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KRAFTWERK - 80s Electronica Music

Kraftwerk are a German synth act who have often been described as the Godfathers of electronic music. They often sing their vocals through a vocoder, or use computer-generated vocals.

The minimalist, emotionless, robotic sound was just what Kraftwerk were after. They were not interested in the big productions that many other 70s and 80s acts relied upon.

Formed in 1970, the name Kraftwerk is German for "Power Plant". The quartet's first hit single in the UK was Autobahn which reached #11 in 1975. The band had to wait until the 80s for their next hit, though. In 1981 their Pocket Calculator single managed to just break into the Top 40, peaking at #39. This was the first track to be released from the album Computer World.

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Kraftwerk - Radioactivity (Live)

Radioactivity is a regular feature at Kraftwerk's live concerts and was originally released in 1976 as the only single from the 1975 album Radio-Activity. The song topped the charts in France, but wasn't a hit in the UK. The previous single Autobahn - this was the title track from the band's debut album - had reached #11 in the UK and #25 in the U.S.

Radioactivity was remixed an re-released in 1991 as the second track from the remix album The Mix and reached #43 in the UK. A new version of The Robots was also re-released prior to this to promote the album and reached #20.

Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express (1976)

The Trans-Europe Express video featured an extravagant train journey which used as a press conference by EMI France.

The track was the lead single and title track from the band's third album (released in 1977) but failed to chart in the UK, although it was a minor hit in some European countries. Two more singles were released from the album which were Showroom Dummies, the only hit single from the album in the British singles chart reaching #25, and Europe Endless.

The cover from the Computer World album (2009 re-master). The original album was released in 1982.

 Kraftwerk - Neon Lights

Neon Lights is from the 1978 album The Man-Machine, which also featured the No.1 single The Model. Neon Lights has been covered by Simple Minds, OMD and U2. The song failed to break the UK Top 40, peaking at #53. Quite surprising considering that the previous single, The Model, had topped the UK charts and this was a decent tune.