Let me give you my thoughts imho why I think they still may surprise us:
As stated until the release of Tour de France soundtracks in 2003 and excluding the mix of 1992, there had been a gap of 17 years since Kraftwerks last real album Electric Café. So by the time Tour de France soundtracks was released, many people never thought there would be a new album, and the expectations had been so high, that when one came (yes based on the concept of the original single from 1983, so note a completely new concept) it was no surprise that a lot of people where disappointed, even me initially. For me the new Tour de France was different but never quite the same as the original, but Vitamin and Electro Cardiogram, showed they still had it in them.
I think Kraftwerk themselves (Ralf and Florian) are their biggest enemy and caused the long period of silence to happen. Electric café, even though a good album didn’t get the acclaim they were used to, compared to there previous albums. Also there sound wasn’t so unique anymore, compared to Computerworld of 1980, so the drive for Ralf and Florian seemed to have gone by the late 80’s. This led to Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flur leaving later on as nothing seemed to be happening, so they let there creative juices loose in there individual bands Electric music and Yamo respectively.
A combination of obsession with updating Kling Klang to be a full digital studio, and maybe thoughts of being seen as past it, may have prevented new releases in the late 80’s and 90’s. The mix was a welcome surprise, but as mentioned is just a best of album with a bit of modern polish rather than new material. However I think that is one of there skills that they have been able to modernise their songs for each decade. In many interviews Ralf and Florian, have always expressed there love for dance music and clubs, and that is one of the reasons they have been able to successfully apply club influences to some of there classic tracks. But apart from the tour to concide with the mix album and the 2 singles it spawned, everything became silent again.
That is, until the late 1990’s when they began to pop-up unexpected at one off gigs, like Glastonburry. Then they were commissioned to do the3 sec jingle for EXPO 2000, which evolved into the single, then rumours started to spread of a new album.
Since the release of TDF Soundtracks they have suddenly become a lot more active and there World tour of 2004 – 2005 has been a great success(yep shame there was no brand new material). Also with them being back to a quartet, some new blood has circulated the Kraftwerk machine, in the last couple of years, which with there continued popularity can do no harm for Kraftwerk to have a revival period and show how creative they can be again. Hopefully with the eminent release of there back catalogue personally remastered by themselves, will mark the start of their renaissance and a spurt of new material.
Finished, I’m off to bed.
P.S this is what happens when I’m aware at a client site for 4 days staying at a ‘Hotel’ with no telephone connection in the room . Can’t connect to the forum so right this drivel instead!!
As stated until the release of Tour de France soundtracks in 2003 and excluding the mix of 1992, there had been a gap of 17 years since Kraftwerks last real album Electric Café. So by the time Tour de France soundtracks was released, many people never thought there would be a new album, and the expectations had been so high, that when one came (yes based on the concept of the original single from 1983, so note a completely new concept) it was no surprise that a lot of people where disappointed, even me initially. For me the new Tour de France was different but never quite the same as the original, but Vitamin and Electro Cardiogram, showed they still had it in them.
I think Kraftwerk themselves (Ralf and Florian) are their biggest enemy and caused the long period of silence to happen. Electric café, even though a good album didn’t get the acclaim they were used to, compared to there previous albums. Also there sound wasn’t so unique anymore, compared to Computerworld of 1980, so the drive for Ralf and Florian seemed to have gone by the late 80’s. This led to Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flur leaving later on as nothing seemed to be happening, so they let there creative juices loose in there individual bands Electric music and Yamo respectively.
A combination of obsession with updating Kling Klang to be a full digital studio, and maybe thoughts of being seen as past it, may have prevented new releases in the late 80’s and 90’s. The mix was a welcome surprise, but as mentioned is just a best of album with a bit of modern polish rather than new material. However I think that is one of there skills that they have been able to modernise their songs for each decade. In many interviews Ralf and Florian, have always expressed there love for dance music and clubs, and that is one of the reasons they have been able to successfully apply club influences to some of there classic tracks. But apart from the tour to concide with the mix album and the 2 singles it spawned, everything became silent again.
That is, until the late 1990’s when they began to pop-up unexpected at one off gigs, like Glastonburry. Then they were commissioned to do the3 sec jingle for EXPO 2000, which evolved into the single, then rumours started to spread of a new album.
Since the release of TDF Soundtracks they have suddenly become a lot more active and there World tour of 2004 – 2005 has been a great success(yep shame there was no brand new material). Also with them being back to a quartet, some new blood has circulated the Kraftwerk machine, in the last couple of years, which with there continued popularity can do no harm for Kraftwerk to have a revival period and show how creative they can be again. Hopefully with the eminent release of there back catalogue personally remastered by themselves, will mark the start of their renaissance and a spurt of new material.
Finished, I’m off to bed.
P.S this is what happens when I’m aware at a client site for 4 days staying at a ‘Hotel’ with no telephone connection in the room . Can’t connect to the forum so right this drivel instead!!
