, made in his in home studio (rare at this time), and his second, "Aum", is even better and is one of my favorite krautrock albums (I'll make a top 20 list, I hope you'll make yours).
From the Crack in the Cosmic Egg encyclopedia : "Deuter was amongst the earliest of multi-instrumental soloists in Germany. Because of his talent for always embracing new musical forms, and especially combining the new and the old, Deuter was always at the pioneering forefront in new musical forms (...) With an instrumentation including guitars, sitar, organ, harmonium, Asian and Oriental percussives, etc., his debut "D" was a mixture of psychedelic underground rock (hinting at early Amon Düül II), cosmic music (akin to Klaus Schulze) and ethnic fusion (Between and Popol Vuh realms), though not all at the same time, but in varying quantities, being constantly an album of surprises. AUM contrasted somewhat, in that much of the rock aspect was dropped, in favour of atmosphere, being a more mysterious collage of shorter pieces, with lots of percussion, sound effects and echo-guitar. Sometimes akin to Achim Reichel, it had a magical quality, balancing melodic and more experimental musics.

Find "D" here and "AUM" there

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME

RE-UPS

COVERS Vol.2 (special french edition) is available there. Be quick before it's deleted again.

Thanks for comments.

SAND, Ultrasonic Seraphim (1974, krautrock)

This is the album I discovered krautrock with, just before ASH RA TEMPEL's "Seven Up", AMON DÜÜL 2's "Yeti" and AGITATION FREE's "Malesh" - what an initiation...
I confess it was a real shock, it's a fabulous album that contains fascinating and beautiful "songs", with apocalyptic lyrics I love. Listen to the mystical "Sarah", repeating endlessly : "Is it you Sarah? / No, it's the stoooorm". Aaarrggghh, fabulous, listen to that voice!!! Don't be afraid of the repetitiveness that appears first, it really sounds hypnotic when you pay attention to it.

But The Crack in the Comisc Egg book explains it better than me : "Notable for being produced by Klaus Schulze, and also the unique creation of combining cosmic synthesizer, folk and rock musics, sans drums or any conventional instrumental structures, GOLEM is a mystical album rich with the creative spirit of the era. A little hint of Pink Floyd here and there, and obvious Schulze influence, are the only references I could quote as pointers. A really trippy album, with swirling string-synthesizers, cosmic electronics, beyond the nether regions of cosmic Witthüser+Westrupp. Magic!"

Here you'll find the entire original album, and there the demos album (with 2 long and rather borring tracks, but the version of "Sarah" is better than the album's, and and there's this magic "Desert Storm"), I consciously don't share the whole CD re-issued by NURSE WITH WOUND and CURRENT93 (thanks!), that contains more bonus material, some of which is pretty good. It's really worth buying it if you like it.

Pour les copains français, j'ajoute qu'il faut ABSOLUMENT charger cet album, à l'ambiance de désert brulant, dont au moins 3 titres sont définitivement magiques, à l'écoute desquels on sort transformé : Helicopter, Sarah et Desert Storm. Pas le plus facile sans doute, mais meilleur kraut "de tous les temps".

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!

HARMONIA 76, Tracks&Traces (1976, ambiant krautrock)

HARMONIA is considered one of the finest example of krautrock, asides the likes of CAN, KRAFTWERK, NEU, CLUSTER. When you know HARMONIA was composed by members of NEU and CLUSTER it's not a surprise its style is pretty similar to theirs, with more space in it.
"HARMONIA 76" is HARMONIA+BRIAN ENO, and is even spacier. ENO also worked in the same period with CLUSTER and would bring this inspiration to DAVID BOWIE for his "german period" in a more rock-oriented style.

Enjoy "Tracks& Traces" here

AGITATION FREE, Malesh (1972, krautrock)

Malesh is one of the first 5 albums I've discovered krautrock with. It's an absolute classic and really fits for a beginning, if you've heard about krautrock but don't know what it is or hesitate before trying, as it's easy to listen to. It's krautrock for everyone, space tracks and groovy tunes that taste really good, a kind of PINK FLOYD with more rythms.
I couldn't help sharing it as it seems not to be on other blogs (but I can be wrong).
Try it here

THE SUPREME DICKS, 2 albums (1994/1996, lo-fi krautrock-like)

I know nothing about this band (what an amazing name!) but I've found this on the web : "The Supreme Dicks were among the most intriguing followers of the aesthetics that equates "creative" and "primitive". The kind of drunk, dissonant folk music of their debut evolved towards the avantgarde and psychedelia on The Emotional Plague (1996), an ambitious work that resorted to sparse, dilated and warped structures."
Every kraut freak (but not only!) should try, there's a kind of vintage Ash Ra Tempel's touch here. Both albums, especially "The Emotionnal Plague", contain many beautiful moments, it's a curiosity I recommend absolutely.

Get "The Emotional Plague" (1996) here
and "Workingman's Dick" (1994) here

Thanks to Bertrand without whom I wouldn't know this odd band.

2 KRAUTROCK MASTERPIECES FOUND ON THE WEB

Before the links are dead...

In my opinion, GURU GURU's "Kan-Guru" is their best album and a good start in true krautrock, with their typical "Hendrixian" touch in the guitar playing style (crazy noises, very weird treatment). It's more accessible than their debut "Ufo" (a kind of pre- TRHOBBING GRISTLE) and more exciting than they made later (they've turned to jazz rock). One track appeared in my "Krautrock for beginners 4".
You'll find the entire album here (thanks to De Musica Alterque).

DZYAN's "Electric Silence" is a very strange experience, hard to describe in english. It's one those crazy and exciting albums that krautrock bands were capable of, mixing eastern influences with space rock, jazz with experimental noises. As quoted on "Crack in the cosmic" boo, "ELECTRIC SILENCE was even more out on a limb, bringing weird avant-garde elements together with jazz, rock and various ethnic musics; all together in an extreme melting pot of styles, ideas and fertile imagination. Running from free-jazz through medieval cum raga-rock (cf. Third Ear Band) and intense rock improvisation it is indeed one of the landmarks in experimental rock".
A must have you can get here.
If you like it, try the first 2 albums, even if they are more jazz-oriented (thanks to De Musica Alterque).
S/T here
Time Machine here

KRAUTROCK FOR BEGINNERS, 5 V/A + artworks

Here, you'll find artworks like this one for your "KRAUTROCK FOR BEGINNERS" CDs (if you made some), thanks to Gael who made a great job.

Once again, here are the links for the first 5 compilations - tracklists further in this blog.

Vol. 1 : "SOME OTHER GROOVES" here
Vol. 2 : "DARK SIDE BLACK LIGHT" here
Vol. 3 : "CLASSIC & TIMELESS" here
Vol. 4 : "PSYCHEDELIC TUNES" here
Vol. 5 : "SPACE IS THE PLACE" here

Merci Gael!

SOME GOOD COVERS, vol.2 (special french edition)

For this occasion, a selection of pretty good french pop tracks, some of which have gained an international success (but much of them are local hits only. Try them!)
1/9 : Rectangle - 2001 version by JACNO, original JACNO (1982?)
2/10 : Joe le Taxi - cover by HANAYO, original VANESSA PARADIS
3/11 : 3è Sexe - cover by MISS KITTIN, original INDOCHINE
4/12 : Nouvelle Vague - cover by STEREO TOTAL, original RICHARD ANTHONY
5/13 : Une histoire de plage - cover by SONOKO, original BRIGITTE BARDOT
6/14 : Les amours perdues - cover by ELYSIAN FIELDS, original SERGE GAINSBOURG
7/15 : Tes états d'âme Eric - live cover by SEBASTIEN TELLIER, original LUNA PARKER
8/16 : Jet'm - cover by EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN, original (Je t'aime... moi non plus) by SERGE GAINSBOURG & JANE BIRKIN

Try this selection here

NB :
- "3è sexe" by MISS KITTIN begins in a rude cut, it's the only version I've found.
- STEREO TOTAL, as you may know, made dozens of covers, almost all of them are recommended.
- The real original version of "Je t'aime..." is by SERGE GAINSBOURG & BRIGITTE BARDOT, but I prefer this one.

NB2 : COMMENTS PLEASE, if someone is interested and listen to these "covers" compilation; it's a lot of work for me, 3 or 4 more selections are ready, but OF COURSE IF NO ONE IS INTERESTED I STOP. Thanks.

LEGENDARY PINK DOTS, Live in Nantes, France, 2.12.1992

From the SOUND DESK, recorded on tape (very good sound quality, but some tracks are cut)
Track list :
1. City of needles
2. Ghosts of unborn children
3. Stichting time
4. Evolution
5. Wild life estate
6 Zero zero
7 Encore une fois
8 Maniac
9 Windows on the world
10 We bring the day (short version)
11 Poppy Day
12 Just a lifetime
13 The death of Jack the Ripper
14 Disturbance

Every one who is interested in psych music (and bizarre electronic music, as they are a kind of krautrock band in the 80s/90s) should absolutely know this crazy band; there are considered an underground classic now, but never gained an international success. Maybe because they have produced too much - we're lost in the jungle of their albums (how many? 50? a lot more, if the side projects are included?). Maybe because they were associated to gothic rock, what obviously they were not!
This live recording is from their "Malachai" tour, one of their best period in my opinion, they were at a peak in creativity as you may here in the psychedelic tunes "City of needles" or "Evolution", and made some really moving songs ("Ghosts of unborn children", Poppy Day"). So... try it and enjoy.

I split it in 2 PARTS (duration : 90') :
1st part here
2nd part here

At last, a message to their fans : I have a video from this performance, recorded on VHS. If someone wants it, tell me how I can put it in the computer and make RAR files, I know nothing about video! Thanks!

SOME GOOD COVERS, vol.1

TrackList :
1/9 : Kathleen - cover by TINDERSTICKS, original TOWNES VAN ZANDT
2/10 : Ziggy Stardust - cover by BAUHAUS, original DAVID BOWIE
3/11 : I started a joke - cover by LOW, original BEE GEES
4/12 : Hells Bells - cover DANDY WARHOLS, original AC/DC
5/13 : Angel - cover by CHRISTIAN DEATH, original JIMMI HENDRIX
6/14 : Don't talk - cover by FENNESZ, original BEACH BOYS
7/15 : These foolish things - cover by BRYAN FERRY, original FRANCK SINATRA
8/16 : I've been losing you - cover by RE-MODEL (myself), original A-HA

Comments :
Of course many of these songs and the cover versions you may know, but I couldn't help assembling them in a single list. There may be between 5 and 10 of these compilations if you like this. I'll put in some of them my own home made covers, recorded and mixed on GarageBand, sung by my dear friend Ketty. Don't hesitate to comment it, even if you find it awful.

This 1st compilation here

Thanks for your comments, they can help.