KRAUTROCK - MUSIC FOR YOUR BRAIN

This 6 CD boxset is simply awsome. Despite the fact, that this is just compilation, I must confess that this is the best compilation ever made. Krautrock is a term that somehow loosely defines German groups in general. You can find here psychedelic rock, hard rock, jazz rock, electronic music and mix of everything that makes 70's so great.

The mood of this 6 CDs is exceptional. Each variation of krautrock is here although some great band are missing (Amon Duul II), this is the best start for a newbie to krautrock. The duration of this cca 8 hours' of music allow to add here some very long tracks, so not only commercial songs were chosen.

Great compilation - if you want to know what krautrock means, try this. A masterpiece of compilations.

AN INCREDIBLE TREASURE-TROVE

Did you think Germans couldn't rock? Think again! I must admit, in 1970s Belgium (where I grew up) German rock wasn't taken seriously. Most music collectors were infatuated with British and North American acts. Germans were known almost exclusively for cheesy ballads - so-called Schlagers. Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" did make it to the radio, but most listeners saw it as a novelty number.

Some prog-rock fans were aware, though, of the existence of German symphonic bands like Jane and Novalis. I'm glad to say that their best-known tunes are included in this highly generous collection. If you've never heard Novalis's "Wer Schmetterlinge lachen hört" or Jane's "Windows", you can't call yourself a fully-fledged sympho-freak! (Jane's lead vocals are unbearable, but their playing is hot.) German "cosmic music" also had plenty of devotees in the Low Countries, but I must admit the genre never appealed to me. Sure enough, the 23 minutes of Klaus Schulze included here are 23 minutes wasted (though it's fascinating to discover that our Klaus prefigured the opening section of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond").

Some prog reviewers think compilation albums are silly, but I've always enjoyed box sets and anthologies of all kinds, and this inexpensive collection (six discs of more than 79 minutes each!) has been a real eye-opener. I bought it as a general introduction, to find out which German acts are worth exploring in detail, and I haven't been disappointed.

True, not all of the music here corresponds to what Prog Archives calls Krautrock. There are quite a few tracks by bands that play what would now be called 'Classic Rock'. Most of them seem strongly influenced by the likes of the Free, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Santana. Some of those tracks (e.g. Weed's "Sweet Morning Light", Lucifer's Friend's "Lucifer's Friend" and Topas' "Hurricane") are gonzoid hardrock you won't catch me playing a second time!

On the other hand, wonderful acts like Os Mundi, Embryo, Professor Wolfff, Hölderlin, Odin, Yatha Sidra, Cluster, Faust, Harmonia, Gomorrha, Sperrmuell, Epitaph, Birth Control, Can, Guru Guru and Grobschnitt provide so much excitement I'm truly glad I bought this set. Make no mistake - there's many, many hours of listening pleasure here. Oh, I know some of 1970s Germany's most important bands are missing (Amon Düül II for example) but in fact a second 6-CD set has now appeared.

Meanwhile, for starters, give yourself a treat! If classic German rock is new to you, you won't regret acquiring this collection.

I took advantage of a longer train ride to listen to this 6CD collection(8 hours). First remark, even so the term Krautrock is used in a more or less wider meaning, I would change the title Krautrock, Music For Your Brain (kind of a pun, the majority of the tracks coming from the Brain label) to German Rock 1969 to1977 to be more explicit. The compilation has a strong accent on Heavy Prog, about half of the compilation with Jane (having the biggest slice with about 50 minutes) Lucifer's Friend, Eloy (early phase) King Ping Meh, Curly Curve, Birth Control, Scorpions, and Weed (with Ken Hensley) A good idea to introduce two of the German Proto Rock bands, The Rattles and Wonderland (both counting the German Rock godfather Achim Reichel among their members) and two bestselling singles The Witch and Moscow. The symphonic side is presented by Grobschnitt and Novalis and the electronic side by one long Klaus Schulze track The Düsseldorf connection is presented by La Düsseldorf, Harmonia and Cluster; the experimental side by Can and Faust; the jazz Rock side by Embryo and Kraan. and the R&B side by Atlantis and Randy Pie. (Atlantis released an excellent live record, that is presented here with one track. Only a couple of German sung tracks : two by Grobschnitt, and one each by Novalis, Hölderlin and Prof.Wolff.(my major discovery on this boxset) An excellent idea to introduce some of the lesser known bands like Cravinkel, Os Mundi, Lava, Sperrmüll, Gomorrha and Odin. Under the line a good compilation that gives a good overview over German Rock of the 70's with a strong accent on the Heavy Prog side.