Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express CD Track Listing
Kraftwerk
Trans-Europe Express (1977)
Originally Released 1977\nCD Edition Released September 26, 1995\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Although Autobahn was a left-field masterpiece, Trans-Europe Express is often cited as perhaps the archetypal (and most accessible) Kraftwerk album. Melodic themes are repeated often and occasionally interwoven over deliberate, chugging beats, sometimes with manipulated vocals; the effect is mechanical yet hypnotic. Thematically, the record feels like parts of two different concept albums: one a meditation on the disparities between reality and image ("Hall of Mirrors" and "Showroom Dummies" share recurring images of glass, reflection, illusion, and confused identities, as well as whimsical melodies), and the other the glorification of Europe. There isan impressive composition paying homage to "Franz Schubert," but the real meat of this approach is contained in the opening love letter, "Europe Endless," and the epic title track, which shares themes and lyrics with the following track, "Metal onMetal." The song "Trans-Europe Express" is similar in concept to "Autobahn," as it mimics the swaying motion and insistent drive of a cross-continent train trip. What ultimately holds the album together, though, is the music, which is more consistently memorable even than that on Autobahn. Overall, Trans-Europe Express offers the best blend of minimalism, mechanized rhythms, and crafted, catchy melodies in the group's catalog; henceforth, their music would take on more danceable qualities onlyhinted at here (although the title cut provided the basis for Afrika Bambaataa's enormously important dancefloor smash "Planet Rock"). -- Steve Huey \n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nIt's ironic that electronica's forefathers include two German bands whom, at least on the surface, were polar opposites. On the one hand, there was Can--shaggy, Stockhausen-trained advocates of trance improvisation--and on the other, Kraftwerk: clean-cut control freaks and masters of the pristine machine groove.Yet, even at their most robotic, Kraftwerk manages to locate the soul of the machine, as they demonstrate throughout this 1977 outing. Hell, the mannequin manifesto "Showroom Dummies" alone is worth the price of admission. For a band so closely tiedto technology, it's a testament to Ralf and Florain that their music continues to sound fresh more than two decades down the autobahn. --Bill Forman \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nEuropean History Lesson, November 9, 2006\nReviewer: Josephll "Feeling The Groove" (CET)\nKraftwerk gave the world the landmark of Electro with "Autobahn" in 1974, an classic that founded a new genre and helped envolve others like Hip Hop, Synth Pop and Techno also. It was one of the most important albums in history. A few years later came the unpenetratable "Radio Activity" that perhaps is the least popular Kraftwerk album. It was after that album that Ralf, Florian and co. realized that they needed something that could be original but work commercial music also. "Trans-Europe Express" is produced in a way that it's more accessable then previous albums, more structured with meliodic beats that comes back many times and hooks that are memorable, it's once again a concept or suite album, considering that it starts and finnish in the same way. For the first time you can truly say that they merged Electro and Pop into one project. No wonder this album is ragarded as one of their best and frequently feautured on top lists for greatest all time albums. \n\nFirst song "Europe Endless" is a one of their best. It's a meliodic song celebrating european culture and unity. Considering this was in the 70's the European Unity wasn't as strong as today and celebrating cultural unity was not so common. Although over 9 minutues, it's both meliodic and very accessable with a killer melody. "The Hall of Mirrors" is one of the most sampled Kraftwerk songs, it was frequently used in the breakbeat early 80's. It's a melancholy slow paced song that is quite depressing. I guess it's about a man that realize he is not what he wanted to be. "Showroom Dummies" is a meliodi
This data cd contains 7 tracks and runs 42min 46sec.
Freedb: 510a0407
Category
: Music
Tags
: music songs tracks data Electronic
- Kraftwerk - Europe Endless (09:40)
- Kraftwerk - The Hall of Mirrors (07:54)
- Kraftwerk - Showroom Dummies (06:13)
- Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express (06:52)
- Kraftwerk - Metal on Metal (06:43)
- Kraftwerk - Franz Schubert (04:26)
- Kraftwerk - Endless Endless (00:54)
