Musical rhythm
The basic motorik drum beat pattern
A sample of a motorik rhythm
Motorik is the 4/4 beat often used by, and heavily associated with, krautrock bands. Coined by music journalists , the term is German for "motor skill ". The motorik beat was pioneered by Jaki Liebezeit , drummer with German experimental rock band Can .[1] [2] [3] [4] Klaus Dinger of Neu! , another early pioneer of motorik, later called it the "Apache beat".[5] The motorik beat is heard in one section of Kraftwerk 's "Autobahn ", a song designed to celebrate exactly this experience.[6] It is heard throughout Neu!'s "Hallogallo", from their self-titled album Neu! .[7]
Some music critics observed that the motorik style conveys a similar sense of forward momentum as the music of Beethoven and Rossini and bears a resemblance to the rhythmic drumming in jazz .[8] They opined that it initially evoked the "glorification of the industrial modern era".[8]
The motorik beat is in 4/4 time, at a moderate tempo. The pattern is repeated in each bar throughout the song. A splash or crash cymbal is often hit at the beginning bar of a verse or chorus. Klaus Dinger emphasized that it was "very much a human beat," adding, "It's essentially about life, how you have to keep moving, get on and stay in motion."[9]
Etymology
The word's use in music journalism may be derived from a punning modification of "motoric", a term long used by music critics to describe relentless ostinato rhythm,[8] or simply from a combination of "motor" and "music" (German: "musik").[10] In addition, Motorik is the German word for motor skills. The name may derive from the repetitive yet forward-flowing feel of the rhythm, which has been compared to the experience of driving on a motorway .[11]
Application
The drumming style of Moe Tucker , the drummer in the Velvet Underground , has specifically been characterized by music critic Chris Jones as "proto-motorik."[12] Apart from the German krautrock bands, the motorik beat has been used by bands from many different genres, most often in psychedelic rock , post-punk , indie rock , and contemporary non-German "krautrock" bands. The motorik beat was a characteristic feature in the music of Siouxsie and the Banshees through the involvement of drummers Kenny Morris and Budgie .[13] [14] Other notable artists include Joy Division , Beak , the War on Drugs , Electrelane , the Rapture , LCD Soundsystem , King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard , Thee Oh Sees , the Modern Lovers , Iggy Pop , Public Image Ltd , Ultravox , Stereolab , Yo La Tengo , Endless Boogie , Idles , Moon Duo ,[15] and Sam Fender .[16] [17]
References
^ Adelt, Ulrich (2016). Krautrock: German Music in the Seventies . University of Michigan Press . p. 18. ISBN 978-0-472-05319-3 .
^ Savage, Mark (23 January 2017). "Jaki Liebezeit: Can drummer dies aged 78" . BBC News . Retrieved 26 January 2017 .
^ Millions, Kid (23 January 2017). "Love Time: Remembering Can Drummer Jaki Liebezeit's Otherworldly Groove" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 26 January 2017 .
^ Spice, Anton (22 January 2017). "Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit has died aged 78" . The Vinyl Factory . Retrieved 26 January 2017 .
^ Kopf, Biba (2002). "Klaus Dinger interview transcript (2001)" . The Wire . Retrieved 26 January 2017 .
^ Albiez, Sean; Pattie, David (2011). Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop . UK: Continuum . p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4411-9136-6 .
^ Taylor, Steve (2006). The A to X of Alternative Music . UK: A&C Black . p. 160. ISBN 978-0-8264-8217-4 .
^ a b c Bottà, Giacomo (2020). Deindustrialisation and Popular Music: Punk and Post-Punk in Manchester, Düsseldorf, Torino and Tampere . Finland: Rowman & Littlefield . p. 48. ISBN 978-1-7866-0738-6 .
^ "Klaus Dinger: Pioneer of the 'motorik' beat" . Independent.co.uk . 9 April 2008.
^ Buckley, David (2015). Kraftwerk: Publikation . UK: Omnibus Press . p. 86. ISBN 978-1-7832-3618-3 .
^ Jurek, Thom. "Neu! — Neu!" . AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
^ Chris Jones (21 June 2007). Review of "The Velvet Underground & Nico" for the BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
^ Gillespie, Bobby (2021). Tenement Kid: Rough Trade Book of the Year . UK. ISBN 978-1-4746-2209-7 . {{cite book }}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link )
^ "Siouxsie And The Banshees: 'We were losing our minds' " . Uncut . 24 October 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^ Arizuno, Lee (22 May 2009). "Motorikpop: A Secret History Spotified" . The Quietus . Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^ Petridis, Alexis (7 October 2021). "Sam Fender: Seventeen Going Under review − music that punches the air and the gut" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2022 . clipped and taut, equal parts motorik beat
^ Merrick, Hayden (22 October 2021). "Middle England Woes and Glistening Guitars Collide on Sam Fender's 'Seventeen Going Under' " . PopMatters . Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022 . Here, again, is the driving motorik beat that doesn't let up
Components Genres by decade of origin(sub-subgenres not included)
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
Regional scenes
North America South America Europe Asia Africa Oceania
Radio formats Related