Released by the Groenland label to tie in with the book of the same name by Rüdiger Esch, this is essentially a musical snapshot of one of Germany’s major cities between 1969 and 1986. As such, it’s neither a complete history of Krautrock (other cities also produced krautrock legends, such as Can from Cologne) but nor is it just tied down to that particular genre. It charts not just the Cosmische Musik but also those it inspired both inside and outside the city. So as well as the familiar motoric drum beat there are some more varied moments - Wolfgang Riechmann’s Pink Floyd-esque ‘Wunderbar’ for example, or the electro-stomp of ‘Los Ninos Del Parque’ by Liaisons Dangereuses.
The album closes with possibly the most surprising track, a downbeat cover of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s ‘Electricity’. Performed in this way by MakroSoft you could absolutely believe that it had originated in Kling Klang Studios rather than in the bedroom of two spotty teenagers from the Wirral. It brings the whole thing full circle and adds a nice touch of closure to the project.
Overall the record is well sequenced and stands on its own as a good document of the music and the scene in Dusseldorf.
If you were hoping to read the book to go with it (as I was) then you’d best have more than an elementary knowledge of German as there is currently no English translation planned (I wonder if we can find an enterprising publisher to take it on…?). Even without the book the record is worth owning – you can buy it from 10th October via Norman Records
Russell @TheDJCull
8/11
