Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"Calling Crout Rock a genre of music is like calling cheese a genre of milk." — Carolyn Adalgo
"The German youth were disgusted both by what the previous generation had done in their country's name and by the slaughter of a Vietnamese people being perpetrated at the command of the American military." — Marcus Parks
"We're the youth of 1968. And after the legacy our parents left us, we deserve better. So we'll make it better. We'll jumpstart a society we can be proud of." — Carolyn Adalgo (paraphrased ideology of Amon Düül)
The episode delves into the origins and context of "Crout Rock," a term used to describe a loose collection of German experimental bands from the 1960s and 70s. The hosts and guest emphasize that it's less a genre and more a descriptor for a unique cultural phenomenon. The narrative begins by framing the post-World War II German landscape, where a generation born into the shadow of the Nazi regime sought to forge a new cultural identity. This involved a rebellion not only against the immediate past but also against the prevailing musical trends from Britain and America, aiming for a sound that was distinctly German.
The discussion highlights the societal and political pressures that fueled this movement. German youth were deliberately disconnected from their recent history, with open discussion of the Nazi era and its atrocities being taboo. This societal silence, coupled with a desire to create something entirely new, led to a fertile ground for experimentation in music. The episode touches upon earlier German innovators in electronic music like Karlheinz Stockhausen, laying the groundwork for the avant-garde sounds that would follow. Key bands such as Can, Kraftwerk, Amon Düül, and Tangerine Dream are identified as pivotal figures in this developing scene.
The episode further explores the socio-political climate of West Germany in the 1960s, detailing the student protests and the general unrest that mirrored similar movements worldwide. Events like the Schwabing riots and the shootings of Benno Ohnesorg and Rudi Dutschke are presented as catalysts for increased activism and a questioning of authority. This environment directly influenced the ethos of Crout Rock, which, while not overtly political in its music, was deeply embedded in a culture of rebellion and a desire for radical change. The formation of communes, such as Amon Düül, and their experimental lifestyles are presented as integral to the creative process and the rejection of societal norms.