Kraftwerk news but old

Because Düsseldorf is still heavily industrial, the sounds of industry have themselves had a direct impact on Kraftwerk’s music. “Our first album was recorded in a studio that was right in the middle of an oil refinery” Hütter recalls. “When we came out the door we could hear the sound of those big flames burning off the fumes – all kinds of industrial noises. Even engines are a kind of music. You can hear the harmonics in their tones. When you walk down the street you have a concert; the cars play symphonies. And we use this fact in our music. ln Autobahn the cars hum a melody. In Trans-Europe Express the train itself is singing.”

But in spite of this emphasis on sound effects, much of Kraftwerk’s music has straightforward tonality and simple, easy-to-understand melodic lines. Entire sections of a tune or even whole tunes may be played on a single chord. The music is invariably in 4/4 time, and virtually always falls into precise, regular, four-bar phrases. Which certainly doesn’t sound progressive when you describe it that way. The effect on the listener, however, is another story.”

(from Electro Shock! Groundbreakers of Synth Music; Greg Rule)

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