Today, the Spotlight shines On author Christoph Dallach, who joins me to discuss his book Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock.

Christoph has spent years tracking down the pioneers who spent the late 1960s in West Germany’s basements and practice rooms, creating sounds unlike anything else in rock and roll.

Through conversations with members of bands like Can, Kraftwerk, and Tangerine Dream, Christoph uncovers how these artists shaped a distinctly German sound in the shadow of World War II. It’s a story of cultural rebirth told by the musicians who lived it.

A veteran music journalist who has interviewed everyone from Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift, Christoph brings fresh insight to this pivotal moment in music history.

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Dig Deeper

• Purchase Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock from Faber & Faber, Bookshop, Powell’s, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
• Follow Christoph Dallach on Instagram
• Christoph Dallach’s playlist for his book “Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock”
• Krautrock: The 1970s bands which helped post-war Germany overcome its dark history
• When it comes to krautrock, it’s impossible not to mention the war
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

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Today, the Spotlight shines On bassist and composer Marwan Allam.

Marwan’s debut album, Bab Bhar, takes Arabic rhythms and Tunisian musical traditions and hands them to a jazz quartet, creating something that feels both ancient and brand new.

Marwan tunes and plays his bass to echo the sound of the gimbri, a traditional three-string instrument from his native Tunisia. He’s here to walk us through this groundbreaking approach and share how growing up at the crossroads of North African music shaped his creative path.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Marwan Allam’s album Bab Bhar)

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Dig Deeper

• Purchase Marwan Allam’s Bab Bhar on Bandcamp and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Marwan Allam on Instagram and YouTube
• Music in Tunisia: Exploring 10 Rich Harmonies
• Experiencing Maqam: An Introduction to Arabic Music
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.