[2025] Recommended German bands. Popular overseas bands.

This is not a mindtripAir Liquide

Air Liquide – This is not a mindtrip

They’re a group that specializes in electronic music—somewhere along the lines of Germany’s Aphex Twin or µ-Ziq, perhaps.

Their sound is very approachable, so if you like club music, you won’t regret giving them a listen, and above all, it’s exhilarating.

Surrounded By The StarsAmon Düül II

Amon Duul II – Surrounded By The Stars

Formed in 1968 as a split from Amon Düül, which was an artistic commune not limited to music, Amon Düül II created music that leaned less on psychedelia and more toward progressive pop-rock.

AmbossAsh Ra Tempel

Ash Ra Tempel – Amboss

Ash Ra, who would later go on to create very serene ambient-style music, originally played highly improvisational psychedelic rock reminiscent of free jazz when they debuted.

This is a celebrated performance from the period when Klaus Schulze was a member as the drummer.

DevotionBetween

Between – Devotion (1973)

While early German rock often featured violent music—psychedelic, avant-garde, and improvisational—Between stood out with a sense of refinement suggesting classically trained musicians.

This is a track from their second album, which strongly reflects Middle Eastern colors.

PlasCluster

Cluster “Plas”

In Germany, there’s a band called Kluster and another called Cluster, and both are renowned groups in German synthesizer music.

Cluster—the one with a C—began with an experimental style that turned the modulation of electronic sounds directly into music.

Mr. VainCulture Beat

Mr. Vain

Germany’s pride in dance music and dance bands is Culture Beat.

In this genre, when it comes to artists, the U.

S.

has a near monopoly in Japan—and probably worldwide as well.

If more bands like this scored global hits, the music scene would get a lot more interesting.

Abdul MalekEmbryo

Abdul Malek

Embryo was born as a further offshoot from Amon Düül II.

While Amon Düül lived communally like the American band the Grateful Dead, Embryo wandered around the world and gradually took on an increasingly ethnic character.