Trans-Europe Express (German: Trans Europa Express) is the sixth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk. Recorded in mid-1976 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the album was released in March 1977 on Kling Klang Records. It saw the group refine their melodic electronic style, with a focus on sequenced rhythms, minimalism, and occasionally manipulated vocals. The themes include celebrations of the titular European railway service and Europe as a whole, and meditations on the disparities between reality and appearance. Trans-Europe Express charted at 119 on the American charts and was ranked number 30 in The Village Voice's 1977 Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Two singles were released: "Trans-Europe Express" and "Showroom Dummies". The album has been re-released in several formats and continues to receive acclaim. In 2014, the Los Angeles Times called it "the most important pop album of the last 40 years".
Early electronica should always be celebrated. It’s the foundation for any synthesised music today. But this foundation has cracks...and their extremely repetitive and flakey. There is a solid compound in it’s mix yet nowhere near interesting enough to want to reapply once let alone over and over again. 1 Star!
What's not to love about Kraftwerk? Groundbreaking electronic music and German accents! I've been a fan since a very young age. The Siouxie and the Banshees version of "Hall of Mirrors" was an important moody college song, but sounds positively jaunty next to Kraftwerk's masterpiece of existential dread, which leads nicely to "Showroom Dummies." We are all showroom dummies; "we go into a club, and there we start to dance." I never had this album, but "Trans Europe Express" was on a Kraftwerk collection I had, and was always a favorite of mine with its funky train beat in the background and (retroactively) futuristic feel. On a sleek, high speed train of the future, speeding through the European landscape, I'm filled with ennui and angst under this façade I'm forced to wear. Timeless perfection.
What an interesting album. I can see why it is one of the most influential albums in modern music history. Electronica vibes
Good job it wasn't the Trans UK Express or it would have been overpriced, delayed, busy and the toilets would have been horrible. AMIRIGHT?
OK, I wrote my first review below but was still listening to it when driving across town. In the space of a mile, I encountered some staggeringly entitled arsehole drivers. I found that it actually was the perfect soundtrack to staring the patriarchy in the face with a cold, dead, unblinking stare. It's just gone from 1 to 4 stars. ---‐------------------------------------------- Yes, I know, massively influential on the electronic music genre. But this is the musical equivalent of eating 6 crackers without water. Joyless, functional and boring. I couldn't finish it. One star.
Solidly boring. I see that it was made in 1977 so this may have been foundational to the music that I DO like but... I do not want to listen to this ever again haha.
2 Kraftwek albums in a row.... Wtf are you doing to me. These sound exactly the same. Like crap.
I LOVE KRAFTWERK. So cool, different, electronic, but not overwhelming or too much. Genius. I discovered them playing in Vintage Vinyl one day and had to ask an employee who it was and bought the CD.
It is such a great album and love the early electronics and rhythms, along with the German flair in Kraftwerk's vocals. Listening to this made me want to catch a train in the middle of the night in the city. A very essential listen. Trans Europe Express to Abzug was perfection and its chant felt like a powerful mantra. Have to say though, the German version was better and in partitcular, so were the live versions of Hall of Mirrors and Showroom Dummies in 1981. Fun Fact: Dr Dre playing a live version of Metal on Metal at the beginning of Defiant Ones effectively prescribed me to Kraftwerk and this album.
Dope. Never heard. Really enjoy
The track Franz Schubert is what plays when you ascend to heaven
Beep boop we are german and we like trains beep boop
Sounds like someone dicking around on a keyboard. Almost ten minutes of this shit on the first song. Guh. Like is the fact they say "Europe. Endless." Over and over and play the same shit over and over for 10 fucking minutes supposed to be ironic? Or is it supposed to be a stab at coloratura? Europe is endless and so is this fucking song. I don't find this groundbreaking in anyway. It's sophomoric if you we're to ask me. Pedantic even. I'm not taking the right drugs. I've just seen there's a song called endless. I can't wait...
Liked this one a lot more; slowly building songs, somewhat repetitive but intricately great
One of the coolest albums ever. German version >> English version. Electronic ingenuity. 9-10/10 1. Trans Europa Express 2. Spiegelsaal 3. Schaufensterpuppen
Diese verrückten Deutschen sind wieder dabei, ja. Sie lieben die Synthesizer-Musik und sie lieben das gesprochene Wort über Euro Rail und Mirrors so sehr. Bringt mich dazu, mit meinen Händen vor meinem Gesicht abstrakt zu tanzen.
Electronic music classic. Hall of Mirrors.
You'll think I'm weird for this, but I listen to Trans Europe Express a lot when I'm working. There's something about it that keeps me focused. My personal work habits aside, this is a perfect album in a lot of ways, and the influence and power of Kraftwerk can never be overstated. They never got enough credit for what they did, but Kraftwerk in general and this album in particular are directly responsible for so much of what we hear in all kinds of music going forward, even to this day. Not only that, but it's also such a beautifully made album. Gorgeous music that runs the gambit from elegant and ethereal to coldly authoritative and trancelike, even menacing at times. The songs are minimalist, but subtly layered in a way that allows you to really hear and appreciate every tone. It's stunning how an almost 50 year old album can still sound so innovative. All the stars for this one. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Impossible to rank. All these songs are perfect. Europe Endless, Franz Schubert, Showroom Dummies, Trans-Europe Express/Metal on Metal/Abzug, Endless Endless, The Hall of Mirrors
The track listing is 8 tracks, but in reality it's only 5. That's how coherent it is. It's an album that gets better with each minute as the anticipation keeps building but modifying their formula. Kraftwerk is by far the leader of the electronic world, and this is them at their peak. This record comes right before The Man-Machine and you can hear it with the lush bright synths despite the monochromatic cover. "Europe Endless" is a fantastic opener, so happy and bright like it's opening for a movie. It goes on for 10 minutes, but with the variation and atmospheric sound, it works well. Kraftwerk was brave for following a 10 minute song with an 8 minute song. "The Hall of Mirrors" takes a mysterious, eery turn and shows another side of the group. The spoken word is mesmerizing, and the simple repeated chorus is catchy. "Showroom Dummies" is our most intense song. It's catchy, cool, accessible, and fun. I love how cold and mechanical it sounds, really matches their robotic vibe. My favorite after the titular track. Then we get to the entree, the titular track is divided as a medley of three. The iconic glissando motif leads a minimalist beat. "Metal on Metal" pauses the motif but varies the beat in the most krautrock way possible, adding creepy atmospheric synths and industrial effects on top. "Abzug" smoothly returns to form but plays with variations. This ends with the climatic closer. "Franz Schubert" and "Endless Endless" are combined as our bright peaceful instrumental coda. It's a soothing and satisfying finale. Only complaint is they could have done more with their variations to make the tracks more engaging and warrant their runtimes, which could get tiring after several listens. But I'm fairly satisfied with what we get.
I’m a little concerned how I’ve gone my whole life and never heard of this album or band. The first few electronic beats and I was loving this album. Great concept with the concept of the Trans Europe Express and the chugging beats! Album seems timeless to me as I thought it was a recent album and was shocked to find out it came out almost 50 years ago! A quick google search and I really think they should use the original album cover…classic. Anyway was a joy to listen, something about the beats are almost zen like & trance inducing.
TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS
Repetition, but make it beautiful and captivating. I really enjoyed this record.
Great album about J K Rowling's least favourite train
Kraftwerk opens this album with sparkly electronic synths reminiscent of 8-bit games that would later be invented years after its release. A display of their visionary status in the 1970s music industry milieu, 'Trans-Europe Express' (album) implements simple beats and minimal production that is perhaps more contemporary and innovative at the time. Despite this, Kraftwerk fundamentally misses the target - static and uniform composition that manages to revel only in its past glory, of being first to experiment with the digital medium.
Didn’t listen but I’m still going to rate it 1 just cuz
Weak sauce
I fucking hate Kraftwerk!!! We’ve had 3 too many Kraftwerk albums
1977 German techno sounds interesting just by the title, but honestly it's feckin boring. Couldn't finish
A little more in the way of vocals than the previous Kraftwerks album, still DEFINITELY not my thing though.
Really could not get through it. Understand why it was foundational for its time but unsure if it translates to anything interesting today. Did find out the melody from the title track was used in a Bollywood movie which was funny.
I like synth. I even like some Kraftwerk. But this album is so repetitive and boring that it was pretty hard to get through. There's a set of 3 songs that are actually the same song. Rough.
This one was challenging to listen to the whole album. Grinds a bit on the outside of my brain.
I don’t care for electronic music.
not good bad
Tedious, sterile and joyless. I really don't understand the appeal of this music - except maybe as a background, ambient sound. Felt a lot longer than 43 minutes.
Noooo! Synthpop... This was the most painful listen so far. Ja ja ja, mach schnell mit der art things, huh? I must get back to Dancecentrum in Struttgart in time to see Kraftwerk.
This has to be one of the most abysmally boring albums I've ever heard. The fact that it's early electronica does not excuse them creating a mildly intriguing sound and then proceeding to do absolutely nothing interesting with it for several minutes at a time.
perfection
I mean, I don’t hate electronica, and this is pretty decent so far. I don’t consider myself the biggest electronica fan, but I found this fairly enjoyable. It was not a pain to listen to at all.
Gran álbum que puedo apreciar como frecuente escuchador de tecno y deep house. Aunque también he de reconocer que no me lo puedo tomar en serio, es como música-meme. Chistosito, sobre todo la canción inicial la súper veo en un meme de gatitos tocando el synth. Mood: los supersónicos atienden al concierto de robotina.
Brilluant
Greatest electronic album ever
Escuchar Kraftwerk no es sentarse a escuchar musica como haces siempre. Tenés que posicionarte en los 70 y mirar hacia este lado del charco. TEE se hizo cuando acá se cantaba pata pata la escena de la musica nacional se preparaba para explotar. Es inocente, despojada de complejidad y terriblemente exacta. Te dicen Kraftwerk y escuchás como suena y decis "si, a esto me suena la palabra Kraftwerk". Si bien no es mi disco favorito de ellos (Computerwelt y Die Mensch-Maschine por si se lo preguntan), es un disco mega significativo. La tematica de la musica es sobre cosas que cuando mirás para atrás suenan re simples y basicas, pero cuando lo contextualizas, tematizaban con la vanguardia de lo que estaba sucediendo. El Tour de France, la radioactiviad, un tren que cruza todo europa, robotica, computacion... De ahi viene la inocencia con la que hicieron musica y la forma en la que suena. Hoy pasarían como ringtones polifonicos. Inventaron la musica electronica. Sin ésto, no hay Tiesto, no hay David Guetta, no hay nada. And that's something. ...Que increible que en los 70's estos tipos hablaban de un tren que iba a pasar por todo un continente y acá seguimos discutiendo si la emision genera inflacion.
Otro disco que gasté. Hoy no estoy de humor para escucharlo. Me duele la cabeza y digamos que no colabora mucho a que se me pase. Gran disco igualmente. 9/10 ludomatics.
Lo escuché un poco a las apuradas, pero es una banda que me gusta Como dijo Betz es un gusto adquirido. Ideal también para trabajar, me permite concentrarme. 5 efes
This was an amazing trip.
Really innovative and fun. It's repetitive, but there are variations throughout. My five year old developed a dance to Trans Europe Express while wearing sunglasses. 5/5.
I tore thru this. I prefer Man-Machine but this album deserves 5 stars.
Absolute classic
Stunning example of electronica. Completely game changing - who knew that Germans could be so cool ;)
Good electronica
det er så godt det her
Phenomenal, still comes in just behind Autobahn for my favourite of theirs but it's close.
cool!
Lovely, dreamy electro pop. Minimalistic sounds but gorgeously layered. 5/5 stars
Take a ride on the T.E.E. Express. It is retro, but also futuristic. It is idealistic but also kind of unsettling. It is a 10/10 but still not even my personal favorite Kraftwerk record. R.I.P. Florian Schneider
great stuff. continued listening to more albums.
Beautiful sometimes uncomfortable listening. How can an album so subdued make me feel so anxious? The layered sounds, pioneering synth lines and monotone vocals of Trans-Europe Express are a master work. This is another album that is so influential I find it hard to imagine what it would have been like to be one of the artists inspired by it hearing it for the first time.
Iconic. Most people are not aware of Kraftwerk and their ground-breaking electronic style that wasn't really done. The inhumanness goes so far it wraps around and becomes somehow human. Only song I'm not a fan of is "Showroom Dumimes". 4.5 to 5.
This may be their most refined and engaging album. It feels very conceptually unified as they begin to focus more on something closer to pop song structures with lyrics, at least on Side A. The fluid 3-track song suite of Trans Europe Express / Metal on Metal / Abzug on Side B is like a mini railway version of their masterpiece Autobahn, but with a much funkier beat. Quite a ride. This album is also a big step for them in becoming the robots they were destined to be in Showroom Dummies. And I must say I geek out every time when they name check their real life rendezvous with Bowie and Iggy on the title track. Absolutely historic. They were electronic music pioneers who were so far ahead of their time that they were essentially in a league of their own. You may not dig their schtick, hell, you may not even care for electronic music whatsoever, but, like it or not, these affectless Germans changed the sonic possibilities for music across multiple genres, some of which they nearly single handedly created. Hard to pick a favorite album by them but this just may be it for me.
duh
Brutal!! Me ha encantado. Discazo
I don't know why but I love this album. It's great. Fun sounds, cool german accents saying the same words over and over again. So amazing! I think my favourite tracks are Europe Endless and The Hall of Mirrors.
Awwww yiss. I fucking love this album, but I am happy to rediscover that fact.
Love this album, smooth elegance electronica.
Det här kan mycket väl vara det bästa som någonsin släppts. Det är, fulländat.
fucking amazing electronic I love Kraftwerk favorite song is probably Showroom Dummies, but the whole album’s great - 10/10
Nonstop.
Fav songs: - The Hall of Mirrors - Showroom Dummies - Trans-Europe Express
Coooool
Still phenomenal.
Repetitive, detailed, more to it than you get on a first listen. Great!
Magnificence
OK so I'm dumb. For the longest time I thought kraftwerk was that shitty joke from the eric Andre show. But that's kraft punk. I'm smart. But this album is amazing. It's so ahead of its time it isn't even funny. I will save this one for now and check out the whole kraftwerk catalog.
All in on the synths and I love it
an electronic feast for the ears
I do like the journey of the album's concept. If you catch it in the right mood, it can be quite immersive. It's a good one to zone out to, given it was released in 1977, it's a ground-breaking album. Otherworldly. I was going to give it a 4, but feeling optimistic today, 5.
First time listening to Trans Europe Express. It's what I expect from Kraftwerk based on the other albums I've heard and Kraftwerk never disappoints.
Brilliant.
Is this their best album? Probably first among equals anyway, just fantastic. My kids hate it, such philistines
Iconic Suite in the back end, and further solidifies one of the bands I actually would have have been a hard-core fan of in the 70s
This is the Kraftwerk I've been waiting for. Just the right amount of weird forward-thinking energy without getting too much. Great, catchy songs. A fantastic medley on the back half. This was just what the doctor ordered.
Так, ну это реально мой альбом, потому что только увидев облогу с утра я подумал: ну вот это меня точно чем-то удивит. Удивило. Для меня концепт раскрыт полностью, музыкальные решения пушечка, лирика тут не мешается, но и не вокал не машинальный, за что я 4+ "леди и джентльменам поставил", ну и не затянуто, быстрые 40 минуток. Такой музыкальный тикток 70х: 1,5 семпла, 2,5 музыкальных решения, которые привели к прекрасной поездке. Обязательно буду включать в дальних поездках после выезда из города и прямо перед въездом (для полетов уже есть песенька). Отдельно могу выделить почти все, но титульная композиция прям обязательно. 4-6 треки тоже надо послушать. Пы.сы. первая пятерка! Пы.пы.сы. кажется, я ебнутый, но мне заходит что авангард как визуальный жанр, так и аудиальный, как оказалось. Ещё пару альбомов и созрею до пытки авангардом от славы КПСС Пы.пы.пы.сы. возможно не оч структурировано, но 1) оч эмоций много, 2) хочу с утра получить новый альбом, а сейчас уже в кроватке с телефоном лежу, так что подробнее обсосем на подкасте
Охуенно просто (да, я решил не заморачиваться)
What a treat. These guys are the best at what they do. Hugely influential. The sound just envelopes you. Hard to believe this is 46 years old.
"Trans-Europe Express" is the sixth studio album by German band Kraftwerk. This album was a move away from their Krautrock style of improvised instrumentals to more melodic electronic music. The melodies certainly carry the day in many of these songs. Sequenced rhythms, minimalism and manipulated vocals are also incorporated. Yep, we've covered most of it. The themes include the European rail service, glorification of Europe and disparities between reality and appearance. There was and is very high critical praise for this album: "Timeless, retro and contemporary" and "The modern electronic birth certificate." A high pitch sequencer/keyboard melody begins the album and song "Europe Endless." A happy song. A man's voice and a manipulated man's voice. An ode to Europe...parks, hotels and palaces. "The Hall of Mirrors" has an eerie echoing beat and melody. This song is frightening. Deadpan vocals with a heavy German accent. I hear many a video game soundtrack and noises. It's autobiographical with how stars look at themselves in the mirrors...loathing, self-obsessive. Eins, zwei, drei with a Ramones ode and were off with another creepy song in "Showroom Dummies." A little more dance with the beat. Paranoid lyrics as they compare themselves to mannequins from the point of view of a mannequin. The famous dramatic melody keys begin "Trans-Eurpe Express." The hypnotic repetitive snare-drum beat noise. The robotic repeating of the song title. Hey, a shout out to David Bowie and Iggy Pop at the end. Bowie was a fan. The song is about the modern European railway system. The next two songs, ""Metal on Metal" and ""Abzug" are basically extended codes for "Trans-Europe Express." Keep a good thing going. "Franz Schubert" is an instrumental with repetitive keys. More grandiose with an orchestral background. The album ends with "Endless, Endless" and a manipulated voice repeating endless. I guess you might fall into two categories with this album: either there is not a wasted moment or rather this entire album is a wasted moment. I'm a huge fan. That "Trans-Europe Express" melody will be in my head for the rest of the day. There is no doubt as to the influence of this album in electronic music, other musicians, video games and probably a lot more. This sounded as good today as when I first heard it years ago.
Elegance and decadence
Classic electronic.
NIIN VITUN LAISKAAAAAAAAAAAA-----naama varmasti niin mutrulla kun olla voi.....ei sätkähdystäkään naama lihaksissa....ei kiinnosta tää musiikki homma PÄTKÄÄKÄÄN. lyriikat bro kirjota kolome lausetta tällä kertaa... jotain vaa...käsi käy...rennolla liikkellä. VITTU EN HUOMANNU EES BIISIENVAIHTOA PAITSI MAINOKSISSA KUN UNOHDIN manuaalisesti klikkaa niin ei tuu spotifyssä mainoksia en jaksa kräkkää VAIHTAA:::::::::::::HUHHUH... the hall of mirrors
Classic Kraftwerk album. The first Kraftwerk album I listened to - did not like it back in the early 80s, but adjusted my view in the 90s: it is obviously a great album.
An incredibly influential album by a fantastic band. Trans Europe express is actually quite challenging by modern standards, but not because of the maximalism of IDM nor the inaccessibility of some of the more extreme metal genres (Looking at you The Body). It's challenging because of its simplicity and hypnotic repetitive electronics and vocals which is the result of a combination of their krautrock background and the early pioneering stuff they were doing with electronics. This kind of thing, taking a simple idea and repeating it over and over again until it becomes hypnotic is often relegated to ambient and drone but is on full display here. This is an album that rewards you if you have the patience to give it in exchange. Just like a train ride through the countryside of Germany or Austria there is an immense amount of value if you just sit back do nothing and look out the window. Favourite track: Showroom dummies
I loved this album when I first heard it, back in 1979, because all of my favourite artists; OMD, Human League, Ultravox, Gary Numan, cited Kraftwerk as a major influence. I still love this album.
Super importante y bueno al chile
The 1st song had me smiling & I never looked back. All other electro-pop bands owe their existence to Kraftwerk This is a great lp to start the day No boring filler, every song stands on its own Now excuse me infeel the need to catch a train
What more can be said about an album that like Sgt Pepper or Pet Sounds virtually nothing is left to say. Two notes from the relisten here: their melancholy beauty is even more pronounced in a Brexit Britain listening to this love song to Europe. And the transition from Trance Europe Express to Metal on Metal is an awesome drop.
I liked this album! It’s a vibe for sure, but it’s a vibe that I vibe with. Hi Mickey, I hope you’re having a great day!
enjoy!
Kraftwerk. Absolutely essential listening. Vital to everything electronic in the world ever. 5 / 5 stars.
Such a german album from my perspective, and I mean that in the best possible way. I don't know how else to explain it, other than the fact that it reminds me of my college roomate who was from Germany, and used to iron his pillowcases and jeans
Pretty stunning album - a cohesive and sonically inventive piece. Both the melodic highs and murky lows come together for a complete listen. Those simple and robotic lyrics really make things fun - enjoyed this listen. Happy to back the unsubstantiated rumour I heard about Kraftwerk headlining Meredith 2023. All aboard the hype-highspeed-continental-railcar Four and a half. Fave track: The Hall of Mirrors