Name: Martin Zeichnete aka Kosmischer Läufer
Interviewee: Drew McFadyen
Nationality: Scottish
Current release: Kosmischer Läufer is one of the artists featured on the upcoming compilation Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 2 compiled by Fred und Luna, slated for release on March 1st 2024. The release will feature music by Sankt Otten, Thomas Fehlmann, Roman Flügel, and Halwa.
Kraut-related recommendations: Popol Vuh – Music From Werner Herzog Films Soundtracks: perfect compilation of the stuff they did together. Heavy. (ZYX Records, 1982)
Klaus Schulze - Body Love – presumably the greatest porno soundtrack ever released. (Brain Records, 1978)

[Read our Fred und Luna interview]
[Read our Sankt Otten interview]
[Read our Thomas Fehlmann interview]
[Read our Roman Flügel interview]
[Read our Halwa interview]

If you enjoyed this Kosmischer Läufer interview and would like to stay up to date with the project's music, visit the official homepage. Kosmischer Läufer is also on Facebook, and twitter.



How would you describe your personal relationship with Krautrock? When and how did it start?

I used to play in a band called The Magnificents many moons ago, we were into all sorts of stuff but Kraftwerk and Neu! were influences we all had in common.

[Read our Michael Rother of Neu! interview about Production]
[Read our Michael Rother of Neu! interview about Improvisation]

In 2012 I met a gentleman called Martin Zeichnete in Berlin. He sent me some tapes of his work he did for the DDR’s Olympic Athletes back in the 70’s and 80’s. He allows me to release his music on the ongoing ‘Kosmischer Läufer’ series of albums.

In his Krautrock Sampler, Julian Cope limits the actual Krautrock phase to only a few years. Are you interested in the history of Kraut – and if so, what are defining moments for you? Where do you draw the bracket for the first, classic period?

‘Krautrock’ is an English term isn’t it? Never trust the English!

I guess there is a generally agreed rise and fall of the classic era. It’s hard to be precise but I think krautrock ends about 45.2 seconds into Kraftwerk’s ‘Electric Café’.



Kraut drew inspiration from a lot of influences. Which of these would you say were most prominent?

Impossible to say. It’s such a diverse array of artists who get lumped together.

Some of the guys in CAN were classically trained, Kraftwerk were into European romanticism and anti rock and roll, Michael Rother was inspired by Indian music. American psychedelia? The drugs? It’s all in there.

Technological development played a part as well. Electronic instruments. Portable tape machines. The ability to record in your own house / commune / castle away from beady eye of ‘THE MAN’.

What was it about Krautrock that particularly attracted you as a listener?

Long songs. No/unintelligable lyrics. Synths.

Tell me about the albums and artists that stand our for you?

Anything involving Michael Rother is golden.



Popol Vuh, particularly the soundtracks they did for Werner Herzog.



Conny Plank’s big, magical production brain.

Generally I can be more into particular songs than artists work as a whole, Michael Bundt’s ‘La chasse aux Microbes’ being a case in point.



Some believe the well for discovering hidden Kraut gems has dried up. Do you still stumble upon amazing music from the magic Kraut era that you'd never heard (of) before? If so, feel free to share them.

Haha, Kosmischer Läufer obviously.

What, to you, are the main elements that make something “Kraut?” What are the practises of the musicians from the 70s that inspire your own practise today?

Again, it’s so nebulous.

Even ‘being German’ wasn’t always an element. There was a French guy called Zanov who put out the coolest, most Berlin style albums in the 70’s. Musique rock aux herbes?



Could you describe your creative process on the basis of one of your own Kraut-leaning pieces, live performances or albums that's particularly dear to you, please?

A few years ago Yann Tiersen wanted Martin Zeichnete to play with him but as usual Martin just wanted to stay home.

[Read our Yann Tiersen interview]

So, with his permission, I joined Yann and his band to play Kosmischer Läufer’s music on his European tour. It was an incredible experience playing with such an amazing band.

I got into Kraut via Tangerine Dream and early Ash Ra and to me, the motoric beat was never quite as important. Today, it seems as though it's the most important defining element. Are you interested in it? Are you making use if it? What makes it special to you?

For Martin Zeichnete the concept of using repetitive, rhythmic music to train athletes began when he first heard motorik beats and sequenced music drifting across from the West.

So for him it was of the upmost importance. But, of course, one must also make space for the space.

It would seem that to some, the prominent inclusion of synthesizers is somewhat of an exclusion criterion for Krautrock. Interestingly, today, they are a signature element. What role do they play for your own view of Kraut and your own music?

Technology now of course means small studio/bedroom producers can work entirely self sufficiently to produce music and quite often it’s electronic. I think there is a direct line back to guys like Klaus Schulze and Manuel Göttsching who could essentially record whole albums at home using small setups.

Synths have always been important to kosmische music.

[Read our Manuel Göttsching interview]
[Read our feature on Manuel Göttsching's E2-E4]

A lot of the Kraut spirit came to life through musicians living in communities, playing and recording together every single day. From your perspective, how does this change the results? Have you ever tried working and creating in such a constellation?

God, no. I hate hippies.

Did you ever visit one of the birthplaces of the genre – Berlin, Düsseldorf, Munich – or any spaces related to the history of Kraut?

I’ve been very lucky to travel as a musician or crew member a lot so yes, I’ve been to all the kosmische hotspots. The Magnificents toured Germany before we toured the UK.

I’ve also met some of the musicians as well. I looked after Michael Rother and his band at the Edinburgh Festival. Never meet your heroes! Unless it’s Michael Rother who is a wonderful person.

Another time I picked up Kraftwerk (well, Ralph and the three other guys) in a Volkswagen van. Once they were in, I slammed my door shut turned on the engine and tooted the horn twice thus performing a cover version of the introduction to their 1974 classic 'Autobahn'. Nobody noticed.

Do you own any paraphernalia from the era?

I have some stuff in the Kosmischer Läufer archive. Running programme cassettes a few reel to reels and training shirts the athletes used. They were exhibited at Leith Late Festival back in 2016.

There are quite a few fantastic compilations of modern Kraut-oriented music. I am wondering, however, if the approaches of this time may have survived more subtly. Do you see the influence of Krautrock in any contemporary styles, approaches or scenes which bear no obvious similarities with Kraut?

Any music were the artists are open to various influences and plough their own furrow could be seen as having the same spirit.

I really liked the Oren Ambarchi album ‘Ghosted’  from 2022. According to Discogs it is classified as ‘jazz’ but it has a very kosmische vibe going on.

[Read our Oren Ambarchi interview]