Kraftwerk's Unrecognized Masterpiece | Video Essay

Please read this before commenting for clarification on specific points! My newest Video Essay here! youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrTWlMf3497XmJZafZFUrQW… At 20 : 37 it isn't Kraftwerk's studio, it was a different studio (a mistake from when I collected reference photos). It was the EMS Putney Studio. 01 : 48 There's a typo of "Deustch" instead of "Deutsch" lol, missed that in the editing phase. I already understand Kraftwerk translates to Powerplant/Power station, the disambiguation screen was more so to clarify the pronunciation for English compared to Deutsch, not a translation of the name. As I claimed in the video "the instruments many people suspect but aren't certain of ". So with the Instruments portion of the video is what others have guessed, I did not state it as a certainty. So yes, the Synclavier was acquired after the album lol. I misquoted the interview with Wolfgang Flür with the incorrect title, an error during editing: Malik Bendjelloul made a film called "Searching for Sugarman" that I misquoted. Malik made the interview in 2001 though. When working on these videos they are done in my free time, and they are for entertainment purposes. Mistakes happen to everyone, especially when it's one person editing and reviewing a 30 minute long video lol. This was my first time making a video of this caliber: Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Synopsis 01:56 - Album History 03:29 - Reception 04:18 - Boing Boom Tschak 05:30 - Techno Pop 08:31 - Musique Non-Stop 10:53 - The Telephone Call 13:15 - Sex Object 15:53 - Electric Café 18:11 - Demos 19:38 - Technological Advances 22:21 - The Art 23:04 - Band Member Experiences (Interviews) 27:05 - Conclusion & Opinions

Calling a kraftwerk album too cold and sterile is like saying salt is too salty

I find it really hard not to fall in love with every Kraftwerk song. absolute legends.

In 1984 I was 14yrs old. My personal opinion - this is the best Kraftwerk album. I was really surprised that it was unrecognized. Anyway I think I know why. I always had very good stereo system with very good base. Most people didn't. So they lost 50% of this music. It is not cold or sterile. It is soft, full of power and life. Computer life.

I've seen Kraftwerk live 3 times, and every time they had absolutely the best live sound I've ever heard.

Interesting story: growing up in the US in the 1980s, Kraftwerk and their music was one of the great influences of mine that drew me to Europe to follow my European dream, where I ended up in Germany spending the greatest days of my life raving non-stop throughout the 90s. thank you Germany and Kraftwerk for the great times and rest in peace Flo.

In my world, Tour De France was the single most important piece of music in the breakdancing scene in 83-84. That song defined the popping and locking style of movement, and practically served as the theme song for stutter liquid and robot popping style dance.

I have been an electronic nerd ever since I listened to Kraftwerk's "Radioactivity" as a teenager in the 70s. I rarely found the music cold, but rather meditative and hypnotically relaxing, I was a dancing electron in a fantastic future world. Thank you Kraftwerk.

Being from Detroit, MI, the album Electric Cafe was a huge hit. Kraftwerk was always in rotation from our local legend radio DJ Mojo and the Detroit dance show, The Scene/New Dance Show. I personally own their entire discography.

Probably the most influential album of theirs to a whole generation of young electronic music producers. Inspired me when I started in the mid 80's. I actually bought their mixing console from Kling Klang studio that was used on Tour de France and Electric Cafe etc. Still my prized possession.

Strangely, in Brazil, this was Kraftwerk's best-selling album, it was a very big success, I listened to this album so much that I got to memorize it and get sick of it. Strange to say it was a flop elsewhere. Best album of their carreer, best recorded, rich in details, impossible to beat...seminal.

No album in electronic music will come close to this. This is a masterpiece in not only concept but synthesis and engineering production. Im not even talking about composition.

They are not the kings of Electro....but the GOAT Electro....I still feel their contribution to music hasn`t received the due recognition it should have!

As a musician, programmer, engineer and writer, I think Kraftwerk is one of the most unsung influencers of multiple genres of music. I became a fan in 1981 and own their complete discography. I had the pleasure of seeing them live in Detroit MI, where I grew up. I could give at least three hours of positive commentary but I'll just say this: If you aren't fully in the know, take the time and educate yourself pleasurably by a deep study of this band! You won't regret it! Love Their work, especially the 80's albums.

The impact of Kraftwerk's music on pop, techno, ambient, electro or hiphop is still underrated

Kraftwerk´s discography are all masterpieces! Magnificent audio vibrations!

The sonic coldness of the album must have been exactly their point. It wasn't their job to make pop songs. They leaned into the idea that synths can create every part of music and combined it with sexual coldness, unanswered phone calls/love, and robots/computers that have taken over from humans. In the end it was really worth the complete sound redesign, layering and rhythmic complexity which those earlier recorded versions didn't have. It has given it an air of ultimate timelessness. Love this album!

My favourite kraftwerk album. This needs to be played at extreme volume to be appreciated

I was lucky enough to see them in London in the 80s. It was an extraordinary evening I shall never forget. Durch dieser erlebnis bin ich so inspieriert worden das ich deutsch gelernt habe; gebrochen, aber versteht Mann. Danke an Power station.

This and Jean-Michel Jarre's "Zoolook" are two underappreciated but really interesting departures from respective artist's previous styles. Less flow-with-it and more food-for-thought kind of thing.