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Although Autobahn was a left-field masterpiece, Trans-Europe Express is often cited as perhaps the archetypal (and most accessible) Kraftwerk album. Melodic themes are repeated often and occasionally interwoven over deliberate, chugging beats, sometimes with manipulated vocals; the effect is mechanical yet hypnotic. Thematically, the record feels like parts of two different concept albums: one a meditation on the disparities between reality and image ("Hall of Mirrors" and "Showroom Dummies" share recurring images of glass, reflection, illusion, and confused identities, as well as whimsical melodies), and the other the glorification of Europe. There is an impressive composition paying homage to "Franz Schubert," but the real meat of this approach is contained in the opening love letter, "Europe Endless," and the epic title track, which shares themes and lyrics with the following track, "Metal on Metal." The song "Trans-Europe Express" is similar in concept to "Autobahn," as it mimics the swaying motion and insistent drive of a cross-continent train trip. What ultimately holds the album together, though, is the music, which is more consistently memorable even than that on Autobahn. Overall, Trans-Europe Express offers the best blend of minimalism, mechanized rhythms, and crafted, catchy melodies in the group's catalog; henceforth, their music would take on more danceable qualities only hinted at here (although the title cut provided the basis for Afrika Bambaataa's enormously important dancefloor smash "Planet Rock").
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Karl Bartos, Drums - BILL HALVERSON, Engineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Orchestron Keyboards - Thomas Kuckuck, Engineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Drums - Peter Bollig, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977 Original (P) 1977 Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Kling Klang Produkt under exclusive licence to Capitol Music, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Emil Schult, Writer - Karl Bartos, Electronic Drums - BILL HALVERSON, Engineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder, Voice - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Voice, Orchestron Keyboards - Thomas Kuckuck, MixingEngineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Electronic Drums - Peter Bollig, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977 Original (P) 1977 Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Kling Klang Produkt under exclusive licence to Capitol Music, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Karl Bartos, Drums - BILL HALVERSON, Engineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder, Voice - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Voice, Orchestron Keyboards - Thomas Kuckuck, Engineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Drums - Peter Bollig, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977 Original (P) 1977 Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Kling Klang Produkt under exclusive licence to Capitol Music, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Karl Bartos, Drums - BILL HALVERSON, Engineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder, Voice - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Voice, Orchestron Keyboards - Thomas Kuckuck, MixingEngineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Drums - Peter Bollig, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977 Original (P) 1977 Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Kling Klang Produkt under exclusive licence to Capitol Music, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Karl Bartos, Electronic Drums - BILL HALVERSON, Engineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder - Ralf Hutter, Programmer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Voices - Thomas Kuckuck, MixingEngineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Electronic Drums - Peter Bollig, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977 Original (P) 1977 Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Kling Klang Produkt under exclusive licence to Capitol Music, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Karl Bartos, Electronic Drums - BILL HALVERSON, MixingEngineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Engineer, Programmer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder, Voices - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Voices - Thomas Kuckuck, MixingEngineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Electronic Drums - Peter Bollig, RecordingEngineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977, 2009 Capitol Records, LLC. All rights reserved.
Karl Bartos, Electronic Drums - BILL HALVERSON, Engineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Engineer, Programmer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder, Voices - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Voices - Thomas Kuckuck, Engineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Electronic Drums - Peter Bollig, RecordingEngineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977, 2009 Capitol Records, LLC. All rights reserved.
Karl Bartos, Electronic Drums - BILL HALVERSON, MixingEngineer - Kraftwerk, MainArtist - Florian Schneider, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Vocoder - Ralf Hutter, Producer, Writer, Synthesizer, Electronics, Orchestron Keyboards - Noel Summerville, MasteringEngineer - Thomas Kuckuck, MixingEngineer - WOLFGANG FLÜR, Electronic Drums - Peter Bollig, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1977 Original (P) 1977 Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Kling Klang Produkt under exclusive licence to Capitol Music, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Albumbeschreibung
Although Autobahn was a left-field masterpiece, Trans-Europe Express is often cited as perhaps the archetypal (and most accessible) Kraftwerk album. Melodic themes are repeated often and occasionally interwoven over deliberate, chugging beats, sometimes with manipulated vocals; the effect is mechanical yet hypnotic. Thematically, the record feels like parts of two different concept albums: one a meditation on the disparities between reality and image ("Hall of Mirrors" and "Showroom Dummies" share recurring images of glass, reflection, illusion, and confused identities, as well as whimsical melodies), and the other the glorification of Europe. There is an impressive composition paying homage to "Franz Schubert," but the real meat of this approach is contained in the opening love letter, "Europe Endless," and the epic title track, which shares themes and lyrics with the following track, "Metal on Metal." The song "Trans-Europe Express" is similar in concept to "Autobahn," as it mimics the swaying motion and insistent drive of a cross-continent train trip. What ultimately holds the album together, though, is the music, which is more consistently memorable even than that on Autobahn. Overall, Trans-Europe Express offers the best blend of minimalism, mechanized rhythms, and crafted, catchy melodies in the group's catalog; henceforth, their music would take on more danceable qualities only hinted at here (although the title cut provided the basis for Afrika Bambaataa's enormously important dancefloor smash "Planet Rock").
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 8 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:43
- Main artists: Kraftwerk
- Label: Parlophone UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2009 Ralf Hütter/Kraftwerk under licence to Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
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