Describing the founding fathers of the United States in Founding Brothers – The Revolutionary Generation, historian Joseph J. Ellis argues that, “All the vanguard members of the revolutionary generation developed a keen sense of their historical significance even while they were still making the history on which their reputations would rest.” In other words, George Washington and John Adams and their homies were building America while attempting to predict how they would be perceived 200 or 300 years into the future—and those predictions had an enormous effect on their actions. It’s not too big of a stretch to imagine Kraftwerk in a similar light—as revolutionaries with a clear idea of how the landscape of music would look in the future, and how the music they made in the present would play into that. As such, Kraftwerk’s music is often as assured as a marble stature, or a monument. Though they were working with a unique and largely unexplored palate of sounds, using Moog synthesizers and drum machines to create entirely electronic compositions, their music thrives on exactitude, with each note falling in the most perfect, calculated place. Obviously, Kraftwerk’s music laid the foundation for techno and hip-hop, but the idea that immaculately structured music could be as edgy and forward-thinking as punk rock, without becoming anything resembling prog rock, was one that eventually found its way into every genre of rock & roll. Hearing the interplay between that which is utterly composed and that which is allowed to run wild is one of the most compelling things about music.
Die Mensch Machine, or The Man-Machine for the less pretentious, was a bit of a victory lap for Kraftwerk. By 1978, they had already toyed with many of the things that make their music iconic—the perfectly square beats, the mechanically processed vocals, repetition, sustain without release—and Die Mensch Machine simply attempted to dig further into the same hole. “Die Robotor” reintroduces the group as the titular “man-machines.” Translated from German, the lyrics say, “We’re charging our battery/ And now we’re full of energy,” and, later, “We’re functioning automatic/ And we’re dancing mechanic.” The chorus is “I’m your slave/ I’m your worker.” While it may be a tad simplistic, for an ostensibly cold song, “Die Robotor” is also pretty funny. Other songs on the album follow the same general pattern. “Spacelab” repeats its title over an atmospheric series of laser light show-baiting synthesizer pulses. Album closer “Die Mensch Machine” uses the word “machine” as a textual element, so that it becomes the song’s engine. Die Mensch Machine even spawned a British number one single in “Das Model,” which didn’t top the charts until 1982—that’s how ahead of their time these dudes were. Yes, Kraftwerk fall into any number of progressive tropes—the pseudo-concept album, the awe and fear of technology, the antiseptic bleakness—but the most fascinating thing about Die Mensch Machine is that, on it, Kraftwerk predict the future of music and turn out to be absolutely right.
-Martin Brown, 2009
I dunno, Marty, for me Kraftwerk is this group that for better or worse laid out the blueprint for Daft Punk to follow in order for Daft Punk to not make all the same mistakes Kraftwerk did. Like, can the average music literate fan name one song beyond Trans Europe Express? Like, Krawftwerk is like Brian Eno or Devo - they were trailblazing left and right with seemingly every breath yet no one really remembers them. Then again, maybe all that just proves your thesis....Hmmmm....
In any case, I really need to start working on my projects for the day before I have to stay late again!
Posted by: Kenny | 2009.05.11 at 11:31
No way, Kenny. I'm not completely sold on Devo, but Kraftwerk is awesome. They aren't exactly a singles band, sure, but that doesn't mean they're not great.
Posted by: Noah Berlatsky | 2009.05.11 at 12:27
Sorry, Noah, I'm having a day of not saying things correctly! lol
I'm trying to say that Kraftwerk, while awesome, is a group that's easier for me to appreciate because of the people they've influenced. Daft Punk is, for my enjoyment, one of the best groups in the world and I'll listen to Daft Punk over Kraftwerk any day of the week. But I feel like Daft Punk benefits greatly from looking at Kraftwerk and seeing where they went both right and wrong. I'm not trying to say Kraftwerk isn't great, just that me personally - I like Daft Punk better.
Kraftwerk is like Devo in they're not the easiest band to listen to unless you really feel like that kind of music going in. They don't have that make everyone happy and dancing factor. Doesn't mean they're not awesome or that the right crowd won't dance to them. In my opinion, groups like that really shine in how the influence those who follow.
Posted by: Kenny Cather | 2009.05.11 at 15:15
Kraftwerk really make me happy. I'll listen to them anytime. I've never heard Daft Punk though, if you can believe it.
The guy who I really feel was not that great but who influenced lots of people I love is Bob Dylan.
Posted by: Noah Berlatsky | 2009.05.11 at 23:02
I really cannot compare Daft Punk with Kraftwerk. I adore Daft Punk but they are light years below Kraftwerk. The thing is - Kraftwerk IS electronic music, Daft Punk is a popular aesthetic spinoff of electronic music.
The thing is - no matter how much I explore the endless possibilities of electronic musicians I always feel like sitting on a pile of Kraftwerk records while doing that. And then I just have to listen again and again.
Posted by: Valentin | 2009.11.27 at 04:44