Future Days: Krautrock and the Building of Modern Germany

Future Days examines the emergence and impact of Krautrock, the experimental music movement that arose in West Germany during the late 1960s and 1970s. Through interviews and extensive research, David Stubbs chronicles the key bands of the era including Kraftwerk, Can, Neu!, Faust, and Tangerine Dream. The book places the music within the context of post-war Germany's economic miracle, student protests, and efforts to forge a new cultural identity separate from the Nazi past. Stubbs documents how these musicians rejected both American rock conventions and German folk traditions to create entirely new forms of electronic and experimental music. The narrative follows the scene from its origins in avant-garde art circles through its peak years and eventual influence on later genres from post-punk to techno. Technical details about the innovative recording techniques and equipment are balanced with portraits of the personalities and relationships that shaped the movement. This history reveals how Krautrock embodied Germany's complex relationship with modernity and its struggle to imagine new possibilities for the future. The book demonstrates the deep connections between musical innovation and national identity during times of social transformation.

Readers appreciate the book's deep research and cultural context connecting Krautrock to post-war German society. Many note it serves as both a music history and social commentary on Germany's reconstruction period. Liked: - Detailed coverage of bands beyond Can and Kraftwerk - Analysis of political and social factors - Personal interviews with musicians - Specific musical descriptions and analysis Disliked: - Dense, sometimes meandering writing style - Too much focus on historical context vs. the music itself - Limited discussion of lesser-known bands - Some factual errors in band chronologies One reader called it "informative but exhausting," while another praised its "ambitious scope in connecting the dots between art, politics and music." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (389 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (54 ratings) LibraryThing: 4.2/5 (21 ratings) Multiple reviews note it works better as a reference book than a cover-to-cover read.

All Gates Open: The Story of Can by Irmin Schmidt A detailed history of the pioneering German band Can explores their experimental methods, cultural impact, and connections to post-war German society.

Kraftwerk: Publication by David Buckley The chronicle tracks Kraftwerk's evolution from their Krautrock origins through their transformation of electronic music and lasting influence on pop culture.

Julian Cope Presents Krautrocksampler by Julian Cope The book functions as both a guide to essential Krautrock albums and a personal narrative of the music's impact on European counter-culture.

Rock in the Eastern Bloc by Timothy W. Ryback The examination reveals how rock music shaped youth culture and political dissent in East Germany and other Eastern European nations during the Cold War.

No Wave: Post-Punk Underground New York 1976-1980 by Thurston Moore, Byron Coley The documentation links the experimental German music scene to New York's avant-garde movement through shared artistic approaches and cultural rebellion.

🎸 While "Krautrock" began as a derogatory British term for German experimental music, many German musicians eventually embraced it, seeing it as a way to create a uniquely German sound separate from Anglo-American rock traditions. 🎼 The book explores how bands like Kraftwerk, Can, and Tangerine Dream emerged from the rubble of post-WWII Germany, representing a conscious break from the country's past and a vision of a new technological future. 🌟 David Stubbs was a staff writer for the influential British music magazine Melody Maker and has written extensively about experimental music, including works on Jimi Hendrix and Prince. 🎹 Many of the musicians featured in the book came from classical and avant-garde backgrounds rather than traditional rock, with several members of Can having studied under prominent experimental composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. 🎧 The influence of Krautrock extends far beyond Germany, inspiring artists like David Bowie (particularly during his Berlin period), Radiohead, and countless electronic music producers.