Julian Cope’s mini-history of krautrock was first published in 1995 and has subsequently become as elusive as an original vinyl copy of Harmonia’s
Deluxe; the book is long out-of-print, and the singer/author claims to have no plans to rectify that any time soon. But the value of
Krautrocksampler in early-internet days—and as a useful reference tool ever since—should not be underestimated. Back when finding an Amon Düül II record seemed like an impossible dream, Cope wasn’t just describing how this music sounded, he was also telling folkloric tales about how these bands formed and blew apart his teenage mind. The writing style is enthusiastic to say the least, with lots of odd capitalization and stream-of-consciousness thoughts slapped straight onto the page. Such flourishes are encapsulated in his catch-all description of krautrock in the introduction: “...a kind of Pagan Freakout LSD Explore-the-god-in-you-by-working-the-animal-in-you Gnostic Odyssey.”
Cope’s unabashed ardor for the genre is infectious, and it mirrors both the humor and the unhinged freak-outs that are often ingrained in the music itself. It’s a slender volume, but Krautrocksampler covers a huge swath of territory. The importance of the Monks and Stockhausen are noted; notorious Ohr Records boss Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser is a recurrent, and sometimes derided, figure; the impact of krautrock on the Sex Pistols and David Bowie is examined; and the major figureheads (Neu!, Can, Faust, etc.) get a chapter each. Some of the stories may feel familiar now, but few other writers have been able to add comparable dashes of wit and vigor to the story of Ash Ra Tempel’s involvement with Timothy Leary or the original Neu! split. –Nick Neyland
