COMPUTER WORLD [AKA: COMPUTERWELT]

This album may not appeal to some prog fans, because it sounds too ' techno', but after listening to this I came to the conclusion that techno is an offshoot of progressive music, much like ambient and world music are. For me what mnake this album a masterpiece and a milestone is of course thew share innovation and influence on (you guessed it) on techno. But there is still a strong sense of proginess in terms of it beiong a concept album, and the extended rhythms that hint back to Kraftwerk's Krautrock past. What I like about this album is it's powerful rhythms, its computerised concepts and mmusical sound effects such as the calculator tune on Poket Calculator, or else the various voices counting that are also used as an instrument. What also makes this a classic is that fact that it's not only a dance album but also an artsy one made for you to think about the concept as well as Kraftwerk's odd sense of humour. I love the atmosphere of the keyboards and the mechanical ideas. If you listen to this album with an open mind then you'll realise the scope and diversity of prog, and also Kraftwerk's innovation in the music scene. Sadly many of these innovations have become cliches in the tehno world, but that happens in genres its happened to many contemporary Symphonic Rock bands, using the innovations of Yes and Genesis. I makes me think if Kraftwerk pioneered techno and techno bands that appeared as a result of Kraftwerk aren't considered prog; then perhaps, if bands such as Yes and Genesis pioneered Symphonic rock, perhaps then contemporary Symphonic rock shouldn't be considered prog but merely an innovation of prog alongside, world music, ambient etc. I'll leave that thought to the forums. Anyway a real inspired effort and Kraftwerk's last classic album, 5 stars, just be opened minded and prepare to question what you consider prog to be.