Kraftwerk (1970)
After taking in Kraftwerk 2 for the first time in many years, how does the debut sound to me? I always considered this their masterwork, an album that was at the vanguard of the Krautrock movement, a genre the band moved away from quickly.
The opening echoed flutes and hypnotic drum pattern (real drums at this point) that slowly increases its pace, is the perfect start. Conny Plank's fingerprints are all over this with phasing galore, almost defining the term Krautrock for us before our very own eyes and ears. After this rocking opener, the real experimental sets in with 'Stratovarius'. After the musique concrete start, we are treated to some psychedelic guitar in the same reckless manner as Tangerine Dream's Electronic Meditation, not something one would normally associate with Kraftwerk. 'Megaherz' is an ambient piece built around the organ, paving the road for a subgenre that was years away from fruition. Closer 'Von Himmel Hoch' has the perfect doomy Krautrock electronic atmosphere that leads to a rocking middle. Then back to an experimental bit before jamming out hard on the keyboards (some kind of early synthesizer), fuzzed out bass, and funky drums.
Overall the album reminds me of the excitement surrounding the exploration of new music within a rock setting. The German underground of 1969 to 1972 is the epitome of that mindset. Kraftwerk's debut is one of those pillars.
Ownership: 1973 Vertigo UK (2xLP) with Kraftwerk 2. Gatefold.
I don't show a lot of documented listens, but I absorbed this album quite a bit in the 90s.
1996 (first acquired); 8/25/25
Kraftwerk 2 (1972)
The second effort from Kraftwerk is not an album I previously warmed up to, though I've been familiar with it for 30 years. I suspect it's because, to my ears at least, a far cry from their debut which is something I hear as a Krautrock classic (see above). So rather than listen to these in order per the double LP that I currently possess, I reversed the sequence to see how I would respond.
Much better I'm happy say. The A-side has their familiar bouncy repetitive sound with flute and guitar grounding it to the Krautrock circuit. The flip side is very experimental, at the level of Cluster (1971) and Tangerine Dream's Zeit. It's not an easy listen, but works well if one is in a calm state of mind.
Interesting to note that many fans consider this their worst album. It's certainly their least accessible.
Ownership: 1973 Vertigo UK (2xLP) with Kraftwerk (1970). Gatefold.
1996 (first heard); 2008; 8/25/25 (review)
Autobahn (1974)
Probably the most famous of electronic albums coming from the early 70s, Kraftwerk managed to popularize a style that isn't necessarily geared for the masses. Not sure Autobahn is geared for that either, but the fact remains it was a big hit in its day. Perhaps more novelty driven than based on serious critical study. It's tempting to dismiss Autobahn as simplistic elementary school electronic music. Prep work for the serious albums of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. But that's just snobbery really. Kraftwerk had a different, perhaps pioneering outlook, even though they started like the rest of them as a wild and wooly Krautrock outfit. Honestly you can hear Tangerine Dream themselves copying the concepts of this album in the early 80s. The boys from Cluster leant an ear to it, that's for certain. If taking out the historical context, Autobahn is a pleasant listen, ironically nothing too forceful or impactful.Ownership: 1974 Vertigo USA (LP)10/21/19 (acquired); 4/20/23 (review)
Probably the most famous of electronic albums coming from the early 70s, Kraftwerk managed to popularize a style that isn't necessarily geared for the masses. Not sure Autobahn is geared for that either, but the fact remains it was a big hit in its day. Perhaps more novelty driven than based on serious critical study. It's tempting to dismiss Autobahn as simplistic elementary school electronic music. Prep work for the serious albums of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. But that's just snobbery really. Kraftwerk had a different, perhaps pioneering outlook, even though they started like the rest of them as a wild and wooly Krautrock outfit. Honestly you can hear Tangerine Dream themselves copying the concepts of this album in the early 80s. The boys from Cluster leant an ear to it, that's for certain. If taking out the historical context, Autobahn is a pleasant listen, ironically nothing too forceful or impactful.Ownership: 1974 Vertigo USA (LP)10/21/19 (acquired); 4/20/23 (review)
---
Other albums once owned: Ralf & Florian
Perhaps unbelievably, but I haven't heard any of their classic works post Autobahn. It wasn't the type of music I was seeking out in the 1980s and 90s. Today I'm very much up to hearing them. I'm sure I'll find them eventually and report as I go.
For whatever reason, Kraftwerk has completely disowned their pre-Autobahn past (including Organisation) and refuses to allow for legal reissues (as of 8/25/25). Probably the most popular albums, in my collection at least, that never have been reissued.
4/20/23 (new entry)
No comments:
Post a Comment