Kraftwerk

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