September 25, 1997
Prodigy may be the techno-dancehall darlings of the moment, but I guarantee they'll be all but forgotten in a year. Kraftwerk, on the other hand, were making electronic music when it was genuinely controversial to do so - when it was the music, not the piercings and stage antics, that was truly provocative.
Armed only with twin drum machines and synthesizers, this German quartet emphasized rhythm and endlessly looped keyboard lines to Kraft chilly soundscapes that took inspiration from classical music while subverting its traditional themes. The passage of two decades and the corresponding leaps in technology have made Kraftwerk's style sound charmingly minimalist. Therefore, don't expect a 90's style backbeat to come crashing in - gently modulating melodies and metronomic pulses are what gives Trans-Europe Express its hypnotic allure.
Continued...
charmingly minimalist