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Kraftwerk: Autobahn

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: EMI Records
Released: 1974
Time:
 42:27
Category: Electronica
Producer(s): See Artists ...
Rating: *********. (9/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.kraftwerk.com
Appears with: Karl Bartos
Purchase date: 2001.03.01
Price in €: 20,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Autobahn (Hutter/Schneider/Schult) - 22:43
[2] Komtenmelodie 1 (Hutter/Schneider) - 6:25
[3] Komtenmelodie 2 (Hutter/Schneider) - 5:51
[4] Mitternacht (Hutter/Schneider) - 3:45
[5] Morgenspaziergang (Hutter/Schneider) - 4:03

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Wolfgang Flür - Percussion, Producer
Ralf Hütter - Drums, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer
Klaus Roeder - Guitar, Violin
Florian Schneider - Drums, Keyboards, Producer

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1974 LP Warner Brothers 2-25326
1974 CS Warner Brothers 4-25326
1974 LP Vertigo 2003
1974 LP Philips 6623136
1989 CD EMI CDP5647461532
1989 CD Elektra 25326
1991 CD Mercury 3704
1995 CD EMI 7461532
1989 CS Elektra/Asylum 25326
1990 CD Elektra/Asylum 25326



Although Kraftwerk's first three albums were groundbreaking in their own right, Autobahn is where the group's hypnotic electro-pulse genuinely came into its own. The main difference between Autobahn and its predecessors is how it develops an insistent, propulsive pulse which makes the repeated rhythms and riffs of the shimmering electronic keyboards and trance-like guitars all the more hypnotizing. The 22-minute title track, in a severely edited form, became an international hit single and remains the peak of the band's achievements - it encapsulates the band and why they are important within one track - but the rest of the album provides soundscapes equally as intriguing. Within Autobahn, the roots of electro-funk, ambient and synth-pop are all evident - it's a pioneering album, even if its electronic trances might not capture the attention of all listeners.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine  All Music Guide


Mit ihrem vierten Album Autobahn gelang Kraftwerk aus Düsseldorf 1974 der erste internationale Coup. Das dominante, hypnotische Titelstück von über zwanzig Minuten Länge war ein radikaler Bruch mit ihrer bisherig voltgeladenen Maschinenmusik.

Die Idee kam der vierköpfigen Band bei einer Autobahnfahrt in Ralf Hütters VW. Mit dem neuerworbenen Moog verfremdeten sie die mit Tonband aufgezeichneten Verkehrsgeräusche zu einer amüsanten Autofahrt samt Startgeräusch und Gehupe. Zudem setzte die Band erstmals erfolgreich Gesang ein, der über Vocoder gezogen wurde. Die naiven Kindreime erinnerten an die Beach Boys, das Gesamtergebnis an die Route 66. Auch die verfeinerten Klangbilder "Kometenmelodie", "Mitternacht" und "Morgenspaziergang" bestachen durch klar strukturierte Melodien. Kraftwerk war die Pioniertat gelungen, zeitgenössische Elektronik mit der Dynamik von Rockmusik zu verbinden und den Grundstein zum Genre Techno-Pop zu legen.

Die konzeptionelle Grafik von Emil Schult machte das Album zu einem Gesamtkunstwerk. Auf die innovativen Klänge fuhr man weltweit ab. Kraftwerk eroberten Platz 5 der amerikanischen LP-Charts und mit der Single Platz 25. In England und Deutschland plazierten sich LP und Single in der Top Ten. Ein Jahr später wurde Kraftwerk weltweit zu den größten musikalischen Hoffnungen gewählt.

Ingeborg Schober - Amazon.de



Though they'd recorded three previous albums, Kraftwerk's modern pop legacy starts with the sounds of a few footsteps and a slamming car door--the beginning of a 22-minute musically impressionistic excursion down Germany's famed superhighway. An unexpected hit on both sides of the Atlantic, Autobahn's "fahren, fahren, fahren" refrain echoes "Fun, Fun, Fun" by the Beach Boys (just one of Kraftwerk's unlikely influences), while the entire concept recalls Brian Wilson's frustrated attempts at creating what he called "a pocket symphony." The rhythmic synth pulse that carries the title track will be familiar to Kraftwerk admirers, while cofounder Florian Schneider's flute work and other more delicate melodic touches hearken back to the band's prog-rock foundations (as do the atmospheric "Kometenmelodie 1 & 2," "Mitternacht," and "Morgenspaziergang"). Kraftwerk's fascination with technology has been well documented, but the revelation of Autobahn is the playful human spirit behind the robots' masks.

Jerry McCulley - Amazon.com



This is still Kraftwerk's best.

This is Kraftwerk's best release followed closely by Computer World, Man-Machine and Radio-Activity. Although this album is reviewed by many as an all synthesizer album, it's not. Autobahn is Kraftwerk's last album before going completely electronic. In addition to synthesizers, Autobahn contains flute, violin and guitar. The title track is a classic. It beautifully gives the listener the feel of a high speed drive on Germany's autobahn. At about 22 minutes, it gives Kraftwerk time to develop the whole concept. There is a beautiful break featuring the Autobahn melody performed on flute along with the electronics. Another break feautures the debut of what would become Kraftwerk's trademark; pulsating and layered percussion that has been imitated (but not very well) by countless groups. Also, the sound of cars speeding passed the listener in stereo is interesting. The fact that the vocals are in German, gives the music even more authenticity. Autobahn is a must for all Kraftwerk fans and anyone who enjoys beautiful melodies and arrangments. This is a great album. Other songs are Kometenmelodie 1 and 2. Kometenmelodie 1 is an eerie and slow piece with great atmosphere and Kometenmelodie 2 is a speeded up and cheerful version of 1. Mitternacht (Midnight) is a strange sounding song that would fit perfectly into an old horror movie. Morgenspierzagang (Morning Walk) is like an electronic walk in the park complete with electronic birds chirping and an electronic stream of water accompanied by a pleasant melody played on the flute. This album is a perfect example of why Kraftwerk has been so influential since 1974 and continues to be so in many areas of music. Over the years, many have tried to copy Kraftwerk without success. Kraftwerk is unique, and Autobahn is their best.

Gary L. Pedoto from New Jersey, USA, January 6, 1999
 

 L y r i c s


Autobahn

Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn

Vor uns liegt ein weites Tal
Die Sonne scheint mit Glitzerstrahl

Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band
Weisse Streifen, gruener Rand

Jetzt schalten wir ja das Radio an
Aus dem Lautsprecher klingt es dann:
Wir fah'rn auf der Autobahn...


We are driving on the Autobahn

In front of us is a wide valley
The sun is shining with glittering rays

The driving strip is a grey track
White stripes, green edge

We are switching the radio on
From the speaker it sounds:

We are driving on the Autobahn


Komtenmelodie 1

Instrumental


Komtenmelodie 2

Instrumental


Mitternacht

Instrumental


Morgenspaziergang

Instrumental

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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