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Album Review
by SaschaS
11-6-2005
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| Kraftwerk: all the hits in live glory!!! |
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Kraftwerk: 'Minimum-Maximum'
(EMI)
Kraftwerk: Electro-classics - live!
In the world thriving on mimicking and recycling, Kraftwerk have always been the originators, innovators and source of many an inspiration. There is no discussion that Kraftwerk are one of the most influential bands in pop history with there hardly being a genre they failed to inspire.
In a career spanning more than 35 years, the German electro pioneers have been endlessly name-checked and homaged by each new generation of pacesetters. In the early 1970s the anti-prog crowd sought the ‘sounds of tomorrow’, by the late 1970s the post-punk futurists professed their devotion and ‘Cold Wave’ reigned. In the 1980s the rap-brigade looked into their legacy and during the '90s the leading lights of Chicago house along with Detroit and Euro techno paid homage. Kraftwerk are possibly the most sampled band on the planet and their music continues to mesmerize.
Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Fritz Hilpert and Henning Schmitz toured the world last year - playing 69 shows that were unlike anything seen before. A truly stunning audio/visual spectacular prompted global headlines like the one the London Evening Standard: "Is This the Greatest Show London Has Ever Seen?"
Now, here is a 2-CD live set 'Minimum-Maximum' containing 22 tracks recorded throughout Europe, Japan and the US during the band's 2004 World Tour. Taped and mixed with Kraftwerk's legendary precision, 'Minimum-Maximum' features all of the band's classics in spellbinding live clarity.
Kraftwerk’s live album is, due to the meticulousness of their performance, as fair a proposition as a studio album. This is certainly the ‘Best Of’ collection, played live. What is missing is the rest of the show that makes so much of it. ‘Minimum-Maximum’ should preferably be watched on a DVD although - nothing beats having been there.
Still, Kraftwerk are such unique outfit the likes of which will never emerge again…
?/10 - Priceless!
*
Kraftwerk play the following Euro-dates:
11 June - Biennale Palagalileo, Venice, Italy (on-stage at midnight)
13 June - Kalemegdan Fortress (City Park), Belgrade, Serbia
14 June - Palace Of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria
16 June - Skopsko Lizgaliste, Skopje, Macedonia
17 June - Theatro Gis, Thessaloniki, Greece
18 June - Lycabettus, Athens, Greece
20 June - Rock Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
30 June - Pyramid Marquee, Rock Werchter, Belgium
01 July - 0.13, Tilburg, Holland
03 July - Tent Stage, Eurockeenes, Belfort
04 July - Miles Davis Hall, Montreuax Jazz Festival
05 July - Villa Arconati, Milan, Italy
06 July - Piazza Castello, Ferrara, Italy
07 July - Neapolis Festival, Napoli, Italy
SaschaS
22-4-2005
Kraftwerk's compilation 'Minimum-Maximum' is released 06 June 2005 by EMI
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