Out of Focus made four or so records [well, some released much later] each with a different sound however I wish to focus on their Wake Up LP. Just like Gila's second record which had political aspirations to begin with; this too seems to have a political edge to it's lyrics [ the opening track should give anyone enough clue even though that track doesn't have much by way of lyrics].

Beneath the beautiful playing[flute?] on songs like World's End,  there are references to US President Nixon as well.The singing can be tough to catch sometimes, made tougher considering that lyrics aren't available anywhere on the web to pour over.

Did anymore west German/krautrock bands also make political music as well and does this album in particular also reference anything deep/specific that I am overlooking?

Ihre Kinder , Amon Duul (not 2) are the ones I remember present in the PA DB.

===========

BTW, the Swedish Progg movement was also very politically slanted.

https://progg.se/" rel="nofollow - progg.se

.

Ammon Duul II came out of the ashes of the original Ammon Duu collective, right? I have heard couple of works I think from the former; they were more prolific, I think. Ihre Kinder I will need to look for.

Lewian wrote: Ton Steine Scherben were a leading political band in Germany, and strangely they are on PA. I don't think they are very proggy but there you go. Actually some think they were Germany's first punk band.

Thanks to your recommendation, I am listening to them right now. Their timeline puts them circa 1970, right after MC5 and alongside the Stooges. Whilst I can't speak for the lyrics [it's all Greek to me ]; the sound definitely is far away from prog. It's much closer in realm to what would later become classic punk in US and of course, UK with even more de constructed sound.

Amon Düül was originally based in Berlin West, but when the Great Schism arrived, AD2 moved to Munich and became a hippie/psych/prog faction, whereas those that stayed in Berlin recorded a few albums until 73. Definitely their musical best (but maybe not most political one) was ParadiesWärt, which was folk-influenced. The only one I bothered keeping around for a while, though I still have four AD2 albums.

There was also a faction that relocated to London during the 80's, but I never investidated.

=============

Don't expect AD or IK to sound anything close top OOF, though.

.

Hi,

I was thinking that FLOH DE COLOGNE might fit in the political arena, though I have never seen a proper translation of their stuff, which had a way of suggesting that it is not that important, but it does seem to have a wide satirical edge.

The whole thing of "Krautrock" (for me!!!) was not exactly about politics, as much as it was about the social perspectives at the time, which took a very anti-establishment attitude, specially against Westernized thinking via the music that was considered better because it had larger sales in American and England. This is quite visible in the many articles by Holger Czukay about the music, and how they did not want to do the same thing as the commercialized music.

This changed in time, as more and more things became accepted in Germany, and at least according to one book, what really helped was the fact that it has a few too many different areas and bands, that did very different things, all of which ended up confusing our idea of what "krautrock" really is, although the one thing that is most important and difficult to relate to is that it was not just a music thing but also an issue with many other arts, specially film and theater ... with many folks involved doing the exact same thing, though no one will EVER pay attention to Klaus Kinski doing his take on Damo Suzuki (as I like to say!!!) in an improvised (either) performance, or appearance.

I honestly feel that what helped "krautrock" make it, was the fact that theater, film and other arts became highly visible around the world, specially with Wim Wenders and Werner Herzog, both of which had filmed some "krautrock" bands way back when as well as some theatrical material, as was the case and example that we see in Werner's film about his friend. 

In many ways, the whole "krautrock" thins was less about politics ... though you will find things like Das Liebendige Radio by Guru Guru, which most folks that I have ever been around, including PA love to refuse to listen to it, and give it the credit it deserved ... it was political, only in the sense that it was being extremely satirical, which many have suggested were a part of Mani Neumeier's antics on stage ... though the bits I have seen of this, seem to be usually hidden or completely ignored as just silly stage fun to keep an audience having fun, specially handy if the concert is going away from the audience and not exciting anyone. 

However, I really think that it is mostly about a social movement of inner/outer awareness, which became way more visible in Amon Duul 2's "Apocaliptyc Bore" which was really an attack on our sensibilities, and probably the fact that we got stuck on the "sky bites" and couldn't careless about anything else ... but on the same album is one of the most intense attacks by any band on slavery with "Mozambique" ... which has some really strong lyrics ... another thing that PA doesn't like ... 

I have not heard "Out of Focus" as yet and will take a look at it ... but the second tier of bands in Germany, like Tanned Leather, Cherubin and some others, did get releases, but were quickly ignored ... probably because they might have been more conventional sounding than the other material ... though ... these two being released by HARVEST (the PF progressive label!!!!!) would suggest that there is some value here that we have ignored.

Tough area to discuss here, as many folks think that "krautrock" is just about 5 or 6 bands ... and it isn't ... it's a social something (evolution would be better than revolution!!!) that is reflected in many arts, the part that many of us love to ignore ... like we never go to movies, theater, or read a book! There is a side here that is very off key! When you hear "Mona Lisa has a bird brain ... " it is not a political statement, but a statement about our look and appreciation for the arts!

Do we ever get it? Not as long as we ignore everything, beyond the flowery dress or drugged up look ... that we associate with many of the things at the time and places, including SF, NY, Paris, London and many other places.

This is not accurate as far as I know. Amon Düül started in Munich (original members are from around there as far as it is known; German Wikipedia page confirms this as well as Ingeborg Schober's book, which chances are isn't available anymore - unfortunately I don't have it anymore so need to rely on memory). They had contacts to Berlin and there were maybe two people from Berlin joining at some point, but they were based in Munich, ADII the whole time (not sure whether members of AD after the split relocated to Berlin). 

In any case, they were very political actually, very radical, but they didn't do political lyrics. The split came because ADII wanted to focus on the music, which they did, with some success. I have read or listened to a number of interviews; the members are political to this day, but this wasn't directly expressed in the music, and wasn't a major focus. AD were more polticial and not much interested in musical proficiency, and as far as I know their albums all stem from a single session (or set of sessions), and as far as I'm concerned, there isn't much musically worthwhile in them, and neither are there political lyrics.  The music (also ADII, of whom I'm a big fan) was anti-establishment though, it sounded much different from the mainstream in Germany, and it was clear that that was their position.

Many Krautrockers were quite political by the way, even if their music doesn't directly say so. I  think I remember having heard or read more or less radical political statements from members of Embryo, Ougenweide, Guru Guru, probably also Faust. Like ADII, Can decidedly chose music over politics, but it was pretty clear what they thought. Grobschnitt and Novalis occasionally had political messages in their lyrics, though this was mostly later. 

moshkito wrote: I was thinking that FLOH DE COLOGNE might fit in the political arena, though I have never seen a proper translation of their stuff, which had a way of suggesting that it is not that important, but it does seem to have a wide satirical edge.

Yup Floh is the biggie Polit Rock (can't believe I forgot them) and there is one other big name §yey've got an album with barbed wires on the cover) that doesn't come to mind as I speak

(I'll check out my Cosmic Dreams At Play, as soon as I'm close to it)

Apparently Grobschitt's lyrics & comments between tracks were also rather political.

Lewian wrote: This is not accurate as far as I know. Amon Düül started in Munich (original members are from around there as far as it is known; German Wikipedia page confirms this as well as Ingeborg Schober's book, which chances are isn't available anymore - unfortunately I don't have it anymore so need to rely on memory). They had contacts to Berlin and there were maybe two people from Berlin joining at some point, but they were based in Munich, ADII the whole time (not sure whether members of AD after the split relocated to Berlin).

yeah, I was shooting from the hip on AD & AD2.

I'll check in my Asbjornseen book (they've got separate entries, if memory serves)

.

I will try and give Floh de Cologne a listen. "Guru Guru", I think, I have listened to their first four albums but honestly I wasn't a big fan of their very guitar based sound though they have their share of fans. I will look into more of Amon Duul2's work.

Krautrock is definitely more than half a dozen bands, if one really digs deep. I think there was even a book/guide for getting into the genre [I am forgetting it's name right now]. I have listened to the famous bands from the genre and am dipping my hands into the slightly lesser known bands of the genre now.

Four Letter Monday Afternoon is their bolded/recommended release on AllMusic but I was honestly disappointed by it [it's sheer length didn't help either]. I am currently listening to their 1971 'Out Of Focus'. It has atleast two great songs: the opening track whose name is a riff on Rolling Stones' Street Fighting Man and a meandering instrumental. I think there is only one political statement on this LP in the form of final song where the instrumentation is more restrained.

FLMA is an impressive magnum opus, but indeed overlong (to think the posthumous release Rats Road is more frim those session....)

I much prefer their second s/t album, but I'm also partial to Never Too Late (their fourth never released at the time).

Saperlipopette! wrote: I'm like you I think. And prefer those same three albums. Weak vocals and on the nose lyricism also tend to get in the way of my general enjoyment. I would probably have listened to Wake Up! (again) if the lyrics were sung in German, so that I could listen to the voice itself like any other instrument. The vocalist would have been the band's weak spot regardless, but themes/melodies are quite lovely throughout - and the musicianship excellent.

I absolutely love Moran's vocals, but indeed some of his lyrics are so-so (see how a white negro fies ??? WTF...)

All six OOF release are very worthy (there are few bands where I have everything ever released of theirs - including the Kontrast albums from the mid-80's), including the Live In Palermo 1972 - their only gig outside Germany.

.