‘Who Knew That Robots Were Funky?’ asks a recent New York Times article that describes Kraftwerk, a highly influential electronic music band from Germany, as the ‘godfather of American hip-hop and black electronic dance music.’ Journalist Mike Rubin compares Kraftwerk to other great music innovators, such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones. He says Kraftwerk first inspired producers in South Bronx, Detroit, and eventually around the world. Even today, for example, Kraftwerk’s electro-acoustic sound, which helped to shape works of David Bowie and Depeche Mode, can be heard in the music of Radiohead and Kanye West.

To learn more about the heritage of Kraftwerk and modern electronic music, check out Mike Rubin’s article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/arts/music/06kraftwerk.html

———

Picture by Peter Böttcher

Random Posts

• MGMT – Kids
• loudQUIETloud :: a film about the Pixies
• out of our depths/essence