Kraftwerk

Artist: Karl Bartos
P: 2012
Karl Bartos' new album is an audio-visual sensation! Lost for many years, some of his early music has been reconceived and re-contextualised in a thrilling modern setting. Here's the story: during Kraftwerk's heyday Karl Bartos wrote – off the record – a secret acoustic diary. Based on his musical jottings – rhythms, riffs, hooks, sounds, chords and melodies – this is what he has come up with today: twelve brand new, exciting, timeless songs.
 

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1974 / 1996
Though they'd recorded three previous albums, Kraftwerk's modern pop legacy starts with the sounds of a few footsteps and a slamming car door--the beginning of a 22-minute musically impressionistic excursion down Germany's famed superhighway. An unexpected hit on both sides of the Atlantic, Autobahn's "fahren, fahren, fahren" refrain echoes "Fun, Fun, Fun" by the Beach Boys (just one of Kraftwerk's unlikely influences), while the entire concept recalls Brian Wilson's frustrated attempts at creating what he called "a pocket symphony." The rhythmic synth pulse that carries the title track will be familiar to Kraftwerk admirers, while cofounder Florian Schneider's flute work and other more delicate melodic touches hearken back to the band's prog-rock foundations (as do the atmospheric "Kometenmelodie 1 & 2," "Mitternacht," and "Morgenspaziergang"). Kraftwerk's fascination with technology has been well documented, but the revelation of Autobahn is the playful human spirit behind the robots' masks.

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1974 / 2009
Though they'd recorded three previous albums, Kraftwerk's modern pop legacy starts with the sounds of a few footsteps and a slamming car door--the beginning of a 22-minute musically impressionistic excursion down Germany's famed superhighway. An unexpected hit on both sides of the Atlantic, Autobahn's "fahren, fahren, fahren" refrain echoes "Fun, Fun, Fun" by the Beach Boys (just one of Kraftwerk's unlikely influences), while the entire concept recalls Brian Wilson's frustrated attempts at creating what he called "a pocket symphony." The rhythmic synth pulse that carries the title track will be familiar to Kraftwerk admirers, while cofounder Florian Schneider's flute work and other more delicate melodic touches hearken back to the band's prog-rock foundations (as do the atmospheric "Kometenmelodie 1 & 2," "Mitternacht," and "Morgenspaziergang"). Kraftwerk's fascination with technology has been well documented, but the revelation of Autobahn is the playful human spirit behind the robots' masks.

Here the new remaster version!

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 2009
The songbook contains arrangements for piano, vocal and guitar for 12 Kraftwerk songs, all collected from their 1970's albums "Autobahn", "Radio-Aktivität" and "Trans Europa Express".

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 2022
With instrumentation which consisted purely of synthesisers, they pioneered the “sequenced” synthesiser allowing for mechanically precise rhythms. This double disc set contains two legendary concerts from Birminham and Bristol, recorded in 1991 for broadcast.

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1981
English Language Version. When Kraftwerk released Computer World on an unsuspecting public back in 1981, the thought of Electronic music and computers taking over seemed like a farce. Now, a quarter of a century later, Kraftwerk's musical vision has come true tenfold and many Electronic bands cite them as their main influence. This classic slice of Kraftwerk's musical tapestry is an astounding album filled with bleeps, blips, beats and a huge dose of melody that inspired thousands of musicians and fans to go forth and multiply (literally). Tracks like 'Computer Love', 'Computer World' and 'It's More Fun To Compute' have been sampled by artists from all genres, especially Rap and R&B. The hit single 'Pocket Calculator' may seem like ancient material, lyrically, but most of the world now operate their own iPods, Blackberries, cell phones, etc. so the meaning is not lost. Even the ominous 'Numbers' still sound slightly creepy after all these years. So, what have we learned from Kraftwerk? Everything.

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1981 / 2009
English Language Version. When Kraftwerk released Computer World on an unsuspecting public back in 1981, the thought of Electronic music and computers taking over seemed like a farce. Now, a quarter of a century later, Kraftwerk's musical vision has come true tenfold and many Electronic bands cite them as their main influence. This classic slice of Kraftwerk's musical tapestry is an astounding album filled with bleeps, blips, beats and a huge dose of melody that inspired thousands of musicians and fans to go forth and multiply (literally). Tracks like 'Computer Love', 'Computer World' and 'It's More Fun To Compute' have been sampled by artists from all genres, especially Rap and R&B. The hit single 'Pocket Calculator' may seem like ancient material, lyrically, but most of the world now operate their own iPods, Blackberries, cell phones, etc. so the meaning is not lost. Even the ominous 'Numbers' still sound slightly creepy after all these years. So, what have we learned from Kraftwerk? Everything.

Here the remaster version.

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1978 / 2009
The Man Machine is in my humble opinion the most perfect Kraftwerk record. Its sound anticipates the Techno movement for almost a decade and was a major influence on the synth pop bands of the early 80's (remember Orchestral Manoeuvres, Human League, etc...). this album also still showed the genuine German romanticism related to the Machine world that thelater albums lacked.
The Model, Neon Lights, etc all clever synth songs that truly show the unquestionable contribution of Kraftwerk to modern music.

Here the remaster version with german lyrics.

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1986
Was only familiar with their material up to Computer World. Decided to try this one from 1986 and was very pleasantly surprised. There are a few nominal similarities to Computer World, but this is definetly a more advanced and finely crafted work. Aestetically the sound is wonderful, crystal-clear and still retaining that fat analog sound but using electronic sources (though I think on one track I detected some bass guitar, and maybe even guitar). The Karl Bartos - sung "Telephone Call" is reminiscent of Depeche Mode at it's best. There is much that looks to the future on this, including breakbeat and ambient electronica. Check it out if you like electronic experimental, dance etc. Not a dull moment on this, and a MUST-HAVE for Kraftwerk fans.
This is the english version!

Artist: Kraftwerk
P: 1999
Here are some remixes of the track.
Jewelcase with lenticular plastic cover.
Multi-Image CD case by Gelardi Design.