Kraftwerk's Electronic Lapels

If you've ever wondered how an average Music Thing reader appears to the general public, watch this incredible video of Kraftwerk performing 'Autobahn' 21 31 years ago in September 1975, complete with a voice-over from a British TV presenter explaining how "Next year, Kraftwerk hope to eliminate the keyboards altogether, and build jackets with electronic lapels, which can be played by touch." Satire, in the form of Synthesizer Patel, doesn't seem nearly as funny... (Thanks Joe)

Posted by Tom Whitwell.

Comments:

I remember this clip. It was originally shown on "Tomorrow's World" (a BBC science programme looking at the latest inventions, etc) and was later included as part of the BBC's "Sound Of The Seventies" series. It has to be said, Kraftwerk were a lot more interesting to watch back in the days when you could see them ACTUALLY doing stuff.

# posted by

Gavin Lloyd Wilson : 10:41 am

Oh yeah, and Florian smiling... When was the last time that happened?

# posted by

Gavin Lloyd Wilson : 10:42 am

Jim - could it have been this chap?

http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2004/11/fairlight-week-pt-4-most-famous-preset.html

# posted by

Tom Whitwell : 11:11 am

21 years ago in '75??

might want to recheck your math there, homie

# posted by

Awakened Yeti : 11:14 am

BTW - Kraftwerk is f*ckin awesome band.. one of my favorites

I still listen to "Trans-Europe Express" all the time

i heard in their very early days they were more of a krautrock type band, but never really checked if any recordings or such exist... anyone else know more?

# posted by

Awakened Yeti : 1:00 pm

Yeti- I just recently got "Kraftwerk 2" (brilliantly-inventive title for their 2nd album); I think it's from 73 or so... there is hardly a synth to be heard on the whole record. It's mostly electric bass and tape manipulation, by the sound of it.
Well worth a listen if you think Kraftwerk == modular sequences and syntoms.

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:23 pm

Yeti, type "krautrock" into youtube, sit back and wonder

Also, they've got CAN doing Paperhouse. Excellent. I never knew farfisa made so much stuff!

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:24 pm

The first couple albums (Kraftwerk and Kraftwerk 2) were released in 1969 and 70, I believe. There's some weeeeird stuff on thems. The theme from Newton's Apple was from them, for any 80's US PBS viewers out there.

# posted by

Anonymous : 5:27 pm

Didn't Laurie Anderson have a drum machine/white tux?

More proof for MT's contention that white synths are the snazziest.

# posted by

Anonymous : 8:26 pm

Raymond Baxter! I haven't heard that voice in years. Thursday night, so exciting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Baxter
Now scientists have come up with this. It's the same thing, but controlled by a microchip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow%27s_World

Does anyone have the theme to Tomorrow's World? Bup-bup-bup-ba-baaaa

# posted by

Anonymous : 8:42 pm

I hereby throw down the electronic lapel MIDI controller gauntlet. Someone build this, please.

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:23 am

I've loved Kraftwerk ever since I picked up Trans-Europe Express on vynyl at a thrift store for 25 cents.

# posted by

Anonymous : 7:15 pm

jackets with electronic lapels,
- sounds like Peter Blasser's old wearable synth which can be seen towards the bottom of http://www.ciat-lonbarde.net/crowns/index.html

:)

# posted by

cemenTIMental : 10:16 pm

Yeti & Amos;

I have their first album 'Kraftwerk' and they are definitely very Krautrock, all mainly processed gtr, violin, flute & drums. Very much like Godspeed You Black Emperor or like, except 30 years before that.

Even in the original recorded version of 'Autobahn', you can hear quite plainly the guitar and flute.

# posted by

Unknown : 12:04 pm