Electronic Music Entry

Kraftwerk Blog

The music and image of Kraftwerk, while fairly consistent in it’s conceptual roots, made slight adjustments throughout the groups career. During the early days of Kraftwerk, their music was very experimental and quite long in it's composition. In addition, their image was less premeditated and therefore, less defined. As Kraftwerk evolved, they began to adopt a more defined and deliberate image by incorporating a cohesive group appearance, which became more defined with each album. In conjunction with their image, their music continued to become more defined, albeit a bit homogenized, as their career progressed. The simplification of their image and song structure, combined with their shorter, catchier and more radio friendly late music allowed them to cross over into the pop mainstream.

In 1974, Kraftwerk released the album Autobahn to rave reviews. This album was a nod to The Beach Boys’ autotomotive themed singles but asserted a distinct and deliberate German perspective on the subject matter. Their subsequent 1975 release, Radio-Activity, was conceptually based on the themes of both radiation and radio. In 1977, Kraftwerk released their album Trans-Europe Express. This album was focused on the theme of train travel, and contained corresponding compositional elements. The 1978 Kraftwerk album release, The Man Machine, was based on the concept of the robotic human persona depicted in the 1927 German film Metropolis. This album not only brought the group to the mainstream, but also solidified Kraftwerk’s position within the pop genre. The last album of major influence released by Kraftwerk, was their 1981 album, Computer World. This album combined both the mechanical and pop elements within this one project.

Kraftwerk was instrumental in bringing several new techniques, practices and aspects of their culture to the mainstream of popular music. One of their largest influences on music was their use of synthesizers and electronic instrumentation in their composition. Another of their largest contributions to music as a whole was the use of the drum sequencer. These two practices have been mainstays within popular music since Kraftwerk introduced them in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

As an industry professional, I find Kraftwerks artistic creations to be unique and trend-setting. Their techniques have changed the way music is made and have added to the auditory palate from which composer can draw. As a listener, I find their works to be inventive and interesting. Their compositions are unpredictable and keep the listener guessing.

Watch Videos Online | Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution | Veoh.com. (n.d.).Watch Movies Online For Free | Your #1 Online Movie Experience | Veoh. Retrieved September 17, 2011, from http://www.veoh.com/collection/music-documentary/watch/v17166226

Ankeny, J. (n.d.). Kraftwerk | AllMusic. AllMusic. Retrieved September 17, 2011, from http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kraftwerk-p4706/biography