19 - Krautrock Today

Summary

Although Krautrock music is most often categorised geographically and historically, the increasing availability of Krautrock records offers the conditions for a broad contemporary listenership. Given this accessibility of canonical Krautrock to audiences outside of 1960s and 1970s West Germany, this chapter observes a pan-European and even intercontinental production of Krautrock today. Having briefly identified relevant musical aspects of canonical Krautrock outputs, this chapter turns to contemporary Krautrock bands operating in Germany before then addressing related musicians across continental Europe, Britain, and the Americas. The chapter also considers biographical detail and the interactions of contemporary bands with prominent early Krautrockers, who themselves endorse the ongoing production of Krautrock as a contemporary, global musical practice.