KVR Audio

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:36 pm

I'm currently coding a sound libary for a synth with a sequencer.

In this synth, I have a good load of sequences reminiscent of old German bands like Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Ash Ra Tempel and the likes. This synth has also 'categories' naming possibilities and database system with criterias so that the user can filter the sounds when browsing the library.

SOOooooooo what I'd like to know is if 'KrautRock' would be the right name for this category. I collect a lot of old music magazines and I have one especially related to all these German scene, and in this magazine its called KrautRock. I also remeber that I saw this name in old NME or Melody Maker issues that I collect a bit also. ( harder to find in France )

Or would this name be seen as offensive by some German people ? ( the reason of my post actually ) And in this case what could be an alternative name for this category of sequences ?

Please only answer if you have some lights, or are interested, on this particular era of music, or are German AND have some insight on that era. Or are German and have something to say about ' KRAUTROCK '

Thanks in advance.

LtZ

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:43 pm

Lotuzia wrote:I'm currently coding a sound libary for a synth with a sequencer.

In this synth, I have a good load of sequences reminiscent of old German bands like Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Ash Ra Tempel and the likes.

If those bands are the main inspirations, I would rather use the term "Berlin School"

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:11 pm

Numanoid wrote:
Lotuzia wrote:I'm currently coding a sound libary for a synth with a sequencer.

In this synth, I have a good load of sequences reminiscent of old German bands like Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Ash Ra Tempel and the likes.
If those bands are the main inspirations, I would rather use the term "Berlin School"

Thanks. Seems a good alternative name

Isnt it a bit restrictive ? I mean did all these bands came from Berlin ?

Also, if you're German, Numanoid, did you hear the term ' Krautrock ' before ? Or was it used only in UK, France etc at that time ?

ZenPunkHippy · Post by **ZenPunkHippy** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:17 pm

AFAIK "Berlin" School has a very distinctive meaning, related to music that is more synth / electronica influenced (Tangerine Dream etc.). "Kraut Rock" encompasses a much wider variety, from Wikipedia:

Key artists associated with the tag include Can, Amon Düül II, Ash Ra Tempel, Faust, Popol Vuh, Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Neu!, and Kraftwerk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krautrock

The term is used regularly on 2 local radio stations here in Melbourne, and I'm pretty sure the announcers would not be using it if the term was offensive in some way.

Peace,
Andy.

sprnva · Post by **sprnva** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:24 pm

When I hear "Berlin School" I think techno. The city has just become so synonymous with it over the last couple of decades.

Like it or not (Jaki Liebezeit doesn't) Krautrock is how the genre has became internationally known. Plus there were major acts that were not from Berlin (Faust and Kraftwerk come to mind). And of course Faust even released a track called Krautrock.

robotmonkey · Post by **robotmonkey** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:31 pm

I'd say krautrock is spot on as this was the term given by the brits in the 70's. At first it was a derogatory term but the German bands actually liked it.

Berlin School on the other hand is more specific term that denotes the newer German electronic music (like Pete Namlook etc).

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:43 pm

Lotuzia wrote:Isnt it a bit restrictive ? I mean did all these bands came from Berlin ?

Also, if you're German, Numanoid, did you hear the term ' Krautrock ' before ? Or was it used only in UK, France etc at that time ?

All the band you mention have their genesis in Berlin.

Krautrock is a very wide term. Berlin School is a term that refers to the pulsating sequencer driven music that maybe Klaus Schulze 70's records are the best example of, but also of course TD and Ashra/Manuel Göttsching too.

Berlin School is not the same as techno, as Berlin School came to be in the 70's

The term Berlin School is not like "champagne" that it can only be played by artists in Berlin. That distinct sound came to be in Berlin, but is now made by artists all over the world.

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:44 pm

robotmonkey wrote:Berlin School on the other hand is more specific term that denotes the newer German electronic music (like Pete Namlook etc).

That's not correct at all, read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Sch ... onic_music

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:52 pm

sprnva wrote:Like it or not (Jaki Liebezeit doesn't) Krautrock is how the genre has became internationally known.

I understand Liebezeit's dislike for the term, becaue it is more or less grouping all bands from germany in the same category just because of their nationality. Jane and Kraftwerk are often put in the Krautrock folder, but sound completely different.

It would be like in Germany if they called all English music from the 70's "Chippyrock" (after fish'n'chips) or maybe "Rosbeefrock"

nasenmann · Post by **nasenmann** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:17 pm

"Krauts" just sounds cute and almost affectionate these days. Most germans should've heard the krautrock term before, though far less know what it really is.

No worries.

(Berlin School might actually be less descriptive because most people would be first to think of the electro Berlin is known for today...)

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:22 pm

nasenmann wrote:(Berlin School might actually be less descriptive because most people would be first to think of the electro Berlin is known for today...)

"Most people" where not necessarily born yesterday

I find it kind of weird that so many of the posts in this thread is unfamilar with the 70's Berlin School, for those who have listened for some time to electronic music "Berlin School" is like one of the foundations that everything rests on.

But from a sales perspective, the term "Krautrock" is probably easier to market for a sound lib.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:26 pm

Numanoid wrote:
nasenmann wrote:(Berlin School might actually be less descriptive because most people would be first to think of the electro Berlin is known for today...)
"Most people" where not necessarily born yesterday

I find it kind of weird that so many of the posts in this thread is unfamilar with the 70's Berlin School, for those who have listened for some time to electronic music "Berlin School" is like one of the foundations that everything rests on.

But from a sales perspective, the term "Krautrock" is probably easier to market for a sound lib.

Thnaks to all

Helps me a lot. ( And makes me think that the question at least deserved to be asked )

Its not the whole library btw. Just a category of presets inside the factory library.

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:30 pm

Berlin School is minimal electronic music, Krautrock is rock music with electronic psychedelic influences.

As a German I HATE the term Krautrock but I wouldn't call it insulting, either.

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:59 pm

I'd call it "Ambiente - Berlin School".

These bands were often called "New Age" but this is a quite confusing term as it implies something spiritual/religious...

Ja.x · Post by **Ja.x** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:05 pm

For what it matters, in the late 60's/early 70's, some people in Germany defined the Tangerine Dream sound as "Kosmische Musik"; naturally including Schultze, etc. Hope it helps.

KrautRock ?