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)


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.
 
Oh yeah, and Florian smiling... When was the last time that happened?
 
Jim - could it have been this chap?

http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2004/11/fairlight-week-pt-4-most-famous-preset.html
 
21 years ago in '75??

might want to recheck your math there, homie
 
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?
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
Didn't Laurie Anderson have a drum machine/white tux?

More proof for MT's contention that white synths are the snazziest.
 
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
 
I hereby throw down the electronic lapel MIDI controller gauntlet. Someone build this, please.
 
I've loved Kraftwerk ever since I picked up Trans-Europe Express on vynyl at a thrift store for 25 cents.
 
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

:)
 
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.
 
Post a Comment

<< Home
Music Thing on Twitter
    follow MT on Twitter

    Music Thing Hits:
    Music Thing Heroes:
    Music Thing Friends:
    My music gear for sale
    DIY Modular Synth
    Matrix Synth
    Create Digital Music
    Analog Industries
    Boing Boing Gadgets
    London Video Production
    Oddstrument
    Wire to the Ear
    Palm Sounds
    Noise Addicts
    Retro Thing
    Analogue Haven
    Music Thing Massive
    About Music Thing:
    Send tips to Music Thing
    About this site
    Music Thing Massive
    RSS Feeds


    Problem with the ads?
    Please let me know