Kraftwerk, is an influential electronic music
project, residing out of Dusseldorf, Germany. Formed by Ralf Hutter and Florian
Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider’s departure in 2008.
The signature Kraftwerk sound combines driving, repetitive rhythms with catchy
melodies, mainly following a Western classical style of harmony, with a
minimalistic and strictly electronic instrumentation. The group's simplified
lyrics are at times sung through a vocoder or computer generated speech software.
Kraftwerk were one of the first groups to popularize electronic music and are
considered pioneers and innovators in the electronic music field. In the 1970s
and early 1980s, Kraftwerk's distinctive sound was revolutionary, and has had a
lasting effect across many genres of modern music.
In 1974 Kraftwerk release Autobahn, moving away
from the sound of its earlier albums. Hutter and Schneider had invested in
newer technology such as the Minimoog and the EMS Synthi AKS, helping give
Kraftwerk a newer, disciplined sound. Autobahn would also be the last
album that Conny Plank would engineer. After the commercial success of
Autobahn, the band members invested money into updating their studio. This
meant they no longer had to rely on outside producers.
In 1975 Kraftwerk began to work on a follow-up
album, Radio-Activity.
After further investment in new equipment, the Kling Klang Studio became
a fully working recording studio. It was decided that the new album would have
a central theme. This theme came from Kraftwerk's shared interest in radio
communication, which had become enhanced on their last tour of the United
States.
In March of 1977 Kraftwerk released Trans-Europe
Express, recorded at Kling Klang Studio. Trans-Europe Express
was mixed at the Record Plant
Studios in Los Angeles. It was around this time that Hütter and
Schneider met David Bowie
at Kling Klang Studio. Collaboration was mentioned in an interview with Hütter,
but it never materialised.
In May 1978 Kraftwerk released The Man-Machine,
recorded at the Kling Klang Studio. Due to the complexity of the recording the
album was mixed at Studio Rudas in Düsseldorf. The band hired sound engineer
Leanard Jackson from Detroit to work together with Joschko Rudas on the final
mix of the record. The Man-Machine was the first Kraftwerk album where Karl Bartos was
co-credited as songwriter.
In May 1981 Kraftwerk released the album Computer World on EMI records. The album was recorded
at Kling Klang Studio between 1978 and 1981. Some
of the electronic vocals on Computer World were
created using a Texas
Instruments Language Translator. "Computer Love"
was released as a single from the album backed with the earlier Kraftwerk track
"The Model". The
single reached the number one position in the UK, making "The Model"
Kraftwerk's most successful record in the UK. The
bands live set focused increasingly on song-based material, with greater use of
vocals and the use of sequencing equipment for percussion and musical lines.
The approach taken by the group was to use the sequencing equipment
interactively, thus allowing room for improvisation.
Kraftwerk are innovators and pioneers of electronic
music, they were experimenting with equipment and also having equipment specially
designed for them to use that had never been used in music production before. When
Kraftwerk began producing no one in the music industry was utilizing the
Vocoder, Drum Machine, EMS Synthi AKS, ect., Kraftwerk was the first.
Since the birth of Kraftwerk the electronic music industry has been on a steady
climb birthing acts such as Afrika Bambaataa, Bjork, Aphex Twin, Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk, The Chemical
Brothers, The Crystal
Method, Epoch,
Moby. I personally love
Kraftwerk, I believe without innovators like Kraftwerk music production would
not be as advanced and technical as it is today..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk
