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| Kraftwerk
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The word 'unique' is over-used in music, but Kraftwerk have a stronger claim than most to the tag. Ralf Hutter (b. 1946, Krefeld, Germany; organ) and woodwind student Florian Schneider-Esleben (b. 1947, Dusseldorf, Germany; woodwind) met while they were studying improvised music in Dusseldorf, Germany. They drew on the influence of experimental electronic forces such as composer Karlheinz Stockhausen and Tangerine Dream to create minimalist music on synthesizers, drum machines and tape recorders. Having previously recorded an album with Organisation ( Tone Float ), Hutter and Schneider formed Kraftwerk with Klaus Dinger and Thomas Homann and issued Highrail, after which Dinger and Homann left to form Neu. Their first two albums, released in Germany, were later released in the UK as an edited compilation in 1972. Produced by Conny Plank (later to work with Ultravox and the Eurythmics ), the bleak, spartan music provoked little response. After releasing a duo set, Ralf And Florian, Wolfgang Flur (electronic drums) and Klaus Roeder (guitar/violin/keyboards) join the group. Autobahn marked Kraftwerk's breakthrough and established them as purveyors of hi-tech, computerized music. The title track, running at more than 22 minutes, was an attempt to relate the monotony and tedium of a long road journey. An edited version reached the Top 10 in the US and UK charts. In 1975, Roeder was replaced by Karl Bartos, who played on Radioactivity, a concept album based on the sounds to be found on the airwaves. Trans-Europe Express and The Man-Machine were pioneering electronic works which strongly influenced a generation of English new-wave groups like the Human League, Tubeway Army ( Gary Numan ), Depeche Mode and OMD, while David Bowie claimed to be have long been an admirer. The New Musical Express said of The Man-Machine : 'It is the only completely successful visual/aural fusion rock has produced so far'. Kraftwerk spent three years building their own Kling Klang studios in the late 70s, complete with, inevitably, scores of computers. The single 'The Model', from The Man-Machine, gave the band a surprise hit when it topped the UK charts in 1982, and it led to a trio of hits, including 'Showroom Dummies' and 'Tour De France', a song that was featured in the film Breakdance and became the theme for the cycling event of the same name in 1983. Electric Cafe was a disappointment, but the group were now cited as a major influence on a host of electro artists from Afrika Bambaataa to the respected producer Arthur Baker. Bambaataa and Baker's pioneering 1982 'Planet Rock' single was built around samples of both 'Trans-Europe Express' and 'Numbers' (from 1981's Computer World ).
Hutter and Schneider have remained enigmatically quiet ever since Electric Cafe. In 1990, a frustrated Flur departed to be replaced by Fritz Hijbert (Flur later collaborated with Mouse On Mars under the name of Yamo). Kraftwerk's best known songs were collected together in 1991 on the double, The Mix, aimed chiefly at the dance music market by EMI Records. 'I think our music has to do with emotions. Technology and emotion can join hands . . .' said Hutter in 1991. They made a surprise return to live performance with a headline appearance at the UK's Tribal Gathering in the summer of 1997.
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Discography
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Year
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Label
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Title
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1974 |
EMI Records
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Autobahn
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1975 |
Capitol/EMI Records
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Radio-Activity
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1977 |
Capitol/EMI Records
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The Man-Machine
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1981 |
Elektra Entertainment
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Computer World
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1986 |
Elektra Entertainment
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Electric Cafe
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1990 |
Capitol/EMI Records
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Trans Europe Express Single
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1997 |
Elektra Entertainment
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The Robots Single
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1998 |
Elektra Entertainment
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The Mix
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1998 |
Capitol/EMI Records
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Robots
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1998 |
Cleopatra
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The Capitol Years Box
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