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Track Listings
| 1. Autobahn |
| 2. Kometenmelodie 1 |
| 3. Kometenmelodie 2 |
| 4. Mitternacht |
| 5. Morgenspaziergang |
Product Description
Review
Autobahn is an iconic record made up of several essential elements: the graphic motorway symbol on the cover, the slamming of a car door and starting of an engine that precede the music, the rasping vocals and the whoosh that imitates the approach and passing of cars. It’s a 22-minute synthetic symphony to the possibilities of road travel that combines seemingly innocent enthusiasm with a note of deep caution.
Its melodic progress and the sheer pleasure taken in exploring the sonic possibilities of the newly available synthesizer make it as accessible to an eight-year-old as the most wizened critic. Although the lyrics of the title track hint briefly at the presence of nature in the sun’s glittering rays and the green edge of the motorway, it’s roundly addressed by the suite on the original b side of the record. Although less familiar, the four instrumentals represent a counterbalance to the harsh industrial daylight of Autobahn. They trace a journey that takes in night-time comets, an eerie midnight and ends with a morning walk serenaded by flutes and acoustic piano.
The motorway is an all-too-familiar presence in our lives, but listen to parts of the title track – for example, the passage that begins 10 minutes in – and it’s clear that Kraftwerk are holding up a mirror to the world to reveal its strangeness. Although the group have occasionally been chastised for failing to present a more critical perspective, Autobahn’s deliberate ambiguity is an essential aspect of art and has ensured its longevity 35 years after its original release.
Autobahn is the first of eight albums that Kraftwerk have chosen to re-master and re-release. Although a controversial decision in some quarters, its predecessors Kraftwerk 1 and 2 are lesser works that lack the thematic unity and musical distinction of the rest of the group’s oeuvre. As with the other reissues, much effort has clearly been devoted to the remastering and presentation of the work and the uniting of Emil Schult’s illustrations with the UK motorway symbol is particularly satisfying. Absolutely essential. --Colin Buttimer
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Product Description
CLASSIC ELECTRONIC MUSIC FROM KRAFTWERK! Kraftwerk's 4th studio album, Autobahn, is re-mastered and re-issued for 2009. Blending traditional instruments and electronic sounds, this concept album explores the theme of road travel with the title track clocking in at 22 minutes, its repetitive rhythms shaping the path of future electronic dance music. This re-issue is just one of a series that we have in stock - be sure to check out the other titles
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The track, Autobahn, is a sublime, seminal, exciting, interesting, fascinating and above all, excellent piece of work. This music sounds great now - imagine what it must have sounded like in 1974! You're in your bedsit, monging out to Yes when yer mate comes round and puts this on the turntable; it must have been a tremendous experience. It's a little symphony of superb sonics, a coherent opus that can blow you away with its amazing noises and fantastic weirdness, excellent rhythmic progression and, let's say it again, great noises. Side two is a departure, but has some interesting stuff on it. But it's Autobahn itself which is the golden treasure. This should be studied by students of music. Maybe it is. If you like this, you'll also like Kraftwerk's TEE, also ace.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
One can not praise this album enough. The production alone is years ahead of its time. Herr Konrad Plank,(who incidentally went on to produce the equally excellent "Vienna" by Ultravox), must have really been at the pinnacle of his production career with his understanding of the musical instruments that Kraftwerk created in the literal sense.
The title track itself is a collage of sounds which constantly changes pace, making the listener believe that they are really on a car journey. I would have to disagree slightly with J.P Oley only in so far as I don't believe you need to be "monging out with yer mate" to enjoy what is indeed a tour de force in electronica.
Let us not overlook the foresight of Herr Hutter and Herr Schneider, both of whom are obviously visionaries and futurists who seemingly should have been born in the next millenia. They are certainly the electronica version of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick et al. Messrs Hutter and Schneider are of course telling a story but in a different medium to the written word.
I could discuss and analyse the positives of this album for hours. There are no negatives. However, why listen to me critique this masterpiece when you could be experiencing the journey that is "AUTOBAHN". SHEER BRILLIANCE!!!
The title track itself is a collage of sounds which constantly changes pace, making the listener believe that they are really on a car journey. I would have to disagree slightly with J.P Oley only in so far as I don't believe you need to be "monging out with yer mate" to enjoy what is indeed a tour de force in electronica.
Let us not overlook the foresight of Herr Hutter and Herr Schneider, both of whom are obviously visionaries and futurists who seemingly should have been born in the next millenia. They are certainly the electronica version of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick et al. Messrs Hutter and Schneider are of course telling a story but in a different medium to the written word.
I could discuss and analyse the positives of this album for hours. There are no negatives. However, why listen to me critique this masterpiece when you could be experiencing the journey that is "AUTOBAHN". SHEER BRILLIANCE!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Their first commercially successful album really shines up a treat in the remaster program.
28 Jun 2010
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Much has been written about the greatness and brilliance of Kraftwerk over the years, so ill assume youre a fan who has some familiarity about this meisterwork, from the original tonmeisters themselves.
Autobahn is a 27 minute slab of tongue in cheek electronica in germanic form, with a side order of humourous touches here and there; its an electronic suite par excellance. The remaining tracks are far from filler, but the brilliance of the title piece does overshadow their presence.
Considering this is now a 35 year old product, the remastering has breathed incredible life into the music, which sounds so polished, yet warm, compared to the poor cd masters from the 1980's, which i still have. There's also extra artwork in the enclosed cd booklet for those that need or want these things, too.
The whole thing still sounds like some alternate or distant future, which is why it was and still is, an absolute classic.
Top marks, for a classic album now sounding cleaner, crisper, and remarkably fresher, than it has for years.
Autobahn is a 27 minute slab of tongue in cheek electronica in germanic form, with a side order of humourous touches here and there; its an electronic suite par excellance. The remaining tracks are far from filler, but the brilliance of the title piece does overshadow their presence.
Considering this is now a 35 year old product, the remastering has breathed incredible life into the music, which sounds so polished, yet warm, compared to the poor cd masters from the 1980's, which i still have. There's also extra artwork in the enclosed cd booklet for those that need or want these things, too.
The whole thing still sounds like some alternate or distant future, which is why it was and still is, an absolute classic.
Top marks, for a classic album now sounding cleaner, crisper, and remarkably fresher, than it has for years.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
autobahn
a staggering musical achievement. a staggering musical achievement. a staggering musical achievement. a staggering musical achievement. Read more
Published 2 months ago by charliemouse
classic
back in 1974 this must have seemed like it came from outer space . amazing synth work from kraftwerk who show here why they are considered one of the pioneers of electronic music . Read more
Published 5 months ago by Keith Randall
Autobahn The classic albumn
The price was the best I could find, the delivery included, dispatched speedily, and received in good condition. Not a lot more to say.
Published 7 months ago by Confident Consumer
Timeless
Nice to have this album back in my collection in CD form after all these years. Bought it after reading all the Amazon reviews and I was not disappointed, quite the opposite. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Esse Beegee
Wir fahren auf der Autobahn!
I've had this album since 1974, and I still haven't grown tired of it. Every time I play Autobahn (which is the whole of side 1 on the original vinyl LP) I set off on a journey. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Stephen Hunt
Autobahn
Bought this mainly to hear the older version of the title track having heard a newer version on The Mix. The older version has it's positives but I prefer the newer version. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2009 by Mr. J. H. Barclay
timeless and superior
The current available Kraftwerk catalogue represents only a portion of Krafwerk's ouevre : "Autobahn" is the first album where Kraftwerk hit maturity - a central, and thematic... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by Mr. M. A. Reed
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