Editing Space rock (section)

===Peak: 1970s-1980s===
In the early 1970s, West Germany's ''[[kosmische Musik]]'' ("cosmic music") scene developed among artists who explored "spacy", [[ambient music|ambient]] instrumental soundscapes.{{sfn|Adelt|2016}} The term is frequently used as a synonym of [[krautrock]],<ref name=seabrook>{{cite book |last1=Seabrook |first1=Thomas Jerome |title=Bowie in Berlin: A New Career in a New Town |date=2008 |publisher=Jawbone Press |page=85 |isbn=978-1-906002-08-4 |access-date=25 April 2019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsSHjTf_-F8C}}</ref> but may also be used as a German analogue to the English term "space rock".<ref name="Bloomsbury Academic">{{cite book |editor1-last=Horn |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Shepherd |editor2-first=John |title=Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 11 |date=2017 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |page=177}}</ref> These artists often explored [[electronic music]], [[synthesizers]], and [[Space-themed music|themes related to space]] or otherworldliness.<ref name="harden">{{cite journal|last1=Harden|first1=Alexander C|title=Kosmische Musik and its Techno-Social Context|url=http://www.iaspmjournal.net/index.php/IASPM_Journal/article/view/784|journal=IASPM Journal|date=31 December 2016|volume=6|issue=2|pages=154–173|doi=10.5429/2079-3871(2016)v6i2.9en|access-date=18 August 2017|doi-access=free}}</ref>{{sfn|Adelt|2016}} Examples included artists like [[Ash Ra Tempel]], [[Tangerine Dream]], [[Popol Vuh (band)|Popol Vuh]], and [[Klaus Schulze]].<ref name="Bloomsbury Academic"/>

In early 1971, Pink Floyd began writing the song that would become known as "[[Echoes (Pink Floyd song)|Echoes]]", from the 1971 album ''[[Meddle]]''. The song was performed from April until September 1971, with an alternative set of lyrics, written about two planets meeting in space. 

A major album in the history of space rock was [[Hawkwind]]'s ''[[Space Ritual]]'' (1973),<ref>Wilson Neate, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r40140|pure_url=yes}} Space Ritual review], ''[[AllMusic]]''</ref> a two-disc live album advertised as "88 minutes of brain-damage" documenting Hawkwind's 1972 tour that included a [[liquid light show]] and lasers, nude dancers (notably the earth-mother figure [[Stacia]]), wild costumes and psychedelic imagery. This hard-edged concert experience attracted a motley but dedicated collection of psychedelic drug users, science-fiction fans and motorcycle riders. The science fiction author [[Michael Moorcock]] collaborated with Hawkwind on many occasions and wrote the lyrics for many of the spoken-word sections on ''Space Ritual''. 

In Europe, Hungarian band [[Omega (band)|Omega]] produced albums such as ''Time Robber'' (1976), ''Skyrover'' (1978), and ''Gammapolis'' (1979).  Other European bands include the progressive rock groups [[Eloy (band)|Eloy]] and [[Nektar]]. Nektar, who were known for having a rhythmic liquid/slide light show at their concerts, released their album ''[[Journey to the Centre of the Eye]]'' in 1971. Another European band of the period were the French [[Rockets (band)|Rockets]], formed in 1974 and relocated to Italy in 1978.