AUTOBAHN

I get in the bad habit of working backwards some times. I hear what a band puts out later in their career and liking it a good deal. Then I get the elements that lead up to it and it feels like a deconstruction. That can work out better if the precursors happened to highlight a particular element which you enjoyed. I find more often however that you typically end up somewhat less polished precursors and that is the case here on Kraftwerk's Autobahn. I still like it, but it doesn't stick out for me like Man Machine or even Trans-Europe Express (TEE). The main appeal of the album is the title track. Even though it clocks in well over 20 minutes and can be a bit monotonous, it is truly is delightful. Perfect for a long drive on a bright sunny day.

The rest of the album, doesn't quite hold up to the excellence of the title track sadly. It certainly is interesting, and others are less likely to disregard it out of hand. Most of it is darker and slower, but it does shine again, if not to quite the same degree, on Kometenmelodie 2 and the quaint closer Morgenspaziergang.

On the whole, I find it to be a lot like TEE, the parts I like are a joy, but the darker aspects break the mood. I think they might have been better off making a dark album and a light album, but that's not how inspiration works. It's good, not great. I love parts or if and I'm bored with others. Most of you probably know that Kraftwork is something of an acquired taste fans will likely get a kick out of it. If you're new to the band this might be the place to start, but I do recommend moving on to the more richly adorned follow ups, especially Man Machine. Good, but not essential.