Kraftwerk Autobahn CD

Lyricists: Emil Schult; Florian Schneider.
Personnel: Florian Schneider (flute, synthesizer, vocoder, electronic drums, electronics).
Although Kraftwerk's first three albums were groundbreaking in their own right, Autobahn is where the group's hypnotic electronic pulse genuinely came into its own. The main difference between Autobahn and its predecessors is how it develops an insistent, propulsive pulse that makes the repeated rhythms and riffs of the shimmering electronic keyboards and trance-like guitars all the more hypnotizing. The 22-minute title track, in a severely edited form, became an international hit single and remains the peak of the band's achievements -- it encapsulates the band and why they are important within one track -- but the rest of the album provides soundscapes equally as intriguing. Within Autobahn, the roots of electro-funk, ambient, and synth pop are all evident -- it's a pioneering album, even if its electronic trances might not capture the attention of all listeners. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Germanic in approach and delivery, this record gets under the skin and infuriates as you find yourself compelled to hum the melodies. A significant record in the development of electronic music, and not to be confused with other "kraut rock" efforts from the school of mid-70s prog, this is the album from which countless bands borrowed riffs--passages of the Cure, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, and New Order are to be found among the five lengthy tracks. Don't be fooled: Kraftwerk were there at least five years in advance. Great for driving on the motorway in Europe, incidentally!Spin (p.87) - "[The album] buoys jolly German-language lyrics over humming synths and creates the sound of the future."
Spin (9/01, p.134) - Included in Spin's "5 Essential Krautrock Records" - "...A quick confection about zooming along the expressways of Germany....they'd discovered the joy of mechanical repetition..."
Q (10/95, p.141) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...23 minutes of synthetically simulated road miles, with several fascinating segments and hauntingly lovely tunes....A remarkable journey--and one that needs to be heard on headphones..."
Q (Magazine) (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "From 1974 to the early '80s, they were so ahead of the field as to appear almost superhuman, as instantly proved by the epic title track of 'Autobahn'..."