KRAFTWERK

Yes the blueprint album for the later on electronic pop music they would later develop on in the later part of Kraftwerk's career. This is the debut self titled album from Kraftwerk released in the winter of 1970 and bands like Can and Tangerine Dream were already in the game but were Kraftwerk ready???

Even better there is no Synthesizers so sorry later fans of Kraftwerk there is a shock in store for you as this is strictly Krautrock.

Ruckzuck has lovely flute intro but that organ riff is not the best thing to listen to throught the first few minutes, with little change also doesn't help, but all of a sudden there is this drone with a stampeed of percussions and organ beeps fizzing around the speakers (yes the stereo sound), then goes back to that organ riff which I hate but the song anyway, strange but true, a trick happens if your a first time listeners a 5 second pause may assume the end but the song kicks in faster until it suddenly finishes a minute or so later. Stratovarious has a really head cracking organ solo with dark concequences, but will cool down 3 minutes later with cool drumming and percussion fusion, the guitar then kicks in later on unfortunately my least favourite track the mellow organ and flute structure is lovely but the start will depress you.

Megahertz has a cool hypnotic pulsating intro like a space generator sound and then takes a while to get into the beautiful harmonic sounds of the organ and flute with builds up emotion, for me this is a personnal favourite and the flute work of Scneider Eslebben is tremendous, the flute is more important than any synthesizer, you should have taken that into consideration Florian.

Vom Himmel Hoch is the cool closer here and trust me you will love this one very upbeat and funky, also a humourous track about yes you guessed it aeroplanes in the sky battling out each other (maybe it represent the World War II, that's my guess anyway!)

In all a great Krautrock album and a brave attempt to to fully indulgent solos of this nature, a must for Krautrockers out there, two real drummer, Scneider and Hutter playing real instruments, what more could you want, my sleeve notes say Ralf Hutter plays tubon what is that Bass Guitar or something??, my final result and verdict 90%

Extra Comments: A blueprint for space rock and tecno music, don't expect electronica on this album you won't find it here, try Radioactivity or ComputerWorld if that is your bag, if that isn't this is your alternative!!