KRAFTWERK
Tour De France Soundtracks (EMI)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Cooped up in their fancy synthesizer stacked studio bunker, Kling Klang, Ralf und Florian, used to make music all the time. Every couple of years they'd release a record to fawn over cuz they were so ahead of their time (a bit of fancy forecasting if you ask me: how does one know that they are ahead of their time until said time comes around ... ) Oh yeah ... Now they cycle. A lot. Perhaps too much, since there hasn't been a record for a decade. No kidding, a decade. Who could get away with that? Anyhoo, here's the new record, and it's all about cycling. Tour de France it's called. That's a race in, wait for it ... France, that all the Europeans go gaga over, and an American (Lance Armstrong) wins all the time. He beats all those French, Italians, Spaniards, Dutch and Germans. Beats 'em every time. Jan Ullrich (not to be confused with Lars who drums for Metallica) - a German - keeps winding up second. This must kill the guys in Kraftwerk, cuz they can't get down to making music. You see, the new "album" is really just several remixes of rehashed songs, and the usual studio experimenting. The standard electronic audio experience, all robotic with a sly anti-human bent, we've grown up with. I don't think it really qualifies as a new album at all. But mark my words, the critics will love it, and hail Kraftwerk as way ahead of their time. Who am I to argue, cuz I agree: I love it and just like always, they are way ahead of their time, no matter what time it is. Those Germans are too damn smart.

© 2003 - John Sekerka