Label: EMI/Electrola Format: 12″,CDS
Smoothness… There is nothing inherently wrong with this. It would be easy to bring the metaphor of the “well-oiled machine” into play in considering these four pieces. Is the situation of the metaphor the dominant theme in the existence of Kraftwerk? Even in the days of the Kosmische, there was this notion of reaching the cosmic, voyaging into outer space through inner space, and otherwise reaching a fair amount of transcendence. So, too, can transcendence be reached by fuck music – which these pieces certainly are, and beautifully so. At lower levels it makes plants grow and at slightly higher levels it can be assimilated into entirely. The sweat-blossoms of the discotheque germinate many carnal and carnivorous encounters. Meat-eater? A Venus fly-trap?
“Man…nature…technology…” – and in other languages, the machine moves seamlessly. It has been alleged that the motif of the Computer World was suggested by Emil Schult – how many releases into a thematic exploration can the credit of collaboration be extended? And, just how many collaborations will Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider entertain in the 21st century? The sad thing is not so much that they have been quiet for so long as it is that they speak to so few of us – the colleagues and creators and children that they have spawned.
-David Cotner-
