If Giorgio invented House (sort of), then Kraftwerk invented Techno (definitely). Giorgio hired programmers to get the sounds he wanted, Kraftwerk built their own studio and patented new gear. Giorgio wanted hits, Kraftwerk wanted art.
So I was amazed to read this NME interview from 1978. In it, Giorgio lays into Kraftwerk, accusing them, basically, of selling out: "Kraftwerk? Well, I think they thought that they must start selling more. I guess they are making a simple mistake. They still reckon that with an easy melody and a synthesiser they can have a hit."
"We are always trying very hard to improve the overall quality of our work, while Kraftwerk are still holding on to the older ways of recording. I just met one of the guys from Kraftwerk in New York once, but it is very difficult to talk with them. They obviously speak German and I speak German, but..."
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