Review: To our ears, 1975's Radioactivity is Kraftwerk's most ghostly and otherworldly album. It was famously their first set made entirely with electronic instruments - some home-made - and now sounds like a bridge between the more krautrock-style hypnotism of the earlier Autobahn and the slicker, more tuneful albums that followed it. In other words, it's as weird, alien and otherworldly as it is ground-breaking and pop-leaning. This 2020 reissue is well worth picking up, not least because it comes pressed on translucent yellow vinyl and comes accompanied by a glossy, 16-page booklet full of iconic Kraftwerk images.
Review: Kraftwerk never bothered releasing a standard 'greatest hits' album. Instead, in 1991 they offered up The Mix, a set of brand-new digital recordings of some of their best-loved tracks. It received a lukewarm reception at the time, in part because it was marketed and reviewed as a remix album (which it isn't), but it's actually a thrill-a-minute romp that has formed the basis of their live shows ever since. It contains some fantastic re-arranged takes on such familiar favourites as 'Radioactivity', 'The Robots', 'Computer Love' and 'Autobahn', the latter of which is quite radically different (and, surprisingly, jazzier). This time round, it comes presented on ice-white vinyl and comes accompanied by a smart looking 20-page booklet.
Review: Kraftwerk first toyed with the idea of making a concept album based on the Tour De France in the early 1980s, so it was probably inevitable that the cycling-mad group would eventually deliver on that promised. First released in 2003 and now reissued in re-mastered form on red and blue vinyl, the album is the most techno-centric set in the band's discography. While it still boasts their usual recurring melodic themes, tuneful motifs and robotic vocoder vocals, many of its hypnotic and euphoric tracks (particularly the three-part title track that dominates the first half of the album) are far weightier and more club-focused than their earlier releases. For that reason alone, it's worth a place in your collection.
Review: Massive gatefold 2xLP featuring remastered versions done in 1990 of classics like "The Robots", "Trans Europe Express", "Autobahn", "Computer Love" and more. Only 2000 of the original LP were pressed. Full picture gatefold sleeve with blue and yellow coloured vinyl. Limited pressing of 300 so snatch these up!
Review: 'The Man-Machine' is closer to the sound and style that would define early new wave electro-pop. Less minimalistic in its arrangements and more complex and danceable in its underlying rhythms. Like its predecessor, 'Trans-Europe Express', there is the feel of a divided concept album, with some songs devoted to science fiction-esque links between humans and technology, often with electronically processed vocals ("The Robots," "Spacelab," and the title track); others take the glamour of urbanization as their subject ("Neon Lights" and "Metropolis"). Plus, there's "The Model," a character sketch that falls under the latter category but takes a more cynical view of the title character's glamorous lifestyle. More pop-oriented than any of their previous work, the sound of 'The Man-Machine' in particular among Kraftwerk's oeuvre had a tremendous impact on the cold, robotic synth pop of artists like Gary Numan, as well as Britain's later new-romantic movement.
Review: This vinyl curio does an excellent job in capturing two interesting moments in the history of one of the most celebrated electronic bands of all time. On Side A Kraftwerk are in the midst of their Autobahn tour, and the warmth that emanates from the primitive synthesisers speaks volume for the craft of the group in their classic formation in 1976. On the flip the production levels are astoundingly different, as we transport to Utrecht in 1981 to hear the big smashers from Computer World get blasted out to a positively ecstatic audience. It's a marvellous study of the evolution of a band who in turn had a strong hand in evolving modern music.
Review: "Electric Café" reissued on 160G gatefold vinyl and remastered. Although it came out in 1986 after computers had revolutionized music for ever, Kraftwerk still managed to up the ante with this amazing album and its classic cuts "Muzique Non Stop", "Telephone" and "Boing Boom Tschak". Very limited.
Review: You still won't find a more perfect electro album than Kraftwerk's Computer World, and it was the album that pretty much invented the style. That much is clear from this fresh 2020 reissue, which presents the iconic 1981 set on translucent yellow vinyl, accompanied by a slick booklet of fitting Kraftwerkian imagery. While 'Computer World', 'Pocket Calculator' and 'Computer Love' are near perfect electro-pop songs, it's the sheer heaviness and funkiness of the B-boy friendly beats on 'Home Computer', 'It's More Fun To Compute' and, most famously, 'Numbers' that make it such an essential. Put simply, Computer World still sounds like the future.
Cat: ZCAP 163021/CAPI 16302 (B-STOCK). Rel: 15 Dec 90
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
The Robots
Spacelab
Metropolis
The Model
Neon Lights
The Man Machine
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
'The Man-Machine' is closer to the sound and style that would define early new wave electro-pop. Less minimalistic in its arrangements and more complex and danceable in its underlying rhythms. Like its predecessor, 'Trans-Europe Express', there is the feel of a divided concept album, with some songs devoted to science fiction-esque links between humans and technology, often with electronically processed vocals ("The Robots," "Spacelab," and the title track); others take the glamour of urbanization as their subject ("Neon Lights" and "Metropolis"). Plus, there's "The Model," a character sketch that falls under the latter category but takes a more cynical view of the title character's glamorous lifestyle. More pop-oriented than any of their previous work, the sound of 'The Man-Machine' in particular among Kraftwerk's oeuvre had a tremendous impact on the cold, robotic synth pop of artists like Gary Numan, as well as Britain's later new-romantic movement.
Review: The seminal musicians who have graced King Biscuit Time on US radio are too many to count, but who's complaining when so much gold material can be dusted down and given a fresh pressing. They surely don't come more momentous than this - German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk captured in 1975 as they were in the midst of progressing from their warm, organic kosmische roots towards the game-changing synthesis they're eternally treasured for. 'Autobahn' is of course the big hit here, stretching out over the A side as it should, but don't overlook the wonderful 'Kometenmelodie' and two-part 'Morgenspaziergang', all demonstrating Schneider, Hutter et al as the extraordinary visionaries they were.
Review: While not one of Kraftwerk's most celebrated albums, Techno-Pop (known on its original 1986 release as Electric Cafe) has actually stood the test of time rather well - as this re-mastered, re-packaged clear vinyl reissue proves. The A-side suite of 'Boom-Boom-Tchak', 'Techno-Pop' and 'Musique Non-Stop' provides the perfect mix of clanking, metallic electro percussion, addictive melodies and sassy synth-pop sounds. 'House Phone' - an alternative version of 'The Telephone Call' - is also amongst the German band's heaviest, most club-ready cuts, thanks in no small part to Francois Kevorkian's superb mixing. As with the band's other 2020 reissues, this edition also comes packaged with a glossy booklet containing rare and iconic images of the group.
Review: We are always excited when a vinyl reissue of German legends Kraftwerk comes in, and so should you! Some of their earliest and most seminal recordings are compiled here on Collection, such as 'Ruckzuck', 'Megaherz' and 'Vom Himmel Hock' which are taken from the band's 1970 debut release ('Silver Forest' appeared as a bonus track on some other versions), the exclusive 'Kakteen, Wuste, Sonne' is taken from a previously unofficial release the next year, and there's the addition of the much sought after rarity 'Ruckstoss Gondoliere'.
B-STOCK: Sleeve slightly split but otherwise in excellent condition
Computer World
Pocket Calculator
Numbers
Computer World 2
Computer Love
Home Computer
It's More Fun To Compute
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve slightly split but otherwise in excellent condition***
You still won't find a more perfect electro album than Kraftwerk's Computer World, and it was the album that pretty much invented the style. That much is clear from this fresh 2020 reissue, which presents the iconic 1981 set on translucent yellow vinyl, accompanied by a slick booklet of fitting Kraftwerkian imagery. While 'Computer World', 'Pocket Calculator' and 'Computer Love' are near perfect electro-pop songs, it's the sheer heaviness and funkiness of the B-boy friendly beats on 'Home Computer', 'It's More Fun To Compute' and, most famously, 'Numbers' that make it such an essential. Put simply, Computer World still sounds like the future.
Aero Dynamik (Intelligent Design mix By Hot Chip) (8:34)
La Forme (King Of The Mountains mix By Hot Chip) (6:36)
Review: Originally released digitally two years ago and here finally available on wax, Krafwerk's Remixes pairs a swathe of vintage reworks (mostly from the '90s and early-to-mid-2000s) with a handful of surprise 2018 reworks from the legendary German band. In this latter category you'll find a fantastic, slowed-down take on 'Musique Non-Stop' and two versions of 'The Robots' based on their 21st century live versions. Other highlights include Orbital's weighty, club-ready revision of 'Expo 2000', an early '90s Francois K extension of The Mix remake of 'Radioactivity', superb Motor City techno takes on 'Expo 2000' from DJ Rolando and Underground Resistance, and two storming Hot Chip remixes of cuts from the Tour De France LP.
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