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ULTIMA THULE / THE CRACK IN THE COSMIC EGG
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The Crack In
The Cosmic Egg - 30th Anniversary Edition - buy Encyclopedia
of Krautrock, Kosmische Musik, & other progressive, experimental &
electronic musics from Germany - 30th anniversary edition ISBN 978-1-914458-72-9 /
9781914458729 BARCODE 9 781914 458729 PRINT / WORK LOG specifications... A4 484 pages total, perfect binding (internal pages: 480) = 1.28 kg 448 numbered black & white text pages 16 colour picture pages insert - new superior scans, and a slightly different selection including a singles page 16 black & white picture pages insert - 65 band/artist pictures, compared to 28 in the original book Artists: 1587 contents... Page 4. Introduction, including: About this new edition, A little cosmic history, The Krautrock scene, etc. Page 9. The Krautrock top 100 Page 10. Krautrock 101-200 - the readers' choice Page 12. A short guided tour, including: setting the scene, cities, the 4 major scenes, family trees, etc. Page 24. About the book, including: layout, information, clichés & terminology ENCYCLOPEDIA - 1587 artists Page 29. Krautrock & related - 219 pages - 976 artists Page 257. New Wave & Industrial - 110 artists Page 275. Synthesizer & Ambient - 142 artists Page 301. Soundtracks & Library Music - 39 artists Page 309. Avant-Garde & Experimental - 58 artists Page 323. Cuckos & Scrambled Eggs - 82 artists Page 343. Austria, DDR, Switzerland - 180 artists OTHER USEFUL INFO, including... Page 378. Producers, Engineers, etc. - 59 artists Page 388. Recording Studios - 33 entries Page 389. Cover Art & Design - 24 entries Page 392. Festivals & Concerts - 76 entries Page 398. Various Artists / Samplers - 40 label / title entries, 88 releases Page 403. Record Labels - 90 main label sections Page 434. Group / Artist Index Page 440. Further Reading / Further Listening |
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BUYING INFORMATION: retail £40 13 July 2026 update: Now selling
second 500 copy print-run. Direct
prices including p&p... Payment
methods...
Other stockists... Discount / Wholesale |
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Other
notes We have orders from: Paul Barrett, David Barnhart and Eric Wrenn who never
supplied contact details. The 500 copy first print run: if you bought your
copy from a retailer like Vinal Edge, Bochum University CD shop, Garden Of
Delights, Green Brain, Ohrwaschl, Soundohm or Wayside, I can allocate you
with a number to fill-in yourself. |
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sneak preview: pre-production video of the first 36 pages...
other promos: printer's pdf
sneak preview 1 printer's pdf sneak preview 2 unboxing video |
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The opening paragraphs in the book... Artist
listings... |
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also, you can join the Facebook group Geman
Progressive & Underground to keep up on developments, |
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2026 book
edition reviews/mentions... |
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finally arrived!
Thanks a lot! Great work! Amazing detailed. Wasn't aware of such an amount of
bands and artist among that genre! Really impressive!!! - Harald Grosskopf - drummer with
Wallenstein, Klaus Schulze, Ashra, etc. and synthesist |
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Whats this that
has just arrived via the postman? This is one amazing publication! without question
my book of the year. Steve Freeman and Alan Freeman eternal thanks for making
this happen. Weirdly enough, although I dont recall the original edition was
numbered, the first CDROM was and I bought copy #3, and... yes, my copy of
the new book is... copy #3... thats either luck or amazing planning on both
your parts! - Peter Smith |
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A fantastic
publication for sure. This edition obviously leaves my 1996 book as obsolete
now, wish I had a friend who shared my own enthusiasm on the subject, as I
would present it to them. It just goes to show the great depth in creative
GERMAN rock classics, when one of my all- time favourite progressive rock
records IKARUS ( from 1971 ) , can't even make the top 200. But yeah, I
totally concur with all the other positives bestowed on this fabulous looking
and hugely informative book. I have bought both previous editions of the CD -
ROM, but have never viewed either, as i don't own a PC...I always intended to
buy one, but alas it never happened...this new book is obviously the dream
alternative, as the vast amount of extra info regarding new discoveries since
1996 will make for some truly compelling reading. - Tony Joules |
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Got mine this
afternoon. Absolutely brilliant as expected. Thanks very much guys. - Peter
Cais |
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Thank you Alan
Freeman and Steve Freeman for the 30th Anniversary Edition! It arrived last
week and I've been absorbing it ever since. There is so much material in
here. - Jeremy Fortier |
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My copy just
arrived here in The Outer Hebrides, Western Isles of Scotland, half an hour
ago. Well chuffed. Thank you very much - Angus Martin Montgomery |
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“Thanks I received
mine on Wednesday. Absolutely fantastic work again.” skybluerick1 (on
Bandcamp) |
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Just to say firstly
that the book arrived safely yesterday, well packed as ever (and having been
in the mail order business I appreciate that and the effort it takes).
Secondly, and most importantly, thanks very much for all your efforts with
the various editions of Crack, the Italian and French books and of course
Audion where I still find new music with every issue. - Dave Howarth |
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Just Arrived.
Simply FANTASTIC. Thanks a lot - Giuseppe Schiuma |
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The cosmic egg
hatched at my house on Friday. Thank you Alan Freeman. Already fallen in love
with Alcatraz’s Vampire State building.
Im already a fan of Agitation Free, Amon Duul, Can, Ash Ra, Faust,
Guru Guru, Kluster, Neu, Tangerine Dream, Embryo, etc. It’s the raw, psychedelic, driving motorik and
cosmic stuff or the really blissed out that I like. I’ve never been massively
convinced about Kraftwerk. Anyway there’s tons in here I don’t know- yet. -
Paula Mcadam |
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Mojo magazine, July 2026 issue - review by Jim Wirth
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Shindig! magazine, July 2026 issue 177 - review by Grahame Bent
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other mentions... |
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From kneilybix - 3/8/2026
on ebay) |
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other mentions... |
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Previous printed editions... |
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Encyclopedia of Krautrock, Kosmische Musik, & other progressive,
experimental & electronic musics from Germany |
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A printed version of the CD-Rom in magazine form. |
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You wanted a printed version of the CD-Rom for easy reference? The 24
magazine edition was too expensive? A new leaner version, in the original
book cover is now available! |
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This "Of Cuckoos And Scrambled Eggs" was a special A4, 36pp
magazine supplement to The Crack In The Cosmic Egg - special 2013 edition,
published by special request. |
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original book
edition reviews... |
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The Crack In The
Cosmic Egg Bible, Qur'an and
reading book for Krauts! Not that you think I'm completely turned off now,
but the book I'd like to draw attention to is actually all in one for the
interested Krautrock lover. To lighten the tension: These are The Crack In
The Cosmic Egg by Steven and Alan Freeman, now published in the second,
revised edition by Audion Publications. Google translation of
review by Wolfgang Pokall at Musikzirkus |
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The Crack In
The Cosmic Egg One of the best instruments available to the German progressive rock aficionado, where he can investigate the essential aspects of the German current, better known as "Krautrock". It is undoubtedly this British publication, which is together with "Cosmic Dreams At Play", the indispensable editorial pair for the best knowledge of the most influential scene of contemporary music of the twentieth century. The work, is a compendium of data collected by the authors Alan and Steven Freeman, also publicists of the English magazine Audion, fans and researchers of the progressive and in particular of the Krautrock. In it we can find analysis of the main regional scenarios that settled the main currents of the Krautrock. In the work are detailed: groups, members, biographies, discographies, styles, topics of the musical context and even maps and family trees of the main trends. The list of the hundred best works is offered in the opinion of the authors, without a doubt a basic picture to begin to know by the most select the Teutonic cosmos. The organization of the compendium, has vast indexes and consultative references, as well as color sheets of the most significant covers. The level of knowledge is profound, but its interpretation is very subjective, given the tendency of authors to glorify their favorites and demonize, those who are not. However, the above is an insignificant defect, which does not affect the work can be considered as absolutely essential, even for the amateur novice or just remotely interested in German progressive rock. For the amateur, it is a must to have it in his elementary musical references box. Google translation of review by
Juvenal Aragón Figueroa at progresiva70s.blogspot |
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Steven Freeman & Alan Freeman Informationen Rezensionen Von: Udo Gerhards It is always amazing how small Krautrock is compared to other countries in Germany himself, what a low level of publicity he "enjoys" in this country. Practically all the more extensive publications on the subject come from fans from other countries, as well as the present work of the two Freeman brothers who publish the British Audion magazine. "Crack in the Cosmic Egg" tries to be a comprehensive encyclopedia for "Krautrock, Cosmic Music & other progressive, experimental and electronic music from Germany", unlike the rather selective and personal Krautrocksampler by Julian Cope Comparing Dag Erik Asbjørnsen's "Cosmic Dreams At Play", which sets the cut of the recorded albums earlier in time, around 1976, while at the Freemans musically relevant albums can also come from the 80s and 90s. The Freemans, like Julian Cope, also fall into the fan trap and overestimate the influence and creative richness of their object when it says "Almost every groundbreaking new form of music started in Germany". Well. Such statements can be found again and again, and you have to stop to classify. And even "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg" is not free from factual errors (the legend of Dutch descent Rolf-Ulrich Kaisers mentioned by Ralf JG in his review of the "Krautrocksampler") is repeated here, both written off at the same source Nevertheless, the Freemans have researched more carefully than Cope and Asbjørnsen, have conducted interviews with a number of German musicians and almost all of the albums presented have probably even heard :-) The main component of the album is an alphabetical list of bands relevant to the above-mentioned claim with short biographies, discographies, music descriptions and staffing lists. This part occupies almost 200 of the total of 288 DIN A4 pages. This is informative, comprehensive and suitable for browsing and browsing. The true strength of the book, however, are the many complementary contents: after a short general introduction, various regional Krautrock scenes with textual description and family tree graphics are presented in more detail. Very helpful is the printed map of Germany, which illustrates not only the foreigners, but also in geography less well-versed locals the situation of the different centers ... Very useful is also the detailed index, including a cross-reference index, which shows each band for each musician all bands in which the member or at least one recording was involved. Other sections are devoted to the various Krautrock labels, well-known non-musician scene personalities (sound mixers and producers), off-screen, yet noteworthy albums, etc. Another chapter lists legendary albums that nobody knows ... This part is now After more than 7 years since the tape was first published, it has become somewhat obsolete, as some of the aforementioned obscurities such as "Flaming Bess" and "Tricolon" have even found their way onto CD. Despite the above-mentioned weaknesses here is a very elaborate, lovingly assembled work before, which also contains a pile of information that stimulate at least for their own research and bargain hunting on eBay. Unfortunately "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg" is currently out of print (February 2004) and will probably not be reissued in book form. However, a soon to be reissued in CD-ROM form is planned, a format that lends itself to the many cross-connections within the scene. Google translation of review by Udo Gerhards at: babyblaue-seiten |
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Krautrock A to Z, March 11, 2005 - By Robert Carlberg (Seattle) - from Amazon Between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s, there was a veritable EXPLOSION of creativity on the German rock scene. Fueled by an influx of American ex-pat jazz musicians seeking color neutrality, the new portability of music with cassettes and portable radios, the worldwide spirit of experimentation, new instrument technologies and, yes, the popularity of psychedelics, the resulting body of work has been nobly documented by brothers Steven & Alan Freeman. Other books cover some of the same ground -- Archie Patterson's "Eurock" and Dag Erik Asbjornsen's "Cosmic Dreams at Play" for two -- but none are more comprehensive or more compulsively readable than "Cosmic Egg." The level of detail and fair, reasonable analysis make this the gold standard against which all others are measured.. |
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A Crack In The
Cosmic Egg Steven
Freeman & Alan Freeman AUDION £23 When shown a book
such as this, one can any doff the old topper in admiration. |
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STEVEN & ALAN FREEMAN: "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg ~
Encyclopaedia Of Krautrock, Kosmische Musik, & Other Progressive,
Experimental & Electronic Musics From Germany" (£20+P&P £5 U.K.,
£8 Euro, £17 U.S., £20 elsewhere to Ultima Thule, 1 Conduit St., Leicester LE2
OJN.) |
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Krautrock feature |
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The Crack In The Cosmic Egg: Encyclopedia Of Krautrock, Kosmische Musik
& Other Progressive, Experimental & Electronic Musics From Germany Bypassing the entry on Velvet Universe, consider this summary of Vinegar:
"Reputedly pre-Electric Sandwich, Vinegar played a much more spiced
psychedelic rock in the realms of Tractor or Elias Hulk." That summary
is this encyclopedia in microcosm (mikrokosm?); the detail is astonishing and
the list of ludicrous group names would fill this review. Try Tanned Leather,
Hairy Chapter and Steak, for starters. |
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C. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cosmic Dreams and
Cracked Eggs (but were afraid to ask of a German) |
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The Crack In
The Cosmic Egg Steven & Alan Freeman, Audion
Publications, 1996, 288 pages The subtitle of this book is
perhaps a better descriptor than its title: Encyclopedia of Krautrock,
Kosmische Musik, & Other Progressive, Experimental & Electronic
Musics from Germany. The authors are of course, the same Freeman Brothers who
have produced Audion Magazine since the mid-1980s, and have an excellent
track record for coverage of German 'progressive' music, whatever that may
mean. One of the highlights of this volume, and what sets it apart from
others (most notably "Cosmic Dreams at Play")that have attempted to
document the German scene is the well-researched section early in the volume
("A Short Guided Tour") that documents the five major 'scenes' of
early German rock (Berlin, Dusseldorf, Koln, Hamburg, and Munich). These ten
or so pages, complete with diagrams and maps go far to explain the setting
within which all German rock from the late sixties grew, and provide an
excellent springboard to understanding the bigger picture' Indeed, this
writer has been listening to much of the German music in this book for many
years, but this is the first time I've read a good overview where all of the
dots are connected. There is also a solid introduction with general
information on the format that is followed throughout the book. And of course
there is a 'Krautrock Top 100' though one has to question how useful list
like this is when only slightly better than mediocre releases like Amon
Duul's "Psychedelic Underground", "Planeten Sit-ln" and
Mythos' "Dreamlab" are included, but classics like Hoelderlin's
"Traumstadt" and SFF's "symphonic Pictures" or
"Ammerland" are completely ignored. Throughout this volume one will
find well researched entries for almost any German artist one can think of: A
concise history of the artist or band (or as concise as possible given the
obscurity of some of these entries) is followed by a discography listing all
major releases - both the original release, and the CD reissue if one exists,
each with a personnel listing. One complaint, however is that sometimes the
discographies cut off at some arbitrary point where the authors interests cut
off; Kraftwerk is a good example: the discography stops at 1978 and
completely ignores anything after "The Man Machine". Most will
agree that the band's output in the eighties was less than stellar from a
'progressive' perspective and would be better off ignored, but it is still necessary
from a discographical standpoint to document these releases, even if they are
crappy. Samplers and "Festival" releases are covered in a separate
section. A section of black and white photos includes some album covers and
band/artist photos, and a color section includes a number of album/single
covers. The back-of-the-book discographies by label are well researched and
comprehensive in the areas where most readers will be interested (perhaps in
20 years maybe someone will care about WMMS, Germanophon, Lost Pipe Dreams,
and others but they are handled here with a quickie paragraph and no
listings). Two additional sections "Rumors & Mysteries"
(artists that the authors have heard of, but never actually heard...) and
"Rejects and Misfits" (basically, a section of items of marginal
interest or stinkers that should be avoided) round out the text nicely. In all this is probably the
best-researched volume on German rock this writer has seen, and while I'm not
quite ready to toss all my old copies of Eurock and other books on German
rock, this one has now become my primary reference. Highly Recommended. Peter Thelen (Exposé) |
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Amazon, customer review...
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Goodreads web portal...
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A tip: Google "The Crack In The Cosmic
Egg" "Audion Publications" to learn more! Interesting mentions... |
Other editions...