TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS [AKA: TRANS-EUROPA EXPRESS]

"Trans-Europe Express (Trans-Europa Express)" is the 6th full-length studio album by German experimental electronic pop/rock act Kraftwerk. The album was released through Kling Klang Records in March 1977. The transformation from a krautrock act to an electronic pop/rock act which began with "Autobahn (1974)" and continued on "Radio-Activity (Radio-Aktivität) (1975)" is now more or less complete and to my ears "Trans-Europe Express (Trans-Europa Express)" is the first consistent electronic pop/rock effort by Kraftwerk.

The music on the album features simple and memorable synth and keyboard themes on top of repetitive electronic beats. I´m not sure how those beats were created, but they sound very futuristic considering that this album was released in 1977. There are vocals on some tracks, Mostly repeating one or two lyric lines throughout a whole song. The vocals are both processed robotic voices and "normal" singing. This is very repetitive music and with little in the soundscape that sound like an organic instrument. Again this is a very futuristic sounding album. The album features several highlights of which "Showroom Dummies" is one of them, but my favorites here are without a doubt "Trans Europa Express" and "Metal on Metal", which "Trans Europa Express" seques into. The pair are such powerful and dark electronic pop tracks. Relentless pounding electronic beats, repetitive vocal lines and a dark atmosphere to boot.

The production is clear and powerful and overall "Trans-Europe Express (Trans-Europa Express)" is a very enjoyable and quite intriguing electronic pop album. It´s incredible how innovative Kraftwerk were in those days. They took musical chances like few and the boldness of it all is just extremely charming. A 4.5 star (90%) rating is deserved.