THE MAN-MACHINE [AKA: DIE MENSCH-MASCHINE]

One of the most influential albums of all times. In the late 70´s I remember listening to The Model on the radio and could not believe my ears: it was so simple and yet so engaging! Only electronic instrumentation, no guitars, bass or other common instrument. The vocals were even simpler and unadorned, but they were perfect! It was the a pop song and a dance song in three minutes of pure delight! this set the tone for the whole CD: electronic music for the masses! Nothing too complicated, or too crazy or vague as were so many records of the style up till then: just minimalist arrangements, few vocals and great melodies!

Looking back is easy to see why the post punk generation understood so well Kraftwerk´s anti-rock stance: their looks were not fashionable for the time, but still they had it perfect crafted for their sound. Their music denied any arena rock cliche of the 70´s: no guitar hero, not even a "real" lead singer, no ten minute drum solo, no nothing! All those new wave groups that emerged in the 80´s owe a great deal of their sound and concept to these Germans: OMD, Human League, Visage, Gary Numan, Simple Minds, Thomas Dolby, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and hundreds of others were deeply influenced by Kraftwerk in one way or another, in great or lesser degree, but they all were, and Man Machine was way ahead of its time.

I know a lot of people here that will dismiss Kraftwerk in general - and The Man-Machine in particular - as too simple and too predictable for their tastes.Still it was revolutionary music that would change the scene in the next decades in a way that no other single band could do (except the Beatles). Punk music may have aimed to shake the rock establishment foundations, but Kraftwerk did it without spitting at the audience nor sticking safety pins on their faces. It was a subtle revolution. but a very lasting one!

A terrific record that has stood the test of time with honors.