Forty years after its invention, one of the most important German cultural accomplishments, the rather inappropriately coined krautrock genre, is back in the limelight. With epicentres in Berlin and Düsseldorf, German bands like Amon Düül, Ash Ra Tempel, Tangerine Dream and many more redefined the DNA of psych and rock, employing elements of new age, electronica and ambient into their sets. A far cry from easy listening – luckily we have Kirk to guide us through some essential recordings. Part one of his special on krautrock covers the years from 1969 to 1973.
