Saturday, November 1, 2014

40 Year Itch : Wir Fahren Auf Der Autobahn




   With the addition of a Moog , Kraftwerk recorded their breakthrough album Autobahn, released November 1, 1974. The highlight, of course, is the hypnotic 22 minute title track which evokes a smooth , speedy ride on the famous German highway. That's why I like to play the track on my morning commute. It's called irony, people! 
     Kraftwerk knew all about irony. The Autobahn was constructed while Hitler was in power and ,even in the 1970's, was one of the things some Germans would use as an example when they made the ridiculous argument that not everything Hitler did was bad.
   With this hit album,  Kraftwerk's Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider added percussionists Wolfgang Flur and Karl Battos. The clean-shaven foursome would tour the US and become the biggest band in the electronic scene.



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