Kraftwerk cover art

Kraftwerk

Future Music from Germany

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Kraftwerk

By: Uwe Schütte
Narrated by: Sam Peter Jackson
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The story of the phenomenon that is Kraftwerk and how they revolutionised our cultural landscape.

'We are not artists nor musicians. We are workers.'

Ignoring nearly all rock traditions, experimenting in near-total secrecy in their Düsseldorf studio, Kraftwerk fused sound and technology, graphic design and performance, modernist Bauhaus aesthetics and Rhineland industrialisation - even human and machine - to change the course of modern music. This is the story of Kraftwerk as a cultural phenomenon, who turned electronic music into avant-garde concept art and created the soundtrack to our digital age.

©2020 Uwe Schütte (P)2020 Penguin Audio History & Criticism Music

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All stars
Most relevant  
Superb book, it helps if you are into electronic music/history of electronic music at the very least, ideally fairly familiar with Kraftwerk's back catalogue. I talks through the lyrics and artwork of their music together with how the band formed and set a path to create an identity which was lacking in Germany just after the war.
The audiobook was particularly good as the narrator speaks German/French etc. which I could never have achieved from reading it, the accent alone just added to the essence of the whole listening experience.
In short, Get it

Enlightening

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Excellent PhD level thesis on Kraftwerk! Only downside was the rather poor integration of the last part about current US elctro-funk-black bands which seemed tacked on and unnecessary.

Perfect

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This was a good insight into Kraftwerk, (I had no prior knowledge of them other than the music) but it was a bit dry. It appears they try to be pretty secretive anyway so that probably accounts for part of the reason but the author also states that he is not going to bother with gossip, a pity as a little bit of gossip may have added some life to the book.

Interesting enough if a little dry

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This was a really great read and I love how it gives insight into the history of Kraftwerk and where they are today. It was really interesting! I recommend this book to avid Kraftwerk fans and those who just want to learn about, Who want to get into or who are new to the band.

A great read!

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I was lucky enough to see Kraftwerk a few years ago at Birmingham symphony hall and I've been a fan since the 80s. This book gives a great insight and understanding of how the band see there music.

Minimum equals maximum.

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as someone who has a passing, but respectful, realtionship with this band I found this book really informative. fascinating art.

encyclopedic history of kraftwerk's art

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This really is one of the best Kraftwerk books I’ve ever read/listened to. Thanks to the wonders of many of the things Kraftwerk have written about, you can also listen along to the many tracks mentioned throughout. I found it really added to the experience to have a listen of the specific track being discussed and then returning to the book. Absolute must for fans.

Superb - must listen for fans

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If the listener was hoping to hear gossip and wanting to become bewitched with typical rock star tales; you are at least warned in the prologue that you will be very disappointed!
This work from Use Schütte is clinical and specific - and superbly narrated by Sam Peter Jackson.
It appears to have the ultra-efficient 'Kraftwerk' stamp of approval throughout - cold and clinically presented facts - certainly (and thankfully) devoid of any embroidered stories or fancy imagination!
If you enjoy Kraftwerk's music and respect their output and efficient work ethics (and everybody should) this is certainly for you!

Clinically Factual - Exactly Kraftwerk!

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Over-intellectualised treatise magnifies lazy Dussel-duffers into prodigious techno-gods. This author is sincere but naively subject to "less is more" manipulation. Enjoy the music, ignore the clap-trap.

Lazy Kling-Klangers must laugh up their sleeves

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I found this book to be really terrible, from the throwaway comments about the other members biographies and their stories of being in Kraftwerk this individual who was an academic seems to know more…The book reads like some awful conference paper or some thesis that was put together and is full of those academic tropes.

Also whoever is narrating this has the most annoying narration Voice every time he mentions the word Kraftwerk he puts on this German accent really so annoying. Overall, if you want to learn about Kraftwerk please read Wolfgang‘s book our Carls book they are so much more entertaining and you get a real insight into the workings of this band.

Terrible

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