Krautrock and the building of modern Germany, it was kind of a big deal.
The movement has just been documented by David Stubbs.
To celebrate the release of his latest book, Future Days, we danced to Can (well, basically banged our heads a bit and swayed a bit more) and celebrated as per usual with 2 for 1 cocktails at the Social. DJ John Doran of The Quietus did not disappoint with his opening set, playing a solid rotation of Krautrock classics to get everyone in the mood for when Stubbs took to the stage for his interview Luke Turner.
Their conversation was thorough and enlightening, and the way he explained how the movement 'wasnt about aptitude, it was about ideas' made his later explanation of ideas like musicians' wish to 'reject the fatherland and embrace mother earth' sensical and even easy for a novice like me to understand. The talk ended with Stubbs answering questions from the 200 strong audience. I don't envy his position, the room was full of passionate and well-informed fans of the genre, but he survived the grilling with the same ease and confidence which makes Future Days such a stylish read.
I spent the night at the merch stand, selling signed copies of Future Days and Limited Edition Dayglo Maradonna records. A white viynl treat, mixed specially by Julian Cope and Andrew Weatherall, there were a few in the office a little reluctant to see them sold. But working at Faber, with so many lovely things lying around just waiting to be sold, you've got to learn to overcome covetousness on a daily basis. I know I have.
After the crowd heard Stubbs speak, and got a chance to speak to him themselves as he worked the room, chatting to everyone and everyone, my job was easy. I sold out completely before the band even went on to perform an hour and a half of Krautrock karaoke classics (apparently).
Now, though I was really looking forward to this, anyone who's worked a merch stand will know that by virtue of your position as temporaty shopkeep, you are shackled to the stall for the evening, and often to the one or two drunk guys who decide to stand and chat to you all night. Having taken on this role many times, I had resigned myself to the inevitable, so you can imagine my delight when I ended up stood instead with incredi-cool Quetus writer Aug Stone.
Initially believing him to be just another well-mannered music fan from Conneticut (albeit with incredible clothes) we chatted veganism, the Welsh countryside and Manchester music.
I know I've said this before, but I think that the best part of interning are these little moments, where you get to meet incredible people and take advantage of entirely organic opportunities to ask for advice. I must start carrying a notepad.
The movement has just been documented by David Stubbs.
To celebrate the release of his latest book, Future Days, we danced to Can (well, basically banged our heads a bit and swayed a bit more) and celebrated as per usual with 2 for 1 cocktails at the Social. DJ John Doran of The Quietus did not disappoint with his opening set, playing a solid rotation of Krautrock classics to get everyone in the mood for when Stubbs took to the stage for his interview Luke Turner.
Their conversation was thorough and enlightening, and the way he explained how the movement 'wasnt about aptitude, it was about ideas' made his later explanation of ideas like musicians' wish to 'reject the fatherland and embrace mother earth' sensical and even easy for a novice like me to understand. The talk ended with Stubbs answering questions from the 200 strong audience. I don't envy his position, the room was full of passionate and well-informed fans of the genre, but he survived the grilling with the same ease and confidence which makes Future Days such a stylish read.
I spent the night at the merch stand, selling signed copies of Future Days and Limited Edition Dayglo Maradonna records. A white viynl treat, mixed specially by Julian Cope and Andrew Weatherall, there were a few in the office a little reluctant to see them sold. But working at Faber, with so many lovely things lying around just waiting to be sold, you've got to learn to overcome covetousness on a daily basis. I know I have.
After the crowd heard Stubbs speak, and got a chance to speak to him themselves as he worked the room, chatting to everyone and everyone, my job was easy. I sold out completely before the band even went on to perform an hour and a half of Krautrock karaoke classics (apparently).
Now, though I was really looking forward to this, anyone who's worked a merch stand will know that by virtue of your position as temporaty shopkeep, you are shackled to the stall for the evening, and often to the one or two drunk guys who decide to stand and chat to you all night. Having taken on this role many times, I had resigned myself to the inevitable, so you can imagine my delight when I ended up stood instead with incredi-cool Quetus writer Aug Stone.
Initially believing him to be just another well-mannered music fan from Conneticut (albeit with incredible clothes) we chatted veganism, the Welsh countryside and Manchester music.
I know I've said this before, but I think that the best part of interning are these little moments, where you get to meet incredible people and take advantage of entirely organic opportunities to ask for advice. I must start carrying a notepad.