Revolutionary Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk is an music band, from Dusseldorf, Germany, who's music has been the influential substance of electronic music. According to Ektal123's video Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution, Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider form the group in 1970 and after two albums they decided to introduce new musicians to the mix. They drafted in percussionist, Wolfgang Flur and multi-instrumentalist Klaus Roeder to add new elements to the Kraftwerk sound. Kraftwerk’s sound and image was relied more heavily on synthesizers and drum machines. 

Between the years of 1974-1981, Kraftwerks released five albums. The Autobahn, Radio Activity, Trans-Euro Express, The Man-Machine, and Computer World. The Autobahn was the results of Kraftwerks labors in Kling Klang studio, according to Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution. In was released in Germany and the UK in 1974 and would be the last album of Kraftwerk produced by Conny Plank. The Autobahn was the first concept album of Kraftwerk and the album that would catapult them on to the international stage. Radio Activity was the second album with a subject matter, dealing with radioactivity and activity on the radio. During this time Hutter and Schneider had tooking over production duties. According to Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution, Roedor had left the group and was replace by Karl Bartos. According to Jason Ankeny’s article Kraftwerk, Train travel emerged as the subject of 1977's Trans-Europe Express, which marked an increased movement towards seeming musical mechanization; the line became even further blurred with the follow-up, 1978's aptly titled The Man Machine, a work almost completely bereft of human touches. By this time, the members of Kraftwerk even publicly portrayed themselves as automatons, an image solidified by tracks like "We Are the Robots." According Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution, Computer World was released in 1981 and was returned to the band’s coherent conceptual approach. The album made the UK’s top 20 and remained on the chart for 22 weeks.

Characteristics of Kraftwerk’s music that earns them the postion of the biggest influence on electronic music are using album concepts dealing with relative aspects like road travel and train travel. Also influencing songs such as Gary Numan’s Cars and groups such as Throbbing Gristle.

Kraftwerk has made a major impact on me as a listener and industry professional. I am a synthesizers fan and kind of enjoy it a little bit more than live instruments. 

References:


Etal123, (2009) Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution. Retrieved from http://www.veoh.com/watch/v17166226D39Jw7dc


Ankeny, Jason (1997). Kraftwerk. AllMusic. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kraftwerk-p4706/biography