Electronic Music

Kraftwerk is an electronic group that uses synthesizers and drum machines to create minimalistic and repetitive music.  At the time of the band's inception, synthesizers were a new and futuristic technology.  Kraftwerk essentially laid down the roots for how this technology would be used generations later.  (The Story of Kraftwerk)

Autobahn, which was released in 1974, was the first commercial success for Kraftwerk.  This success was largely due to the use of better technology and a refinement of Karftwerk's overall sound.  The release of Autobahn also marked a change in how the group preformed live.  The members started to do live vocals with a vocoder and used a minimoog for the keyboard parts.  Radio-Activity came next and with the success of Autobahn the group was able to improve their equipment even more.  They began to move towards a pop music style and were less experimental with their music.  Although Radio-Activity was a relative flop in the U.S., it became the basis for how Kraftwerk would conduct its later music.  In 1977 the group released Trans-Europe Express.  This album later became one of the hallmarks of electronic music.  The very next year Kraftwerk released The Man Machine.  The group pulled out all the stops on this album and it was recorded in a very professional manner.  In 1981 Kraftwerk released Computer World.  This album sounded much like the electronic music we hear today.  The groups trademark innovativeness landed it several hit singles and made it their most successful album to date.  They also dramatically improved their live set when they went on tour.  (The Story of Kraftwerk)

Kraftwerk was a unique and inspiring group to many artists because of their minimalistic style and their use of repetition to hook in listeners.  The use of sequencers to have perfectly timed drums and vocals is a very pleasing aesthetic to many people.  Kraftwerk excelled at doing a lot with a little.  Kraftwerk was also well known for their innovative use of technology.  With the use of the minimoog and unorthodox methods of recording vocals they set the standard for electronic music.  (Kraftwerk, and the Electronic revolution)

As a listener I cannot fully appreciate Kraftwerk's music.  The overuse of electronic instruments, the minimalism, and the stone-set timing of the beats are very unappealing to me.  As an industry professional I can see how Kraftwerk was very influential to todays electronic musicians.