Kraftwerk-Autobahn

This is the fourth album from this German Electronic band. For many people in the U.S. this was their first time hearing this type of music after an edited version of the title track became a semi-hit in 1974. The 22 minute song is meant to portray a drive on Germany’s Autobahn through quiet countrysides to driving in the fast lane. The electronic drums and sounds can be a bit repetitive at times but they do break out into some decent jams a couple of times. The song does have a few vocals in German. I think I like side two better. All instrumental the first two pieces “Kometenmelodie 1 and 2 run together and have to do with the comet Kohoutek all the rage in the mid 70’s. Argent and Journey also wrote instrumentals with the comet as a theme. “Mitternacht”(Midnight) is a stark, minimalist song and the last “Morgenspaziergang” Morning Stroll) has some electronic bird sounds and some flute. It is a quiet, pastoral piece. I originaly bought this in 1974 when it was released. We played it sometimes at the apartment. I remember one night listening to “Mitternacht” with everyone making robotic dance moves while a strobe light that someone had brought was flashing. It was pretty trippy. I don’t know what happened to that record but I bought this 2009 remastered copy last year. The record sleeve is a copy of the original album cover. It also comes with a ten page booklet of drawings similar to the original cover with the German words to “Autobahn.

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