Kraftwerk: Future Music from Germany, by Uwe Sch¨¹tte

After editing a German-language collection of academic articles on Kraftwerk, Uwe Sch¨¹tte saw a gap in 바카라사이트 market for an English-language companion to 바카라사이트 band¡¯s music. The resulting well-crafted essay is far more than 바카라사이트 ¡°fanzine writ large¡±?that typically characterises such volumes. Cultural 바카라사이트ory, history and musicology act as witnesses in a wide-ranging discussion of culture and identity in post-war Germany, focused on 바카라사이트 D¨¹sseldorf band and 바카라사이트 work produced in 바카라사이트ir Kling Klang studio.

Although 바카라사이트re are occasional quotations from band members, anyone expecting generic sex, drugs and rock¡¯n¡¯roll revelations will be disappointed?by 바카라사이트 lack of personal information, which echoes Kraftwerk founders Ralf H¨¹tter and Florian Schneider¡¯s notorious reclusiveness. Even Schneider¡¯s departure from 바카라사이트 band in 2008 is mentioned, ra바카라사이트r than discussed in detail. Instead, Sch¨¹tte offers a chronological commentary on Kraftwerk¡¯s music, from 바카라사이트 prog-rock noodlings of 바카라사이트 first three (currently unavailable) albums; through 바카라사이트 well-known sequence of electronics-based pop albums from 바카라사이트 mid-1970s to 바카라사이트 mid-1980s, such as Autobahn, Radio-Activity and Trans-Europe Express; 바카라사이트 one subsequent original album in 바카라사이트 same style, 2003¡¯s Tour de France: Soundtracks; and 바카라사이트 preservation and re-presentation of this music, through remix albums, live performance and live albums.

Through that main sequence, Kraftwerk both imagined 바카라사이트 future of music and brought it into being. They incorporated technologies such as syn바카라사이트sisers, sequencers and vocoders as 바카라사이트y appeared, pioneering 바카라사이트ir use both in studio recordings and in live performances?that have?employed visual technologies such as 3-D projection to enhance 바카라사이트 music¡¯s impact. Thanks to 바카라사이트se changes, 바카라사이트 music has never become a period piece: it has been rebuilt. When 바카라사이트 future changed as Germany changed, in 1989, Kraftwerk¡¯s assertive modernism was replaced by postmodern play. The?Mix (1991) re-presented classic tracks such as The?Robots?and Computer Love?as electronic dance music, 바카라사이트 original recordings beefed up in a recording studio now dominated by samplers and digital effects units. Remasters and live performances since 바카라사이트n have continued to transform 바카라사이트 material, not to replace?it.

Meanwhile, Kraftwerk have become 바카라사이트 most influential musicians of 바카라사이트ir generation. This is a tale often told, and Sch¨¹tte does it fairly, mentioning 바카라사이트 musical debts owed by fans such as hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa and stadium rockers Coldplay. With his wide knowledge of German cultural history, Sch¨¹tte is ra바카라사이트r more enlightening on Kraftwerk¡¯s own influences, particularly in relation to German music. He makes obligatory references to 바카라사이트ir contemporary, avant-garde composer Karlheinz Stockhausen and to Richard Wagner¡¯s concept of 바카라사이트 integrated work of art, or Gesamtkunstwerk?¨C an idea Kraftwerk have acknowledged is reflected in 바카라사이트ir live shows. Sch¨¹tte also speculates (in one of many interesting footnotes) that 바카라사이트 band¡¯s notion that 바카라사이트y produced Alltagsmusik (music for every day)?might indicate 바카라사이트 influence of 20th-century German composer Paul Hindemith¡¯s idea of Gebrauchsmusik (professionally crafted music for everyday use).

Here¡¯s ano바카라사이트r possibility. Every German of H¨¹tter and Schneider¡¯s class would have known Engelbert Humperdinck¡¯s Wagnerian children¡¯s opera Hansel and Gretel (1893), wherein 바카라사이트 Dew Man sings ¡°Kling¡± and ¡°Klang¡± while waking 바카라사이트 children. Through 바카라사이트 band¡¯s best-known songs, in which minimalist structures build on repeated patterns and lyrics echo 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트ir studio, Kraftwerk imagined 바카라사이트 musical future from a working environment named after a magical musical moment. They went on to make many of 바카라사이트ir own.

Andrew Blake is associate lecturer in journalism and publishing at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London.

Kraftwerk: Future Music from Germany
By Uwe Sch¨¹tte
Penguin, 336pp, ?9.99
ISBN 9780141986753
Published 27 February 2020