Electronic Music

The music of Kraftwerk is innovative. They used electronic instruments to produce a futuristic robot sounding music. Their image was very clean cut and one would call them professionals. Kraftwerk dressed in suits with their hair slick backed. In my personal opinion they lacked commercial or mainstream appeal.  Regardless of their physical appearance, their electronic music innovations left a footprint in the music industry, and paved the way for use of synthesizers and electronic instruments to be utilized today. Their first notable album Autobahn was successful for their 22 minute single in which they composed electronic instruments with incorporation of lyrics in German. This album was conceptual. The concept was travel on the highway in an automobile.  I personally can see the work they put into the musical composition but the lyrics were very basic and lacked substance. I believe that their songwriting could have used a little work.  Their second album was Radioactivity based on radioactive energy and the radio. Then there after was the release of Trans-Europe Express, which was also a conceptual album. Trans-Europe Express was based on travel through Europe by train. Some of the instruments even mimicked the sound of a train.  Kraftwerk is the biggest influence on electronic music because they were not afraid to step out of the box. Their use of synth and electronic instruments and album concepts make them the biggest influence.  They often had custom electronic instruments made specifically for them. I believe that this factor gave them one up to be innovators as well.  The impact that Kraftwerk has left on me as a listener is very small. I love the fact that they were true to the music that they wanted to do but beside the experimentation with electronic instruments, I do not like nor understand the music they made. As an industry professional on the other hand, I appreciate their innovation of electronic music. Without Kraftwerk I probably wouldn’t be an industry professional dealing with synths, ambient sounds, and electronic instrumentation. So there is a level of respect that I pay to Kraftwerk for their innovations and impact on not only electronic music but also any music made electronically.