Krautpop! – a hybrid of two words:
"Kraut" – a favourite root vegetable of the Deutsche Volk; also used colloquially by English speakers to refer to the
Germans
"Pop!" – a music and art style popular with the masses; also used colloquially by German speakers to refer to the act of making love!
Hence Krautpop! – a musical form for the masses, sometimes sung in German, sometimes in English, but always
sexy!
The idea for a label called Krautpop! was something which Paul J Greco, the veteran bass player from Chumbawamba, had been mulling over since he left England and moved to Cologne, Germany following his
heart
At the turn of the Millennium Paul and another old-timer, Klaus Cornfield of Throw that Beat in the Garbage Can, founded the band Katze. Together they were determined to release something before they got too old for
rock'n'roll
After seeing Katze performing one night at the legendary Gebäude 9 in Köln-Deutz, an impressed Stephan Plank invited the band to record at the studio his dad built in Wolperath. Conny’s Studio, in the '70s, was the groundrock of
Krautrock
Many seminal bands had recorded there, including the influential Neu! It was into this hallowed place, a quarter of a century later, that Katze came to record their first session with in-house engineer Marc Weis –
"Katze play Krautpop!"
On Katze's second visit to Conny’s during the long cold winter of 2002, Paul invited Axel Hilgenstöhler, a chum from Thumb, to produce some new tracks with Marc. There was one stand out track from that session –
"The Girl, the Fame and the Money"
Paul and Stephan tried hard to get some record company interest in Katze, but alas this was the time of no reply. Never one to give up, Paul decided that now was the time for action, and thus started his own label.
The first release on Krautpop! in the spring of 2003, was the seven inch split single from Katze and local band
Locas in Love
With eye-catching original artwork from both bands on the sleeve of the red vinyl 45, the Köln based label had set its standards high. Indeed, Axel had persuaded Paul to allow him to mix Katze directly onto a 2-Track Studer hired from
Dierk's Studio
The mastering of the single was in itself a study of probably the best two mastering studios in Germany.
The Locas employed Kai Blankenberg of Skyline Studios, while Katze's side was mastered by Michael Schwabe at
Monoposto
During the tumultuously long hot summer of 2003 Katze and Paul unfortunately parted company. Around this time Paul briefly joined another local band to help them make a demo, and find a new bass player. That band was
Gloria
Although he didn't stay long, he was sufficiently impressed by the band to invite them to release a CD on Krautpop! While the band busied themselves recording at various locations, the talented Henning Moersen joined Paul and Stephan in getting the new label going. When the time for mixing came, Gloria also made the pilgrimage to
Conny’s Studio
There they spent a lovely weekend in the beautiful old farmhouse adjacent to the studio, where they succumbed to the culinary delights of Stephan's mother, Christa Fast. On their first day in the studio with Axel and Marc they mixed
"Pictures"
The next day, guest producer Christoph Schneider, (bassman in Clayton Farlow and Klee ) mixed the track
“Stars (coincidentally shot down)"
This is the main song of a similarly titled 4-track CD which is released on Krautpop! as a Digipack on Monday,
19th. January 2004

That's the Story of Krautpop! so far.
Krautpop! is a growing label and plans new releases this summer.
In striving to promote new talent we have added to the artist roster
Kurt Kreikenbom
singer-songwriter of Furthurs fame (and who is also drummer with Locas in Love and Leatherette).
Here at Krautpop! we look forward to a krautpoptastic! year and hope that all you Krautpop! - Pickers out there do too.
Enjoy!