The Album That Predicted The Future | Video Essay

Hello everyone, I hope you like the video! If you are interested in watching my other Video Essays, here's the link! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-kIcj9JDSA&list=PLrTWlMf3497XmJZafZFUrQW4-HdrcctJo&ab_channel=MusikArbeiter

Kraftwork has proven through this lifetime to be as groundbreaking, important, and influential as The Beatles.

'Computer World' as a 'riff' is up there with those iconic rock riffs such as 'Day Tripper', 'Heartbreaker' and 'Black Dog'.

For me it was best Kraftwerk album and still is. I was in high school at that time, as young generation we all new Kraftwerk previous albums, considering as older albums from 1970s era, then Computer World come out and it did blow our minds it was a step up from anything out there on the music market, pure computer music. Thanks for you review on this album, it brings memories back when we were free people and i wish i was back again in 1981 :-)

The real aliens landed a long time ago, somewhere in Germany. They immediately disguised themselves as minimalist electro musicians. They have been quietly conquering planet earth ever since.

I had this album IN MY HANDS at Underdog Records in Youngstown, Ohio in '81, but didn't buy it!!! I've since realized my mistake in the late '90s. I now have all of their CDs (and a few LPs) to complete my collection. Viel dank, meinen Freunden!

I remember going to one of the Computer World tour gigs at the Lyceum in London. Got chatting to some unknowns at the bar, a certain Mr. Clarke and Mr. Gore from a band called "Hurry Up Fashion" or something.

I'm a great sci-fi fan, I read almost all the major books and short novels in this domain. None of them realy predicted "the future". BUT there's Computerwelt, it's not a book but this album predicted 35 years before what is our present now. And yes, the cassette of the album I bought in 81 is just behind me in on a shelf in my studio, a yellow lighthouse. 🙂

I'm Gen X and Kraftwerk holds a special place in my brain. I remember when this album, in particular, came out in the early 80s as "personal" computers were making their ascent. In the summer of 1982, when I was 13, there was this college guy I befriended in the local computer store (a hot thing at the time). He had this wild ride I remember - an AMC Gremlin he outfitted with a killer stereo and ambient lighting. He rolled up this one Friday night to pick me up (I couldn't drive yet) and he had his ambient lighting set to lime green and was blasting "Computer World" from his stereo. "That's rad - who's that?" "Kraftwerk you idiot."

Numbers is absolutely the best "Techo-Pop" song period. This is it, and don't start with that crap that "Blue Monday" change the music industry. These are the Masters! Thank you Kraftwerk! Great video, Thank you.

Great review. Kraftwerk were pivotal in bringing electronic music to the masses, and this album did that in spades. "The world was filling with computers, so we made songs about them". Ralf Hutter 1981

Another song that has proven visionary for our current society, not from Kraftwerk, is “Are Friends Electric” from Gary Numan amd his then band, Tubeway Army.

I am convinced that Computerwelt ist the most important record of the 20th century and its influence is still inspiring today. You could argue that nobody uses pocket calculators anymore, but what is a smartphone if not a pocket calculator? It even makes music and you can file your taxes with it. In the German lyric the "operator" is a musician with a pocket calculator in his hand. It hints at the fact that a musician and his music is only just a bunch of numbers. He´s his own consumer product! That´s the genius of Kraftwerk: Eternal melodies, impeccable sound, incrdible rhythms and minimalist lyrics that are so destilled that they contain multiple messages within one sentence. Take for example the lyrics of Computerliebe: Not only do they "invent" online-dating, they also predict a situation where the protagonist is pursuing his "data-date" out of pure boredom (and not horniness). It´s probably the same character of Homecomputer: In ther German lyrics it says "I´m sitting at my homecomputer, program myself my own future" (notice the difference to "beam myself into the future"?!) It´s interesting that the impassioned way he sings this shows no trace of wonder or excitement. It´s a matter of fact, there is now thrill in this future. This leads to the realisation/command that it´s "more fun to compute" which sounds like a threat! In a world of endless possibilities, you better blend in, go with the flow and do everything you´re told. Resistance is futile (and no fun). Kraftwerk only observe, they never judge! That´s why the album has lost nothing of its relevance. (The only time they judged and commented was the moment when the had lost it: Putting "stop" in front of Radioactivity. That was the moment when they broke their own concept)

After years of sonic explorers trying to make analogue synths sound more and more stunning, side 2 of this album became the absolute nearest to fully unlocking the analogue magic before the quest stopped and everyone went digital. I don't think analogue sounds have ever really been bettered by anyone after this, although for a couple of years The Human League, Depeche Mode, New Order, OMD, Soft Cell all learned, matched and expanded the sound pallette with some stunning timbres of their own, but I still think sonically this weird thing STILL stands as the state-of-the-(analogue synth)-art.

These reviews of yours are great! Not overdone, not underdone. Your passion for Kraftwerk is evident, and much appreciated.

I said that to a friend in a club back in 1996. It shows how important it is to base your music on a concept and knowledge. In an interview Ralf Hütter said that technology is only dangerous in the hands of paranoid and psychopathic people. He was right! Look at the use of technology today.

Thank you for all of your Kraftwerk research. I have been a fan since 1979 and never understood why folks could not see what I see in the band. Kraftwerk's Radioactivity was my go to study musik in high school. I own a rare promotional copy of Numbers plus of course as many commercial albums as I could get my hands on. I love learning new information regarding Kraftwerk and your videos fill a lot of the gaps. Thanks again!

U should do more of this

Very articulate, insightful review to go with stunning visuals, ultra-vibrant sound and crisp images. Your reviews and cover versions do justice to the greatness of Kraftwerk! I remember seeing Kraftwerk in NYC at “the Ritz” on the Computer World Tour of ‘81. At the time I was already listening to Radioactivity, TEE and the Man Machine, and two months before the concert, I waited in anticipation for the brand new “Pocket Calculator” single to come out. An interesting confluence occurred as before the Computer World album and Pocket Calculator were released, the musical instrument calculator Casio VL-Tone also came out; I bought it and also the Casio MT-30. To see Kraftwerk’s Computer World show was a truly life-changing experience. In fact, after seeing the Computer World show in ‘81, I became such a fan that they inspired me to go to Germany a year later to study German!

I went to a school dance in '81 with this tucked under my arm...the DJ played Computer World at 45rpm! Grrrrr. Still, I was way ahead of my time so I guess I now understand why they took it off after 20 seconds! LOL