Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Fantastic album. Just what I needed.
good! 5/5
This was interesting! Didn't think I'd like it but honestly pretty perfect for work.
Still relevant. They really were EDM trailblazers, weren't they?
What a classic run of incredible albums. Still sounds fresh today. Always choose the German versions when listening which sometimes masks the silly lyrics.
Kraftwerk hat mein deutsches Herz
fine start, but in my opinion really picks up towards the middle and the end
Ich wusste gar nicht, dass es eine englischsprachige Version gibt. Klingt komisch für mich. (Die Beatles haben auch einige Singles auf Deutsch eingespielt - klingt auch "strange"). Von daher habe ich mir Die Mensch-Maschine angehört und bilde mir ein, dass es im Vergleich zur 74er Autobahn Album (#38 vor einem Jahr bei mir) etwas weniger experimentierfreudig, dafür melodiöser und elektro-poppig tanzbar ist. Außerdem erscheint es mir merkwürdig alterslos, irgendwie gar nicht wie 45 Jahre alt. Gefällt mir gut.
The world we're currently living in is not the future Kraftwerk promised us. Can we please find the world where we live in this future utopia?
erdekes koncepcio, szamomra tul minimalista, de biztos h megelozte a korat. a beatek korrektek, nem az en vilagom tho.
Kedvenc/Favourite: Neon Lights Hát, nagyon nem az én világom, és nagy valószínűséggel nem is lesz. Elhiszem, hogy a saját idejében úttörőnek számított, de meghallgatva nekem maximum zenetörténeti érdekesség volt, egyáltalán nem nyűgözött le. Nekem túl egyszerű és repetitív volt végig, hiányzott belőle a nüansz. Nem hallgatok sok elektronikus zenét (meg szintipopot se), de hallottam már hasonló dolgokat, amik sokkal jobban tetszettek. Well, it's really not my thing, and it probably won't be. I get that it was a revolutionary work in its time, but listening to it, I was at best interested in its place in music history, not impressed at all. For me it was too simple and repetitive throughout, lacking nuance. I don't listen to a lot of electronic music (or synthpop), but I've heard similar things that I liked much better.
Paradigm changer. I owned the album (from Aunt Judy). Not regular listening, but interesting.
So great. So fun and interesting and funky! Good background music that you want to groove to.
Surprised to find myself bopping to the boops here and there. Not impressed overall though.
Given the time this was made it is an amazing accomplishment, goes to show electronic music was as legitimate as any other style of music 4*
they still sound futuristic even 30ish years later.
not really my genre
This was a pretty cool album. I think in some ways it seems a little hokey today, but I think that's because these guys created the style that later became so popular. It's amazing that they were pioneering these sounds and this style in 78. It's amazing to see what they were able to produce, and engineer, and cool to see how society and music has built upon their creations to get to where we are today.
the birth of electronic music, really. a bit slower paced than i'd typically go for, but it's aged super, super well. i come back to kraftwerk every once in a while and i'm never disappointed.
cute robot sounds i really like it unexpectedly
Awesome Project. As a piece of groundbreaking art, this thing succeeds and as a danceable, fun piece of music it also succeeds. We are the robots is a fantastic opener and it never loses any momentum. Neon lights is a fantastic techno ballad. The model is probably the most human song on here and if you removed the electronic elements and replaced it with rock instrumentation it probably would have charted in England. The last song is a great closer and the vocal modifications might be played out now, but it fits with the track. I was expecting something cold and soulless. With ai and the pervasive voice of tiktok and siri, I was expecting to dread this album. Instead, it's an incredibly warm and kinetic album. It feels calculated but not in an accountant way, it feels precise in the same way that a bird flaps its wings or cells divide. It feels natural, and it's endlessly refreshing. In the 50 or so years since this album was released, I think that the role of the robot in society and music has changed a lot. Fears of robot surveillance is constant, with hysteria around drones in the sky while we also invite robots into our houses on apps on our phones and smart toilets that can give you insights on your health based on your poops. You can feel the optimism on this album. Robots aren't enemies or weapons. They are babies, they have a lot to learn about the world, and at least at that moment, in 1976, their only limit was the imagination.
I love this album in all its forms, and its one of the few albums I think is vastly improved by a remaster. You can talk all day about Kraftwerk and how they invented an entirely new genre, but that's been said a billion times. The whole album not only defines a new musical genre and influenced countless future electronic and pop acts, but it practically created an aesthetic beyond music. When you think of retro future, the soundtrack is this. The post "atomic" space age, transistor based robotics, synthesized assistant voices, everything of that style owes so much to this album. I think every track is good, but my favorite is "Spacelab". I put it on nearly every quiet/ambient playlist I make. Using it as a seed to tweak various algorithmically generated playlists usually results in something good. I'm not entirely sure what it is about it but it speaks to me. There are lots of other Kraftwerk songs I like on other albums but this might be the only one I can go all the way through every time. Not a single thing I don't like about it.
Hey kid, I'm a computer. Stop all the downloading. I get it, they were first. That doesn't mean they were the best. I found this hard to get into but it's funny to think of them with big synthesizers moving around cords in order to get the right beep bop bopes.
I just find this stuff cold and uninspired.
Cool movie but I got nothing out of this as an album
Suffers the same fait as many foundational albums. There’s some all time great music here but as a whole it’s a little underwhelming
For electronic music this is a surprisingly pleasant listen. But like everything in this genre, I find myself asking, "What's this the soundtrack for?"
While the nostalgia was omnipresent, I could not ignore how "8-bit" it sounded and thus, not as enjoyable. We've been spoiled!
I can see why this album was influencial at the time, but I don't think it has aged especially well with the likes of Daft Punk taking this genre and effectively mastering it. This by comparison sounds a bit bare bones, not bad though
Not bad
Crapwerk. That is all.
Bueno
If you listen closely, you can hear that beneath the cold, metallic bleeps and bloops of these tracks, there is a very human heart pumping very human blood.
sonic the hedgehog 3 for the sega genesis
Boring
Elektronische Musik, Klassiker, The Model kennt man
My first taste of Kraftwerk. You can see how much they influenced the synthpop artists that followed them and since I love those artists, not too surprising that I love this. Even with several 6+ minute songs, I was never bored. Favorites: Metropolis, The Model, Neon Lights, The Man Machine Would I listen to it again?: Yes
Heard many of these songs before but it was good to hear the album as a whole. Will listen again to the tracks less familiar to me such as Neon Lights. I grew up with Joy Division and a New Order. A classic and hugely influential.
One of my all time favourite albums from the pioneers of electronic/techno music. Futuristic and probably one of the most accessible Kraftwerk albums. The model was a hit single in the UK. This album influenced many of the new wave/new romantic acts including Human League, Gary Newman, Bowie etc...One of the many highlights is the eerily beautiful Neon Lights. Magnificent Machine Muzik. 5 stars.
It’s what I’ve come to expect from Kraftwerk. Favorite song: Spacelab Least favorite song: The Robots
Amazing - and playful, weird and almost arrogant. This is the type of electronic music I like; the old stuff
Overrated euro noise. Unique and mildly interesting at the time, now sounds dated and simplistic.
beep boop beep that was amusing
I really like electronic music, so a lot of my favorite artists owe Kraftwerk something. The historical and cultural significance of this bands discography can't be denied. Unfortunately, this album was a slog to get through. Even at 36 minutes, it drags. It's not just that it's slow and repetitive, the constant inclusion of downright aggravating noises is something I can't get behind. Maybe I'm just not in the mood this morning, but this wasn't doing it for me. For slower and repetitive electronic music, I'd rather listen to Aphex Twin.
Daft Punk, eat your heart out.
As much as I wanted to get into this album, I was unable to do so. It’s just not my cup of tea for listening pleasure. For some reason I didn’t warm to it and found it kind of dull. I have to acknowledge the importance on later artists so for that reason my rating is 3-stars. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-the-man-machine-by-kraftwerk?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Interesting.
Interessante futuristische muziek
I'll revisit so just about meets the 4* threshold. Normally prefer shorter tracks but the longer songs worked here. I was happy throughout
Very interesting. First time hearing this classic album.
German electronica from legendary band. Robotic rhythms. Originated dance music and electronic music. Very 80s, very sci-fi, very cool.
Not the worst music I've ever heard, but if given the choice I would never voluntarily listen to this again. It's not my thing.
While not my favourite, it’s still a dance floor banger!
So-so
Kinda not a fan of music that is just weird noise. Some of it is nice weird noise, but I’m just not sure I’m sold on it. Neon Lights was a nice amount of plinky-plonky but it dragged on a bit. More of a 2.5 probably.
Shitty video game music
OGs of electronic music for sure, not bad
Не люблю электронщину, но для электронщины очень круто)
Music for robots, enjoyed by humans. Just what the robots want.
5 stars
No offense, but to my ears Kraftwerk just sounds like child's play. Everything about, the themes, the sounds, the art, it just seems silly. Which wouldn't be a knock against them if that's what they were going for, but all signs point to them taking themselves seriously. Which, like Jean-Michel Jarre, is just maximum corny.
The granddaddy of dance music. Still sounds good
I don't normally like electronica, but this was really good and not too long. Makes me feel like a cool robot, not the boring one I usually am.
synthesizers-robotic voices-poppy melodies-endless droning. Guess you had to be there. in fairness...they were different/unique to that extent this LP (and on a larger level) Kraftwerk have a place in music history. Not exactly music to get excited about tho imho
The strongest of the 3 Kraftwerk albums on this list by far. The others had great tracks but could not sustain over the album. On Man Machine every track is a banger - absolute landmark album.
Get out of here kraft punk! JK, this is pretty good and sounds like an earlier evolution of Daft Punk
This is like proto-Daft Punk. Not the best things I've ever heard, but can see how this would be pretty revolutionary for 1978.
I love how clearly Nobuo Uematsu was inspired by Kraftwerk!
A clearly highly influential album that was ahead of it's time. The vocals in Neon Lights reminds me a lot of Teleman.
Poor
Can see the influence this album had on rock/electronic music. Good album, but can be very slow at times
A very long 36 minutes. Just extremely repetitive. It's trying to be an interesting concept album but in reality it's pretty dull.
"But if I never heard this or any other Kraftwerk music again, I'd be alright." Me. Yesterday. In my review of yesterday's album "Trans Europe Express" by, you guessed it, Kraftwerk. Sigh This one is better I guess. As I said yesterday, Kraftwerk definitely grew in terms of the depth, cohesiveness, and complexity of their sound. Songs take on more definite forms with each album. The direction is clearer. The different elements of their sound come together better. The evolution of sound is clear from album-to-album. That makes this the most listenable of their records I've had. That isn't to say the other two weren't listenable - they were. But this one comes together in a way that really makes it feel like they're at the top of their game as a group. And I can appreciate that. Does that move the needle enough for me to give them more than three stars? No. This still ultimately isn't my thing, and that's alright. Happy to have listened, ready for something new. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Spacelab, Metropolis, Neon Lights
If you like Kraftwerk you’ll like this I guess?
Kraftwerk's sound sounds like the perfect stereotype of "modern music" or "music of the future" The first 3 tracks are basically composed of a unique and singular sound and the lyrics were basically repetitions of the name of the song, as if they were Pokémon shouting their own name. Then I was surprised by a song called "Das Model", which uses the same unique sound that had been presented until then, but this time with lyrics that talk about a woman. This ends up transforming the track into a great pop song! I was curious about the origins of Krautrock, so I opened the wiki and discovered that this name is nothing more than a media stereotype. Then, while listening to Neon Lights, I found myself reading an entire page of Wikipedia about the health benefits of German sauerkraut... Wonderful! In the title track that closes the album, we have the return of the Pokémon shouting its own name... but it's good too! Today I'm going to give it 4 stars! This is the second album by this band that I have listened to through this site and this one was much better than the previous one, Autobahn.
I wavered back and forth between thinking I might like it and being tired of it. Ultimately, the latter feeling prevailed.
So excited to see Kraftwerk show up for my album today. I'm not familiar with this one (Tour de France is my favorite) but still solid. Starting my commute to work The Robots was surreal, imagining what the future could be like.
Wow, um, kind of…melodic for these guys? And storytelling? And emotional? Anyhow, enjoyable throughout, well worthy of their canon, but some surprises to keep you guessing.
Fantastic stuff. Continued listening to more Kraftwerk immediately after, which is a sure sign of an easy five for me. Edit: listened to it all day at work and now I think I am becoming a robot 🤖
Isso é sensacional nos dias de hoje, imagina o impacto no ano em que foi lançado. Fizeram escola!
Finds no schwierig zum sege. Het meega geili teil und es paar woni so mässig find. Natürlich extrem de ziit voruus und so aber schaffts für mich nöd ganz uf e vieri.
blip blup ich tanz instant blup blup blip. es isch mega repetitiv aber gnau wenns mi wür verlüre machts amel öpis neus. spacelab isch etz ehner unspektakulär aber isch halt ultra crazy für 1978. aber chani mi nöd defür begeistere. metropolis au. model mega banger ich lieb d akzent text arsch aber huere funny. neon lights findi cooler als die andere woni nöd kennt han wells halt au tönt wie neon lights. moll find au de teil am schluss mitem vocal synthi ding easy geil. scho pionier die buebe. VIEEEEEER
kraftwerk! han hert verpennt, wenn mich das nöd ufmunteret weissi au nöd scho passiert!! we arre the rrrrrobots find die chline text fetze so lustig iwie HAHAHA jz meh gsang miteme lieechte dütsche akzent I love it han churz gluegt, ich han auscho bim trans europe express gschribe dass ich zwüscheme 3 und 4 bin, da au scho wieder sötti eifach es 4i geh us Fairness? oke nei ja ich hans jz zweimal durreglost und finds soo cool, iwie isches so beruhigendi musig (und erinneret mich immer wieder ah game-musig?) und glichzitig regts zum tanze ah. das git es 4i
Sprockets! 3/5
Not for me.
First off, I think the music in this absolutely slaps. I only really know Kraftwerk from Autobahn, and this isn’t exactly different, but I loved the whole aesthetic alongside it. As well as being hilariously space age and synthy, it also plays at being totally serious about its content and I just love that. I love a German accent and a Russian language breakdown. I love the idea of music made by robots. I love that the cover is clearly trying to make you think about old Russian propaganda posters, and the sense that this is sort of about the Cold War, but also sort of a big joke about a dystopian world from a silent film. I particularly liked Spacelab for being quite haunting- I think that’s a theremin in there, and the drum machine reminds me of a zoetrope spinning different photographs round. I thought The Model was super fun too, particularly for its stilted English- interesting also that this one sort of adds to the world while not being explicitly about, like, technology: “she’s posing for consumer products now and then” feels like it’s sung by the robots from the opening track. I think I might have heard Neon Lights before, but it’s possibly the one I connected with least- it felt the simplest and most romantic, which wasn’t really what I was in the mood for after single word tracks with heavy beats and beeps. Great beefy breakdown though, which made me think about twinkly lights in the city. The Man Machine is obviously a great closing track, and kind of felt like the most influential track, maybe- if someone released this now it would sound like a lot of electronica, and I think that’s because everyone cites Kraftwerk. When you think about music that sounds like the future, it sounds like Kraftwerk, and even though The Man Machine is from the 70s, our ideas about the future don’t seem to have moved on that much. Here’s my lofty conclusion, because you know you wanted one, Fi: is the reason “futuristic music” hasn’t moved on because we no longer imagine ourselves to have a future? Arguably we’ve met Kraftwerk’s fantasy already- robots and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis realised in countries that even in the 70s were largely desert. Have we lost all optimism about the future in the face of climate change? Was the technology they’re imagining, which I’m calling dystopian, once seen as a move forward, and in the age of AI it’s lost its shine? Anyway I loved this and will put it on in the car and while drunk. Four and a half for being short (and sort of because of Neon Lights), rounded to a five.
You definitely have to be in the right frame of mind to listen to this album and be able to try your hardest to put yourself back in 1978 where this was genuinely the first of its time. An album made with no instruments whatsoever, electronic music came from Kraftwerk and laid the path for everything that came after it. I know 'The Model' is the famous track but actually probably is my least favourite on the album, but I can see how it would be the most commercially successful. 'Spacelab' to me is the one that sounds most like it came from robots/aliens and for that it is quite eerie, I would not like it blasting in my home at night when I was alone. 'Neon lights' has quite a driving quality to it and it's minimalist nature adds to its attraction. My favourite though is title track 'The Man Machine', I love the opening of this track and the solo beat to begin with and then more and more layers are added. Later it gets stripped down again to the beat which I am a big fan of and is definitely a bop. Second listen I was definitely a bigger fan than I was from the first!
I was going to write this album off as "shprokets", but I ended up kind of liking it, especially the first track: The Robots. There are aspects of this sound that repeat in other bands I like, e.g. Air (which Spotify played right after this album ended).
More interesting as an archeological relic than actual songs. Barely squeaks across the line to 3 stars.
Oddly enough, this brought albums like Buddy Holly and Solomon Burke to mind - where I'm aware this was wildly ahead of its time, but struggle to be blown away in 2024 when this kind of music can be found in any futuristic (or, at this point, retro-futuristic) kind of media (kept thinking of Knight Rider listening to 'Metropolis'). Not bad, but nothing I think I'd come back to.
Why does Kraftwerk affect me in a way that so much electronica doesn’t? Who knows but this is an extraordinary album that would be the best album of the year if it were released in 2024 yet somehow it was made in 1978 So much of the album is a mood, but The Model is an absolute banger of a pop song hiding in there
You can just imagine the film that would be attached to this. Dynamic with that Teutonic deadpan delivery.
This is my second Kraftwerk album to review, after Trans Europe Express, which I really enjoyed, and gave a five-star rating to. Given how I felt about Trans Europe Express, and my general love of synthesizers, I have pretty high hopes for this album. I’m excited to fire this up! As I expected, I really enjoyed The Man Machine (I hope that’s the only time I’ll ever type that phrase). It was a little different in tone and sound than Trans Europe Express, but I liked The Man Machine a little better (barely side-stepped it there). The overall sound was really great, but the individual songs were fantastic as well. I listened to this twice, and I honestly wish I’d had time to listen to it more than that. Even on two listens, there were more sounds that I was able to pick up on during my second go-through. Kraftwerk’s music sounds so simple, but it’s executed brilliantly, and their albums are mixed and engineered incredibly well, giving their albums a rich sound. “Spacelab” was my favorite song on the album. I loved its operatic, otherworldly sound. The main synthesizer melody was fantastic, and the other sounds that were added in only added to its beauty. I didn’t want this song to end either time that I listened to it. The other songs were really good too, but I felt like “Spacelab” stood above the crowd. This album really does a great job at showcasing how well Kraftwerk understood sound and music. Without their influence, some of my favorite bands probably wouldn’t exist, at least not in the same capacity. I really wish I had known about Kraftwerk when I was a teenager, because I think I would have loved this album then too. I can’t wait to review Autobahn when it comes up.
Kraftwerk really keyed it in for #7, refining their sound into the base of electronic music. Wild to think that this came out in 1978, it sounds like the "Hackerman" songs in 80's and 90's movies, in a good way
Nice electronic sound, maybe a little bit simple
Tough to get much better than Kraftwerk. Pretty much everything they put out is flawless, particularly the few picked as essential for this list. 5 stars.
Beep boop this music is made by computers. I am a human, therefore I do not understand it.
Mij kan dit keyboardgepingel al met al niet veel boeien. Alsof er iemand een potje Tetris zit te spelen. Het zal grensverleggend zijn geweest en anderen ideeën hebben gegeven, maar vraag niet van mij dat m'n hartje er sneller van moet kloppen.
Ik denk dat Kraftwerk hier hun volle glorie heeft bereikt. Het is nog steeds minimaal natuurlijk. En het klinkt nog wel als een gimmick. Maar nummers als Die Roboter en Das Model zijn ergens vrij catchy. En aan Das Model ook waarom Kraftwerk als een grondlegger gezien wordt. Denk de tekst weg en je hebt de basis onder heel veel jaren '80 platen.
Ik was vroeger fan van die synthesizer muziek met theme from Airwolf enzo. Daar doet me het eerste nummer aan denken, die Roboter. Ik denk overigens dat ik dit nummer al kende van Kraftwerk. Ik kan dit album beter hebben dan die Autobahn die we niet zo lang geleden mochten beluisteren. Ze hadden alleen beter alle stemmen door een vervormer mogen halen, want als die zanger Metropolis jengelt, dan schieten mijn haren overeind. Als nagels over een krijtbord. Of hou het gewoon lekker instrumentaal, want dat is fenomenaal op dit album. Electro met sfeervolle synthesizers. Het is gelukkig slechts een kleine afleiding, want verder is dit the benchmark voor elektromuziek. Veel beter dan Autobahn. Dit is een album dat ik vaker zou kunnen luisteren. Geen 5, maar het schurkt er wel dicht tegenaan
Highlights are very cool. Favorite Song: Spacelab Least Favorite Song: Neon Lights
Bleep bleep boop. Boop boop bleep bleep. Lather, rinse, repeat.
This is great. I've already had Autobahn from the generator and I didn't get on board with that, but Man Machine might have made me a Kraftwerk convert. It's a lot more danceable and fun I think that than album Of course there are a lot of synths and beeps but they do a great job of creating atmosphere, melody and groove with mostly electronics. Some of this type of music can get repetitive but I never found that with this album. The Model is a classic and I didn't get bored of any of it Also can't believe how much this sounds like Daft Punk, particularly Discovery. Or rather, Daft Punk sounds like this. Incredible influence I liked it so much I'll give another listen to Autobahn and am willing to regret giving that a rubbish score
This is why I’m doing this.
Fav: Neon Lights Least Fav: Metropolis This made me feel like a retro-futuristic robot, and I enjoyed every second of it
My lunchtime walk around Telford town centre felt like I was in Bladerunner. I mean it does, anyway, but this added to it. 5/5 would hunt replicants whilst not realising I was a replicant myself again.
Форма и содержание друг в друге
Not my cup of tea but I see the meaning of this milestone
A strong 3
Not my cup of tea
Easily one of the most influential groups in all modern music. Am I going to listen to this album much? No. Do I appreciate its impact on modern music? Absolutely.
tfw there is a spacelab
Minchia spacca
sono sicuramente io il problema, ma la musica elettronica non solo non mi dice niente, ma mi indispone pure. mi dispiace, volevo tanto che mi piacesse.
I will listen but haven’t yet ok?
Fine. A bit nerdy
My personal favorite of Kraftwerk’s. Sounds the most like more modern electronic music they inspired.
Bleep Bloop
I am the robot.
The best robot music in the world! I love Kraftwerk!
What a trip. I can't believe this came out in the 70s.
I think I appreciated it more than I enjoyed it. Maybe it just wore out its welcome, but the first half seemed stronger.
I don't think this is quite as good as Radioactivity, but it's still an easy 5.
Here's a fun story: I took a "coding music" class during my senior year of college, where I learned how to make my own electronic music and the history of the genre. One of the artists talked about in that class was Kraftwerk, and I heard "The Robots" off this album, The Man Machine. I enjoy that song for its driving beat, the minimalist vocoder vocals, and the mixture of synthesizer loops and electronic keyboard strokes that interweave to create a mechanical atmosphere indicative of the titular robots. That sentiment of the electronically driven atmosphere is carried throughout the rest of the album. The song compositions expand upon various loops and rhythms to generate a sound and style that invokes the given lyrical theme, oft divided between the advancement of machinery on the title track and "Spacelab" and the glitz and glamour of city life on "Metropolis", "The Model" and "Neon Lights". I don't think I have much to complain about with The Man Machine. It's well-produced and well-executed in its intent like you would expect a machine to do, and it does not overstay its welcome at 36 minutes of runtime. Perhaps not everyone is on board with the minimalist nature of this album and electronic music in general, but I cannot deny the enjoyment I have in what it accomplishes with so little.
An album of two halves, 'The Man Machine' starts off with eccentric electronic grooves before descending into tedium through the back half. I didn't really dig the robot voice featuring early on but couldn't deny 'The Robots' is a catchy piece of techno. Similarly worming its way into my ears was 'Spacelab', a tranquil elevator music meets trance rave anthem that reminded me very fondly of Electric Light Orchestra. Unfortunately, the wheels start to fall off not long after 'Spacelab' concludes. 'Neon Lights', in particular, is nearly 9 minutes long. This in itself is no problem but the long build-up reaches a crescendo around the 5 minute mark and then spends the better part of 4 minutes just petering out. It doesn't hold the listener's attention nor introduce anything new, save for some digital sounding "woah-oh-ohs". 'The Model' is comparatively brief at under 4 minutes but to my ears doesn't mesh all that well with what came before or what was to come. Overall this is still a fairly enjoyable listen and a piece of music that had no shortage of influence on both synth-pop and more broadly speaking, electronic music. Overall Score: 6.3/10
It's clear why it's a classic, doesn't make for a particularly riveting listen in this day and age though.
Nice album. While the sound is consistent, I liked that the music was arranged in 6 songs instead of a dozen monotonous sequences. Other artists have copied this electronic style of music but Kraftwerk presents in a truly interesting,unique way.
This record is so influential on all electronic music. You can hear the influences it had on 80s new wave. It influenced artists like Daft Punk and is still influencing artists today. It sounds like they used modular synths or sequencers to produce those driving hypnotic sounds and then they must have used some synth keyboards to play over the top of it. I also love the vocoder for the vocals. It's a bit slow for me so I don't revisit this album very often but I do like to revisit it to try and pick out what they're doing with their synths since I am a big fan of electronic music. My favorite band was heavily inspired by this record to start dabbling in electronic music using the same kind of technology so I've been very interested in this.
While I'm certain I will never listen to this record again, it is interesting and engaging. Krautrock isn't really my thing, I feel like I'm in the German porno "Logjammin" from The Big Lebowski when I listen to this stuff. I do appreciate the ambition and musicality. Some of the vocals reminded me of Lou Reed.
听着让人想到一些7，80年代蓄着Mustach的男同穿白色Disco衬衫起舞的场景，肌肉daddy在后面拿鞭子抽“快跳！”这样子。 喜欢，科幻又有点子诙谐，1978年的歌听着像未来2050年的跳跳糖，我完全会用来做我视频的bgm。9 of 10 古人写出这样的音乐真是了不起
This turned out to be a really fun and interesting listen. 36 minute run time is perfect.
Pretty good krautrock. Not as good as NEU, but competent, well produced and easy to listen to. Very good to have on in the background while working.
Album was okay. Not really my thing, and again listening to electronic music casually at home just doesn't do it for me. 2/5 Probably won't listen again
I actually got bored of that pretty quickly
Kraftwerk is a band I like, but after three plays, this album wasn't up to their best. The best track here is 'The Model', and the rest seems a bit like filler.
Lush and pretty early synth pop music. B
Revolutionary electronic but gets boring sometimes. Trans Europe express us the better albums of theirs 7.8/10
Great sound
01101110 01101111 01110100 00100000 01100111 01101111 01101111 01100100
Highlight: Spacelab Trust Kraftwerk to cement themselves as world builders. Overall: 5/10
So perfect - I always play this when i start a half marathon race - because seeing my fellow runners in neon colours bobbing at dawn to ‘The Robots’ and ‘Neon Lights’ always puts me in a good mood. End to end this record is flawless, as a friend calls them - these cool German cats - are hilariously poignant, and through their rigid robotic ways - have loads of oomph and swagger. I can’t sing praises high enough.
First listen : interesting and quirky. Second listen (with Henry, who has some experience listening to them): what the hell?! I’ve heard these guys described as the forerunners of all electronic music, as the ‘next Beatles’ (really!), compared to the Beach Boys, as the cutting edge of the future of pop. To me, they sound like the AV squad at a 1970s high school got their hands on a Vic 20 and programmed the soundtrack to the drama club production of “I Love my Calculator!” while everyone else was drinking before the Friday night school dance.
Anothwr band I know I’m supposed to love and who are supposed to be so influential but their albums too often slip into the background. Maybe that’s the point- they are supposed to be hypnotic like modern day electronica. A few tracks get like old Nintendo game soundtracks which isn’t a bad thing. I did enjoy some of it and it did feel tongue in cheek a lot of the time. Need a deeper dive or somebody to explain why they were so revolutionary as I can’t see it yet.
kraftwerk have better in my opinion but this is pretty good
Significantly better than Autobahn
i usually dislike electronic music but this is good! 3.5 < x < 4
So far seems lik the least compelling Kraftwerk-related project we've had on the list. That this is from 1978 makes the bland 90s-00s electronic on here more inexcusable. We probably have one of those up next again. like a solid 2.5, upped to 3 stars for originality. star debt will be paid by the post-1978 bleep bloop albums.
My twin three-year-olds are obsessed with the song Robots. Any time I put on any song, there’s a good chance they will yell “CAN YOU PLAY ROBOTS”. When they hear the first synth hit, they tense up, ready to run in circles, pumping their arms and screaming. Whenever they see a fan, they stick their faces right in front of it and say “WE ARE THE ROBOTS”. I have heard Robots ten thousand times. Yesterday I heard it four times. Once for this project. Three times on their request. Every day, Robots. Good album though. Not the coolest Kraftwerk, but still good.
who daft punk thinks they are
Kraftwerk was one of my favorite techno groups back in the 80's
Classic electronic music that I have listened to before and will listen to again. Not something where I would listen to their albums front to back but I do have a few song on different playlists.
My introduction to and favorite from Kraftwerk. Kicks me right back to high school when I'd loop this in my car daily. Even though I listened so much, I'm only really tired of The Model, but even that is still a great tune. I won't try to decide how it stacks up with the rest of the musical canon, all I care about today is that I fucking adore every minute of this one.
This might be my favorite kraftwerk so far. I kept Robots, Spacelab, and Man Machine. I really liked the futuristic almost cyberpunk type sound.
Always down for some Kraftwerk, these guys are wacky. "The Robots" goes stupid hard. Lost me a little as it went on but still a good time overall. Favorite tracks: The Robots, The Model. Album art: Anything red/white/black is always a hit with me. Cool font, design is minimal graphics but color scheme saves it. 3.5/5
🤖
Amazing sounds, you can hear how much this album influenced modern electronic music.
Rating: 8.5/10 Electronic robot music with genuine human elements as well. Unbelievable this came out in 1978, very catchy while also being cutting edge. Favorite songs: The Robots, Metropolis, The Model, Neon Lights, The Man Machine. Worst song: Spacelab.
Otravné
Some songs that I knew and had completely forgotten about. Good stuff
Iconic, though it lacks a bit of energy in the second half. My favorite Kraftwerk album.
6/10. Too underwhelming for my taste. :)
Um uhh stop beeping at me
I imagine this was groundbreaking in 1978. This sounds pretty cool nowadays, so I believe that back then this was something unheard and amazing. Great work!
Ugh
After 3 Kraftwerk records I can confidently say this is a very important band that I don't enjoy listening to
They are the robots !!!
Sounds like it should be in a sci-fi movie. Not entertaining to me.
Great album. Everytime I listen to this, I feel excited because of how good it is.
I could listen to Kraftwerk for days.
I generally this Kraftwerk is a bit too repetitive, but on repeat listen I kinda get it. Front to back a futuristic experience that pulls you in. A pleasant listen I'll come back to. 4/5
Techno to a T, this album fully owns its identity and it's amazing for it. The sounds, the themes, the vocals, everything is so robotic and it works amazingly. Maybe its because this sounds like nothing else on this playlist so far, but every song had me fully glued to its full weirdness. At 36 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome and I was glad this was included. The songs are all similar, but my favorite is maybe Spacelab or Neon Lights.
A lot of fun to listen to. It sounds so clean and strange but it's also quite catchy. I really enjoyed the contrast between the raw vocals and the artificial instrumentation, particularly in Neon Lights. Most of the songs last for a little too long though.
The Model
Too robot-ish for my taste.
This was The Model. With Neon Lights flashing in my minds eye, it felt like I was in the Metropolis.
Kraftwerk really is just a lot of fun, definitely the best as far as electronica goes. I think I liked this one a little more that "Trans Europe Express" but I also knew what to expect going in, which helped.
Catchy, danceable, machinic, but also oddly human too. Terrific album well worth your time.
Man alive, feel the influence. While Johnny Lydon and chums were still flicking bogeys at each other up the back of the class, these white German cycling nerds were in the lab laying down the blueprint for some all-time-great hip hop, house and techno samples. Even if those eventual end-points are often more fun to listen to than an entire album of cool-blooded Teutonic metronomy, this is astonishing gear. I for one welcome our peculiar, analogue-techno overlords.
Hard not to enjoy this offering. All the beeps and blings just work and the album flows and feels eminently listenable. Will have to revisit this one I think.
I liked this album. Very techno and a little odd. I don’t know why I liked this one, but I did. Favorite song: The Man Machine
The premier foundation of high-end electronic music and art combined!
Huge fan of the band, but this record isn't their best. Groundbreaking, important, well worth a listen. I like "The Robots" and "The Man-Machine" the best, I'm not as big of a fan of the softer more lyrical tracks... which also explains why this record isn't my favorite Kraftwerk album.
Lots of late 70s and early 80s films seem to have listened to this before composing their soundtracks,quite a relaxing listen
Innovative and influential, but did I enjoy listening to it? Yes, actually. It can be a tad too repetitive which is standard fair for a lot of electronic music but it lacks some variation, which is of course understandable for the time period but nevertheless, it felt a bit too samey at some points. Neonlicht suffers heavily from this problem. Despite these drawbacks however, the tracks are quite enjoyable and have a somewhat warm atmosphere to them. These robots certainly have a soul.
Having listened to a handful of these older electronic music albums, they suffer from the same problem. They develop some unique instrumentation, but they are just bland and repetitive. I’m glad they’re the stepping stones for the genre and others to come. But I just can’t see myself coming back to this.
Interesting to hear such early synth pop, can definitely see the influence it had on bands like Joywave who I listen to now. The lyrics were too repetitive for my taste, but the beats are cool.
I’d tap my toe to it in a waiting room.
Why? Please make it stop.
It's very different, and I didn't hate it. Didn't love it either.
Total electronic ear candy ✨
Ahead of it's time. Great!
This is a band I had heard of, but had never actually listened to. This is probably the widest gap I've had so far between how much I thought I would like something and how much I actually did. For some reason, I thought they were an industrial act. I blame German stereotypes a bit. Specifically American German stereotypes, because damn, they're specific and revisionist, and it all depends on the year it is now and the year their grandparents (or parents) told them they moved. That aside, I liked it. It's a record that is trying to experiment with new tools, and it succeeds, for the most part. They're messing with instrumentation in a way that is still trying to connect with listeners. It seems like the target audience for most "experimental" albums is an academic board, musicians, or engineers. This is the first one that feels like it still wants a regular person to have the chance to like it.
Ezt hogy tudják emberek élvezni (Igen, RÁD NÉZEK)
magam is meglepődtem, de ez nagyon tetszik! I mean, nem szerelem, de one night standnek csodálatos 🤣
**An ok album - mostly sounds and noises
Best wel nice
Very catchy! I think they were the start of a bunch of German bands that became popular in the west in the 80s. Funnily enough you do not see many anymore.
I hate Electronica in general, but I found this one tolerable, even enjoyable at times
Fine-ish. It is good but not something I'd listen to regularly
Beep booping German robots back in the 70s. Crazy to hear the now familiar techno synth and realize where it has come from.
sounds like a video game ost in the best way
Headache inducing 1 ⭐️
Not even close To my preferred cup of tea but this was a surprisingly pleasant listen. Very fun
Loved it! What a nice way to check in with past electronic music. We definitely are the robots, Kraftwerk was right.
Cool album.
Interesting but will never listen to again
A little repetitive but still enjoyable.
Can see how this would have been super influential and innovative for the time. Just sounds like a generic ringtone that's been auto-installed on your phone now.
Very unique album at least in comparison to the rest of the ones in the book, for an artist that was rejected 6 times before finally getting accepted into the rock and roll hall of fame I’d have expected more variety and well Rock and Roll. But that being said I cannot rate this higher than a 3; heck, I’d only realistically give it a 2/5 as out of the 6 songs in the album there was only one that truly stood out as a good song (The model).
Impressed by the complexity solid 3/5 stars
robot noises :)
Another one of these albums? I guess. 2.5.
I'm trying to imagine hearing this in 1978. I wonder if DEVO heard them. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
I like The Robots; I kind of like Spacelab, The Model
4☆/5 09.27.2024
Bee boo boo bop boo boo bop.
Not my cup of tea
Neon lights was cool and I can see how this album was revolutionary for the time it was produced, I can also see how lots of bands from Joy Division to Bowie as well as other experimental/ electronic/ punk/pop music was inspired by them.
Aye this was sick, a very cool album and very on brand with the theme and the effects used (plus the vibes were immaculate). I think German music consistently surprises me in the best way. I really loved The Robots and Neon Lights. I also really loved that it was short. It didn't feel too short, but it was kind of a perfect album through and through.
Not for me, but I can appreciate the value of this album. Some of the sound is really cool, I liked The Model, but I'm not sure where I would ever listen to this of my own accord.
Happy to have been exposed to this album.
Man why was I not listening to Kraftwerk sooner. This is great.
As somebody who is listening to Kraftwerk for the first time, I had to double check the year this album was released; because while it came out in 1978, it honest-to-god sounds like something that could realistically be released today and it could still hang with the best electronica has to offer. Every song has an almost futuristic sci-fi dystopian feel to it; phenomenal use of keyboards, synthesisers, and vocoders with fast based drum programming. The sparse lyrics allow the music and production to speak for itself. You, as the listener, will be painting your own picture as the 6 tracks seemingly fly by. You can hear the influence this band must have had on music. Just a quick look at their Wikipedia page reveals a list of acts who borrowed from them, were influenced heavily by them overall, and they seem to be looked at as the gold standard of electronica. While I’m only discovering them for the first time here, I can definitely hear it on this album. Personal highlights: ‘Spacelab’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘The Model’, and ‘The Man-Machine’. I would honestly recommend this album to anybody. It’s a great showcase of electronica and what the genre can truly pull off. It’s simple on the surface, yet complex in its production. It’s melodic, vibrant, unashamed, and the mood it creates is absolutely captivating. I could honestly listen to a longer version of this LP as ‘The Man-Machine’ left me wanting a lot more. 4/5
So clean. So efficient. So Teutonic. So pulsey. So bleepy. And a bit Jean-Michel Jarrey. It must have been absolute hell to program all those loops, thumps and squiggles into a coherent whole in 1978. Thank Gott they persisted and birthed the next four decades of techno, culminating in the Flight of the Conchords parody/tribute of Die Roboter. The loop is complete. For the full retro-futuristic effect I highly recommend listening to the German version. So viel Spaß!
This music reminds me of the colourful synthy-ness pioneered (arguably) by several Pink Floyd projects – including Any Colour You Like from The Dark Side Of The Moon and the entirety of the Wish You Were Here Album. The overlapping synthscapes here are clearly inspired by one of the best aspects of mid-career Floyd (and a lot of 70s prog rock). It's certainly the highlight of the album, and justifies some of the long track runtimes by kind of mesmerising the listener in most of the songs. Neon Lights may actually be the best track here, because despite its lack of catchy lyrical hooks, it takes you on a dizzying techno-journey that lets you forget about silly human-run reality. Sometimes you'll get bands that can't quite pull off the electro-trend (see: mid-80s Queen) but then MJ, Rush, and other 70s/80s bands – including Kraftwerk – prove that the genre has potential. There are a few things that bring this down. For one, the vocal is quite deadpan, which is either hilarious or lazy depending on what mood you're in. I personally don't mind it, but I can see how some people would, given the incredible vocals of 70s music contemporaries. Additionally, most of the tracks are six to eight minutes long, and there's little in the way of variation within each. This is a bit of a sin for me, but at least it doesn't verge into prog rock (dangerous territory). Every bit as good as Autobahn, another Kraftwerk release that's also included on this list. 4/5 Key tracks: The Robots, Neon Lights
Pretty decent, better than i expected.
Not bad for a bunch of robots.
3 - Kicks off with Robots which was actually my least favourite, something about it sounded cheesy, almost like a parody. Thought the album generally went better as it went along/I got into the flow. This kind of stuff isn't always my thing but I'm sure this was revolutionary when it came out. Still sounds pretty fun and fresh to a degree.
I get that tons of amazing bands, and even whole genres like EDM, look to Kraftwerk as the Big Bang inflection point for much that has come following their rise in the 70s, but I just don’t find this truly engaging.
Glad that at least one Kraftwerk album is on this list. Not because that I am particularly a big fan but because they and a few other contemporaries actually brought something new to music at that time. It was bound to happen with the advancement in technology and synthesizer‘s that this type of music would take hold and become a big part of the music scene and still is. As a big Keith Emerson fan I did love his use of the Moog Synthesizer but this was restricted to the odd solo or extra texture to his virtuoso keyboard playing along with other instruments. Synthesizer music only was a big step change. I was excited by this at the time but my interest was mainly towards Gary Numan and what he was doing. I knew Kraftwerk existed but never really got into them enough to buy any albums. Listening to this album today was pleasant enough for the first few tracks but it quickly became monotonous. I found the melodies were very simple and repetitive to the extent that they began to jarr. I do like some of the modern day electronic artists in particular if they on the ambient side such as those by Brian Eno. Maybe Eno type music exists thanks to albums like this one so my rating reflects that and the fact that Kraftwerk were very unique. 3/5 21/9/24
Wow! Such an impressive sound for 1977. You know how you can tell they were one of the first electronic bands? Because in the first song they just repeat “we are the robots” which is exactly what someone discovering they can make that voice for the first time would say. Every song settles into a nice little groove that entrances you. And they even sprinkle in a little velvet underground-esque jam with Neon Lights.
Favorite Tracks: The Robots The Model
Estuvo bueno, pero no es mi estilo.
basta de electrónicaAAAA
Interesting album
This list seems obsessed at times with early German techno. It's just not my jam. This was... fine, but I'll be happy never listening to it again.
Meisterwerk.
Yes, nice work and some deft touches well ahead of their time (our time). I wouldn’t rush to any of their gigs without a large amount of mind bending substance , but a decent listen.
As an album just to listen to it’s not amazing, but has some highlights. Robots is kinda idiosyncratic of Kraftwerk, and I’ve always found it as deliberately ironic. The Model is such an outlier, but a cool tune, which is such a precursor to tonnes of 80s acts. The rest, while the style is a bit 70s sci-fi dated, it’s really interesting hearing some of the sounds and textures which influenced, well all of future electronic music. Special nod to whatever that wave like sound acting as a bass in Spacelab and the beeps in Neon Lights is/are, the 90s owe you a massive one!
I really loved this album. It's hard for me to give it 5 stars, because, it didn't really blow me away and isn't an album I'm going to be listening to all the time, but I definitely will put it on when I need something chill or in the background while I'm working or am doing things around the house. I was surprised at how smooth and almost ambient it is, as I didn't think Kraftwerk made music like this, having only listened to their later stuff that has more teeth.
very 70's funk industrial vibe. Actually dig it. Wouldn't say I love it, but I do dig it.
Not for me
Was soll ich dazu sagen. Eines der deutschen Produkte die einfach nur gut sind. Zu "Das Modell" habe ich in den '70 in der Disco getanzt. Das war gigantisch. Ich bin ein großer Fan elektronischer Musik, der klassischen "Berliner Schule" und natürlich "Düsseldorf" Das fiel mal wie vieles andere unter den Begriff "Krautrock" und das ist wie Mercedes, Porsche und Haribo ein deutsches Qualitätslabel. Wer es noch nicht gemerkt haben sollte, das ist natürlich eine 'Besprechung' auf deutsch, es gibt heutzutage genug Übersetztungswerkzeuge, (das schreibt sich so lang!) haut rein, hört auch mal das Original "Die Mensch-Maschine"
Some great innovation here with the model clearly a stand out and withstanding time - still sounds great today
Never heard this before. Kraftwerk was certainly way ahead of its time. This is a great early electronica album that's still a lot of fun to listen to. The album seems very subversive. Bears similarities to Jean-Michele Jarre's early albums which came out around the same time. "Я твой слуга Я твой работник"
Honestly, I don't know how to rate this one. There isn't really anything that I would listen to again. It was interesting, but rather repetitive - or maybe I missed the point.
This is great, I'm glad this album came up on rotation otherwise I would never have heard it. Sparse, hypnotic and melodic. Can't believe this EDM type sound was created in the 70's. Will listen again when I'm in a contemplative mood.
Although some of these are fairly simple and repetitive, they are well crafted and cleanly implemented. Geared a bit more towards a dance club, I was surprised to see the majority of Kraftwerk's output is from the '70's: well before the other electronic music. They were clearly ahead of their time and the music is impressive considering the era they had to work with. I enjoyed this and other Kraftwerk albums and will be listening to more in the future.
We've heard worse, but I won't be listening to this one again.
what the hell was that?
I thoroughly hated this.
there are two good pieces on this, and thats being generous
super funky; loved the vibes
Didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it.
The OG. Way ahead of their time.
Standard old-school electronic tunes
A classic!
enduringly aesthetically incomprehensible! full of stimmy wonder! and genuinely autistic. some rly unmatched sound worldbuilding on here ...assembled from aesthetic fixations that are complimented perfectly by available technology. kind of the biggest album ever tbh, but it might be more of an intricate miniature u got shrunk down into. i love artifice!! cant spell it without art!!!
A short album! Thank god Beep beep boop This was fun! 3.5 or 4/5
### **"The Man-Machine" by Kraftwerk: An In-Depth Review** "The Man-Machine" (originally "Die Mensch-Maschine"), released in 1978, is Kraftwerk's seventh studio album and one of their most influential works. It marked a significant milestone in the band's evolution, embodying their fascination with the relationship between humans and technology. This review delves into the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and lasting influence while providing a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ### **1. Lyrics and Themes** "The Man-Machine" is thematically dense, reflecting Kraftwerk's vision of a future where humans and machines coexist symbiotically. The lyrics, often minimalistic, are delivered in a robotic, emotionless manner, emphasizing the connection between man and machine. - **“The Robots”** opens the album with a stark declaration: "We are the robots." The lyrics explore the idea of humans becoming like robots—obedient, efficient, and emotionless. The repetition of the phrase “we are the robots” reinforces the notion of mechanization and dehumanization. The track is partly self-referential, as Kraftwerk portrays themselves as robotic performers, blending man and machine identities. - **“Spacelab”** and **“Metropolis”** offer more abstract lyrical content. "Spacelab" suggests a futuristic vision of humanity expanding its horizons beyond Earth, possibly referencing space exploration and the quest for knowledge. "Metropolis," named after Fritz Lang’s 1927 film, draws parallels between the dystopian cityscape and the mechanized modern world, reflecting concerns about industrialization and the alienation it brings. - **“The Model”** is arguably the most accessible song, blending a satirical view of consumer culture and media obsession. Its lyrics narrate the story of a model who captivates everyone, revealing society’s obsession with superficial beauty and fame. This critique is presented in a straightforward manner, which contrasts with the more abstract themes of other tracks. - **“Neon Lights”** is the most lyrical song on the album, celebrating the urban landscape with poetic imagery of city lights. Here, the lyrics offer a rare moment of warmth, suggesting a sense of wonder in an otherwise mechanical world. - **“The Man-Machine”** brings the album full circle, contemplating the fusion of human and machine elements. The lyrics suggest a future where the line between organic life and mechanical life is blurred, creating a hybrid that symbolizes technological evolution. The album's themes revolve around mechanization, technology's impact on society, urbanization, and the loss of individuality. Kraftwerk conveys a sense of both fascination and anxiety about the future. The lyrics are deliberately sparse, allowing the listener to fill in the gaps, which aligns with the album’s minimalist aesthetic. ### **2. Music and Composition** Musically, "The Man-Machine" is a quintessential example of electronic music from the late 1970s, showcasing Kraftwerk’s pioneering use of synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines, and vocoders. The album is a balance of cold, mechanical sounds with melodic, sometimes surprisingly emotional, compositions. - **“The Robots”** uses synthetic bass lines, sequenced drum patterns, and a robotic voice to establish a futuristic atmosphere. The melody is catchy yet minimalistic, with repetitive motifs that create a hypnotic effect. The use of vocoders and synthesized voices contributes to the sense of robotic impersonality. - **“Spacelab”** is more ambient and atmospheric, with its sweeping synth textures and soaring melodies evoking images of outer space. It relies heavily on phased synthesizer lines and a steady, pulsating rhythm that mirrors the steady movement of a spacecraft. - **“Metropolis”** features a driving rhythm that reflects the industrial theme of the song. The melody is repetitive but complex, layering different synthesized sounds to create a sense of urban chaos and mechanical life. - **“The Model”** stands out with its pop sensibility. The song features a straightforward melody and structure, making it more radio-friendly. The use of bright, catchy synthesizer hooks and a steady, danceable beat exemplifies Kraftwerk’s ability to blend pop and avant-garde elements. - **“Neon Lights”** is one of the more melodic tracks on the album, with its lush synth layers and arpeggiated sequences. The track gradually builds, adding layers of sound to create a shimmering, nocturnal soundscape that captures the ambiance of a city at night. - **“The Man-Machine”** closes the album with a repetitive yet intricate structure, combining different rhythms and melodies. The song uses a mix of robotic voices and warmer synth tones, symbolizing the merging of man and machine. The composition of the album is characterized by Kraftwerk’s signature minimalist approach, with each track building on repetitive patterns that slowly evolve over time. This approach creates a hypnotic and meditative quality that draws listeners into Kraftwerk’s futuristic world. ### **3. Production** "The Man-Machine" was produced by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, the core members of Kraftwerk, at their Kling Klang Studio in Düsseldorf, Germany. The album's production is meticulous, utilizing cutting-edge technology of the time, including analog synthesizers (such as the Minimoog and ARP Odyssey), custom-built electronic percussion, vocoders, and sequencers. The production quality is exceptionally clean and precise, with every sound carefully crafted and positioned in the mix. The album features a blend of warm analog synth sounds and crisp digital textures, creating a dynamic range that is both futuristic and timeless. Kraftwerk employed multi-tracking techniques and layered their sounds to produce rich, textured compositions that remain compelling even decades later. The use of stereo panning and spatial effects is another hallmark of the album's production, providing a sense of depth and dimension. The electronic percussion is sharp and punchy, driving the rhythm forward without overpowering the melodic elements. The production’s emphasis on clarity, balance, and texture helps to convey the themes of technological precision and modernity. ### **4. Influence and Legacy** "The Man-Machine" is widely regarded as one of Kraftwerk's most influential albums, serving as a bridge between early electronic music and the genres that emerged in the 1980s and beyond. It has had a profound impact on numerous musical styles, including synth-pop, techno, hip-hop, and even rock. - **Influence on Synth-Pop and New Wave**: The album’s clean, minimalist aesthetic and use of synthesizers influenced a wide range of artists in the 1980s, from Depeche Mode and The Human League to Gary Numan and Ultravox. Kraftwerk's approach to electronic music, focusing on melody and structure rather than just experimentation, helped lay the groundwork for the synth-pop genre. - **Pioneering Techno and Electro**: "The Man-Machine" also had a significant impact on the development of techno and electro music. Artists like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Afrika Bambaataa have cited Kraftwerk as a major influence. The beats and rhythms of tracks like “The Robots” can be heard in early techno and electro productions. - **Impact on Hip-Hop**: The album’s rhythmic innovation and use of electronic sounds were also embraced by hip-hop artists in the early 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa’s track “Planet Rock,” for example, samples Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” and draws heavily from their style, merging it with African-American funk and hip-hop rhythms. - **Cultural and Conceptual Influence**: Beyond its musical impact, "The Man-Machine" has influenced the cultural discourse around technology and its integration into human life. The album’s exploration of the relationship between humans and machines has resonated with discussions on artificial intelligence, cyborg identity, and digital culture, making it a significant work not only musically but also philosophically. ### **5. Pros and Cons** **Pros:** - **Innovative Production and Sound Design**: The production of "The Man-Machine" was groundbreaking for its time and remains impressive today. Kraftwerk’s meticulous attention to detail and innovative use of technology created a sound that was ahead of its time and continues to influence modern music. - **Cohesive Thematic Vision**: The album is thematically consistent, exploring the relationship between humans and technology from various angles. This thematic coherence enhances its conceptual strength, making it more than just a collection of songs but rather a unified artistic statement. - **Catchy and Memorable Melodies**: Despite its experimental nature, the album contains some of Kraftwerk's most memorable melodies, such as those in "The Robots" and "The Model." These tracks combine accessibility with complexity, appealing to both mainstream audiences and avant-garde listeners. - **Pioneering Role in Electronic Music**: As a whole, "The Man-Machine" helped to define and shape the sound of electronic music. Its influence can be seen in numerous genres, from synth-pop to techno, and it continues to inspire artists today. **Cons:** - **Repetitive and Minimalistic**: While the repetitive, minimalist nature of the album is part of its charm and innovation, it may not appeal to all listeners. Some might find the songs monotonous or lacking in variety due to their focus on repetition and subtle variation. - **Emotional Distance**: The album's cold, robotic aesthetic can be off-putting to listeners seeking emotional warmth or depth. The synthetic sounds and mechanical vocals may feel alienating, making it harder for some listeners to connect with the music on an emotional level. - **Lack of Lyric Depth**: The lyrics, though thematically consistent, are often sparse and simplistic. This minimalism, while fitting the album's aesthetic, may be perceived as lacking depth or complexity compared to other contemporaneous works. - **Niche Appeal**: As a pioneering work of electronic music, "The Man-Machine" may not cater to listeners who prefer more conventional rock or pop music. Its futuristic sound and thematic focus on technology can feel niche, appealing more to enthusiasts of electronic and avant-garde music than the general public. ### **Conclusion** "The Man-Machine" by Kraftwerk is a seminal work in the history of electronic music. With its innovative use of technology, minimalist compositions, and cohesive thematic vision, the album explores the symbiosis of man and machine in a unique and thought-provoking way. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its repetitive structures, sparse lyrics, and emotionally detached aesthetic, its influence on countless artists and genres is undeniable. Kraftwerk’s exploration of technology’s role in society remains relevant, making "The Man-Machine" a timeless piece that continues to resonate across generations.
This reminded me of the futuristic music they play at EPCOT and the World of Tomorrow.
This sounds like the background music from TRON - interesting for what it is but not something I am going to sit and actively listen to.
Empezar escuchando "The Robots" y ver cómo prácticamente nace toda una generación de artistas. Si bien "Autobahn" ya era flipante y se quedó cerca de un 5, "The Man Machine" es una máquina (je) perfectamente engrasada que transita durante 40 minutos en nuestros oídos humanos. Por primera vez, la música parecía generada por robots. 46 años después, un álbum flipante, y estoy seguro que será el nacimiento de mi admiración por Kraftwerk. Primera vez que pongo dos 5 seguidos.
It’s ok
i just find this really depressing but it’s better than the other one i heard
Interesting instrumentation
really not my thing. but pretty cool to see how influential this is on current like techno music. would not listen to any of these songs again though
They're a band and they're sounding good I like to play their album that's understood
Classic.
God was this album annoying
Super weird Euro music
Kraftwerk being Kraftwerk — nothing to complain about!
I can see this being influential. I think i heard the police song invisible sun on one of these. Definatley not bad but won’t come back to this.
Is it cool that this came out in the 70s - yes Did I enjoy listing to this - no
i like daft punk and i like this but god is it just so boring, three is the highest i can rate this without feeling bad about myself, i wish the whole thing was as funky as i know it has the power to be and was at times
Pre-listening thoughts: I learned a little about Kraftwerk in my Making Music with Computers class. We learned they were super influential on electronic, dance, club, and even hip hop music. Electronic and EDM is usually not up my alley at all so we’ll see how much I enjoy this lol. Post/during listening thoughts: this is daft punk lite lol. It’s like ok but yeah electronic music isn’t really for me. I don’t dislike it but I wouldn’t go back for more 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah but I understand why it’s influential Fav tracks: The Model Least fav tracks: idk I am so beyond neutral on this I can’t even say what stood out poorly
Quirky
Perfect, futuristic and visionary at its time, still valid and VERY enjoyable today. Apart from that, the effort that must have gone into more or less mechanically and manually creating these layers of synchronized electronic waves is simply mesmerizing. Listen in German, language is an additional layer of the mechanic, which is revealed by their mother tongue. (Comparing them to Daft Punk is so beyond reason that it hurts, the idiosyncrasy of Kraftwerk's oeuvre is simply amazing and so much ahead of what was to follow)
So tinny! But still listenable. Wouldn't seek it, but it's OK
A bit strange—felt a bit like listening to an Atari game soundtrack at times. I swear the opening noise on the second song is the sound after Pac-Man eats the power pellet and is chasing the ghosts. But I strangely didn’t hate the album. Didn’t love it either—will probably not listen to it again—but I’ve heard worse. On this list.
Solid techno vibes
very interesting, Early synth pop I guess but not that poppy. Defo some Pink Floyd influence (Welcome to the machine)
Really cool album, enjoyed very much. I was familiar with ‘The Robots’ but not the others.
Vinilo por The Model.
no private session used for Spotify. Catchy electronic tunes, not really my thing, but I can see why folks are into it. I don't know if I would ever find myself in a place where I think I need to put it on, though.
A goofy concept executed perfectly; like anything Deep Purple or the first Earth Wind & Fire album.
Es ist ein Meisterwerk der elektronischen Musik. Dieses Album, das 1978 veröffentlicht wurde, zeigt die Band auf dem Höhepunkt ihrer kreativen Kräfte. Besonders hervorzuheben ist der Track “Das Model” (oder “The Model” in der englischen Version), der als Highlight des Albums gilt. Die Mischung aus minimalistischen Beats, synthetischen Melodien und den charakteristischen Vocals schafft eine einzigartige Atmosphäre, die sowohl futuristisch als auch zeitlos wirkt. “Das Model” ist ein Paradebeispiel für Kraftwerks Fähigkeit, eingängige Melodien mit tiefgründigen Texten zu verbinden. Stücke für Von Menschen die keine Roboter sind an Menschen die glauben keine Roboter zu sein. Es ist eine Hommage a die Menschlichkeit in einer technologischen Ära und bleibt auch heute noch relevant und inspirierend - Pk ein kleiner Düsseldorf Heimbonus steckt auch in der Bewerbung 😉👍
Gear: 01000111 01110010 01100001 01100100 01101111 00100000 01001000 01100101 01101101 01110000 Artwork: 01010110 01100101 01110010 01101100 01101111 01100011 01101011 01110101 01101110 01100111 Mix (2009 Remaster): 01010000 01100101 01110010 01100110 01100101 01101011 01110100 01101001 01101111 01101110 Musik: 01001100 01101001 01100101 01100010 01100101 Wertung: 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖/5
a good album - but not my style. The Model was good !
i understand that this is influential and innovative and important but i do not love it, i appreciate it though! the best track is neon lights 2/5 maybe a 2.5/5
непонятный жанр) чтобы входить в электронную нирвану?
Ah what I can say. I actually have such a soft spot for Kraftwerk, despite my tendencies. The model is a great song, pioneers of their field.
What a listen. Then understanding the impact Kraftwerk had on music, an easy 5 stars. Every song is an absolute tune. I feel like The Model was already very familiar to me somehow, but it hits hard as the lead single. Neon lights is brilliant too, U2 actually did a cover of it on their Vertigo single. Also learnt that Talk is strongly based on Computer Love by Kraftwerk! Anyway, a classic album that has aged spectacularly. Shout-out to the German language version too. 5 star brilliance.
Sounds stereotypical now, probably revolutionary back than
It’s a tremendous compliment to the strength of Kraftwerk’s discography that I saw this come up, thought “oh, one of their lesser albums” and then was subsequently reminded that it’s basically nothing but bangers. The purest and most danceable distillation of their whole aesthetic.
Experimental electronic sounds from the 80s kinda whack but fun
Not for me
This impressed me in 2024, if I heard this in 1978 my mind would've been blown.
Might be the best Werk. Interesting album. 3.5/5
favorite Kraftwerk so far