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] The basic pattern is as follows:
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]
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]
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clipped and taut, equal parts motorik beat
Here, again, is the driving motorik beat that doesn't let up