Kraftwerk Appreciation Thread

[Winston]

I just recently began listening again to this band and I'm really enjoying their powerful music and the innovative use of electronic sounds, even by today's standards. I also picked up som remixed versions of a number of their most catchy tunes, originally from the late 70's/early 80's (Der Robotmix and Toccata Electronica), those mixed versions are very recommendable as well. My favourite albums are Die Mensch Mascine and Computerwelt from 1978 and 1981 respectively, but pretty much all of their music that I've heard appeals to me.

What do you think of Kraftwerk, and do you have any favourite albums or tracks?

[monolith94]

Heh, just as I saw this thread, Kraftwerk's "Numbers" came on.

Really, the whole Trans-Europe Express album is terrific.

[Monk]

I don't listen to electronic music but I do listen to Kraftwerk. I guess it's the same mystery as how a lot of us like Johnny Cash but dislike country music as a genre.

They're cool because it seems that when a lot of artists across the genres were scared of progress and spent their days writing books about the horrors of technology, Kraftwerk seemed to embrace it. The robots are "programmed just to do/anything you want us to", as opposed to taking control of the world. That's my interpretion, anyway. Given Germany's huge guilt complex about their own history, it's a brave thing to do a song about the Autobahn, too - my favourite Kraftwerk song that I don't seem to get tired of, not even the weak parts of the 22 minutes.

So Winston, I assume you'll drop by KB-hallen in February and see them play (or whatever the hell they do)? I thought about getting a ticket, too, but I decided that charging 350 DKR was too much, especially since it's the old stuff that constitutes the raison d'être of Kraftwerk, even if they've got a new album out.

[Pekka]

Exactly what monolith said. Kraftwerk is throwing a gig here very soon, but I can't go.. too bad. Once in a lifetime...

I'm not a big fan of their new stuff, but the old stuff.. definitely groundbreaking stuff.

[Az]

I'd say they invented electronic music.

[chequita guevara]

Winston, you know Kraftwerk is progressive music, don't you? And progressive = left wing.

[Jac de Molay]

The only song I remember is Tour de France, and that's because I used to breakdance to it.

[Buck Birdseed]

Big fan. Can't see what all the synth-lovers ee in them since their natural successors are in Hip-Hop, not Synth-Pop.

[Pekka]

True. Afrika Bambaataa was inspired by trans-euro express.. planet rock is basically the same, except some added stuff in it. And Afrika Bambaataa was one of the big influences on hip hop and whatnot.

[Buck Birdseed]

Yup. The timeline I find the most convincing is Kraftwerk -> Electro -> Bass -> Dirty South + Variants.

[Az]

Originally posted by Buck Birdseed
Big fan. Can't see what all the synth-lovers ee in them since their natural successors are in Hip-Hop, not Synth-Pop.

That's unfair. The one doesn't exclude the other.

[Buck Birdseed]

Kraftwerk do way too funky sheeeiit to be even vaguely synth.

[Winston]

I wasn't aware they were giving a concert in KB-Hallen, Monk, I'll have to check whether tickets are still available. Heck I live just a stone throw away.

Thanks.

[MRT144]

the new album is crap. i guess they were alright. To be honest i think its kind of cliche to be a huge fan of kraftwerk. I find a lot of their work boring at times, and i think because i have listened to a lot electronic music, the fact that they were the first is not really that important.

[Buck Birdseed]

They weren't the first, they were just the first to do proper pop music in an electronic way. Not avant garde classical ho-hum but real, soulful pop music with their own brilliant flavour. That your electronic "music" friends immediately turned it into monotonous, tuneless crap again is probably why you don't like them.