KRAFTWERK 2

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Kraftwerk's second album is a mixed bag of excellent moments and failed experiments. It is a better example of their latter works than the debut is since the debut album has no synthetysers on it.

The first track is a sidelong one named after their studio and represents a series of improv over a slowly evolving but endless electronic rythm. One can actually ear the foundations of New Wave music some 10 years before its birth. don't let this scare you there is plenty for a proghead to like on this side of vinyl.

The second side is a series of severily flawed experimentations with loops and tape distortions and seem totally pointless nowadays but back then it was groundbreaking. The reason I use the term severely flawed is that this is totally boring for the average listener , proghead or not!

Second Kraftwerk album with their guitar / flute / electric organ based formula. Embryonic experimentations on acoustic and rock instruments. If you are in touch with Cluster's first chaotic album and Kluster's theatrical psych / "garage" sound you will definitely enjoy listening this album. The thematic material is identical and the music is rather simplistic, very orientated to guitars repetitive sound manipulations. If you are familiar with Kraftwerk synthesiser group devoted to mechanical electro pop music you will be a little bit disconcerted by this very "primitive" album, entirely made of enigmatic, industrial experimental rock compositions (sometimes including non musical sources as breath). Although this album is not a standard of prog rock everybody must keep in mind that it is a landmark of early years in electronic (rock) music history.

3.5 stars.This one is rather slow moving,minimal and experimental at times, but the two longer tracks make up for that with some good melodies on both.Klaus Dinger has left to form the band NEU! with Mr.Rother, and instead of replacing him they use a drum machine.Unlike the first album there is bass and guitar credited on this one though. "Klingklang" for me is the highlight of this album.Even if it is repetitive it is melodic with flute,keys,bass and other sounds.It begins with what sounds like bells and chimes with no real melody until 2 minutes in.The tempo picks up 10 minutes in until it seems to just die.It starts over with a different melody.Percussion and waves of sound lead the way now.This stops before 14 1/2 minutes and a new,more uptempo melody takes over to the end. "Atem" features these loud sounds that expand and retract throughout. "Strom" opens with raw,distorted guitar.A beat takes over a minute in that is joined by some spacey waves of sound.Good song. "Spule 4" is a tough one after a minute to the end as there just isn't much going on. "Wellenlange" opens with guitar sounds,bass and other sounds at a slow moving pace.The tempo picks up a little after 3 minutes.It gets a little louder 6 minutes in and we have a melody a minute later.Some nice bass in this one. "Harmonika" has no melody as sounds slowly pulse in and out.

This second ''Kraftwerk'' album shows a bit more the direction they will head for later works but by no means is this a good album IMHHO. The minimal line-up could only generates minimalist music.

The repetitive theme of the long''Kling Klang'' might well be a hint of future things to come, but it can't be compared to ''Autobahn'' of course. This second album is less experimental than their weak debut (only by an inch), but let's be honest here: one barely faces good music while listening to this album.

This type of albums are only considered because of the later grandeur of the band to be clear. This type of music was rather confidential in the early seventies: in terms of sales or radio airing. Which means that it was almost unknown at the time. As I have said, it is only thanks to their later work that one got acquainted with this type of album.

Now, to be honest if you like repetitive instrumental music, you might be hooked, but IMHHO, this is just too repetitive, and in the long run a definite feel of boredom prevails (especially during ''Kling Klang'').

The worst of this album being these three minutes or so of ''Atem'' (the well named). Some might call these noises/sound as music, but my perception of this track just sounds as if a person was breathing through a machine and got his breathe recorded. Awful, press next of course.

The problem while pressing next, is that you won't be confronted to any other feeling. One of the worst moment being achieved during ''Spur 4''. Fully in line with their debut. At this time, it is up to you to either press next or listening further on.

But when I have to endure almost ten minutes of '' Wellenlang''. I wonder if I shouldn't be listed in the World Book of Records. These are ten minutes painful as hell. I can hardly understand that some reviewers are rating this work with the masterpiece status. It leaves me breathless.

I will be generous with this one: two stars. But don't ask me to give one good reason to provide such a high rating, I wouldn't be able to give a proper answer. Maybe some good later works.or the ''Kling Klang'' epic which is by far the best you will get out of here.

Kraftwerk 2 is the second full-length studio album by German Krautrock act Kraftwerk. Their debut album had glimpses of excellent ideas but drowned in ambient sound experiments IMO. I was intrigued by the album though and hoped that those glimpses of excellence would become a bigger part of the group´s sound on their second album.

The music on Kraftwerk 2 unfortunately follows much the same pattern as the music style on the debut. When Kraftwerk plays their repetitive trademark krautrock beats and make various sound experiements and studio experiments like on the 17:36 minute long opener Kling Klang I´m intrigued and want more but much of the rest of the album is too ambient for my taste and my attention wanders off. I like the production but the sound on the debut was actually better IMO.

Kraftwerk 2 haven´t really done much more for me than the debut did and it´s such a shame because it´s so obvious that Kraftwerk were a talented act already this early in their career. The focus on experiments and not actual songs is a bit too much for me though and I can´t give more than a 2.5 star rating.