Comments on: Kraftwerk And The Electronic Revolution

By: chris bullard

chris bullard — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:57:11 +0000

i was a bit disappointed with the kraftwerk documentary dvd . It would have made it far more interesting if the currant members of kraftwerk were on there too, bringing kraftwerk up to date. It was stuck too much in the past.I know the history of the group is important but so is the present and future of kraftwerk .It would have been nice if Fritz and Henning had been on the dvd too.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:57:14 +0000

The 'modern folk music' idea is most striking to me, because I've noticed that that is also central to the music of Abba and, after realising this, both Kraftwerk and Abba's underlying appeal starts to make sense. I'll check out the book although, with you saying it's 'flawed' I'm nervous. I prefer reading books with literary depth, of which there are very few on music as there are very few on architecture. Both seem to fall into either the 'popular' or the 'academic' categories, with neither speaking much in terms of literary quality. What I mean by that is a book whose phrasing and observation reveals depth of thinking rather than one which merely describes events / things / techniques / ideas.
The former speaks wisdom, the latter only knowledge…

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:55:39 +0000

By: synthhead

synthhead — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:42:38 +0000

Have you read the book Kraftwerk: From Dusseldorf to the Future?

It's an interesting read, if a bit of a flawed book, and it has some really interesting discussion of Kraftwerk's early influences and their desire to create a modern German folk music.

One of Kraftwerk's big early influences was Iggy Pop & The Stooges – which seems a bit bizarre.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:30:18 +0000

AHHhhh… so THIS is the fabled post I'd been looking for or, more accurately, that comment above.
Anyways, I usually find the 'music DVD' section of a record shop a fest of banality. I mean, I either listen to music (CD, mp3) or I watch music, live. Watching a DVD of a performance is so… second hand??
But this particular Kraftwerk DVD is a documentary with serious editorial content. Not just about the band, but about the entire German music scene of that era. I'd say it looks pretty definitive. But the secret weight of the thing is how the producers have – rather convincingly – placed the scene – and Kraftwerk in particular – into the German post-war social context. It gives the music a poignancy I'd never appreciated before. Very interesting and thoroughly recommended.

By: synthhead

synthhead — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:51:35 +0000

Lauren – sounds like you got your MOJO workin Synthopia style.

We'll have to check this out!

By: Lauren Kreisler

Lauren Kreisler — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:55:03 +0000

Team Synthtopia, thought you might be interested in the latest issue of MOJO magazine – Kraftwerk special with a free CD featuring an exclusive track from the Kraftwerk Remasters, link below to the online bonus content and a bit of info for you.

http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/kraftwerk_contents...

KRAFTWERK: As we prepare for the release of their remastered back catalogue, MOJO is granted an exclusive audience with lead robot Ralf Hütter to talk the past, present and future workings of the electronic pioneers. “Forward direction, always forward,” he tells Ian Harrison.

FREE CD! THE MAN MACHINE! MOJO celebrates the electronic revolution in style with Tangerine Dream, OMD, The Orb, Four Tet, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Fujiya & Miyagi and many more! PLUS! An exclusive track from Kraftwerk!

All the best

Lauren Kreisler (MOJO Magazine, London)

By: Gel-Sol

Gel-Sol — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:20:02 +0000

Great flick…saw it earlier this summer.