General Article name: Man-Machine
Genre: Electronic Product type: LP (Vinyl) Label: Astralwerks / Capitol/EMI Records Number of tracks: 6 Duration: 36:18 Tracklist LP - 1 1. Kraftwerk - Robots 6:11 2. Kraftwerk - Spacelab 5:51 3. Kraftwerk - Metropolis 5:59 4. Kraftwerk - Model 3:38 5. Kraftwerk - Neon Lights 9:03 6. Kraftwerk - Man Machine 5:28   Description Description

The Man-Machine is closer to the sound and style that would define early new wave electro-pop -- less minimalistic in its arrangements and more complex and danceable in its underlying rhythms. Like its predecessor, Trans-Europe Express, there is the feel of a divided concept album, with some songs devoted to science fiction-esque links between humans and technology, often with electronically processed vocals ("The Robots," "Spacelab," and the title track); others take the glamour of urbanization as their subject ("Neon Lights" and "Metropolis"). Plus, there's "The Model," a character sketch that falls under the latter category but takes a more cynical view of the title character's glamorous lifestyle. More pop-oriented than any of their previous work, the sound of The Man-Machine -- in particular among Kraftwerk's oeuvre -- had a tremendous impact on the cold, robotic synth pop of artists like Gary Numan, as well as Britain's later new romantic movement. ~ Steve Huey

Steve Huey

Contributors Artist: Kraftwerk Record Label: Capitol/EMI Records Record Label: Astralwerks