Kraftwerk - New Theatre, Oxford, 6/6/2017
by Nick Dent-Robinson
published: 30 / 6 / 2017
intro
Nick Dent-Robinson finds electronic pioneers Kraftwerk still sounding futuristic with a set of their now classic material at the New Theatre in Oxford
Kraftwerk practically invented electronic music. Devising their own instruments they created a totally new and strange sound which has gone on to play a part in inspiring the Hip-hop, ambient, industrial, techno, house and electro-pop music genres which would all have sounded different without the Kraftwerk influence. Kraftwerk are, therefore, music icons but they remain secretive and enigmatic. They don't play live much and when they do give a concert it is usually in big venues like the Royal Albert Hall where they sold out three nights in under two hours. So it was a rare treat to see Kraftwerk play live at Oxford's far smaller New Theatre. Ahead of the concert, stewards handed out packets of 3D glasses. Then, to thunderous applause, Ralf Hutter, Henning Schmitzand, Fritz Hilpert and Falk Grieffenhagen all walked out in their identical suits, taking their places behind their black boxes in an amazing blaze of computer-generated graphics projected on to a giant screen behind the stage. Digits filled the screen as Kraftwerk launched into ‘Numbers’, from their album ‘Computer World’. This piece is 40 years old but still sounds futuristic and thrilling as the 3D graphics fly over our heads. The tunes came rapidly with not a word of banter to break the flow. Not a hint of human warmth was offered. But this audience did not expect or want that. There were cheers of recognition for ‘The Man-Machine’ and again for ‘The Model’ which is almost close to pure pop with its bouncy synths accompanied by retro glamour shots. Then there was the dreamy ‘Neon Lights’ followed by another anthem number, ‘Autobahn’. Kraftwerk's minimalist electronics reached their apotheosis with ‘Geiger Counter’ and ‘Radioactivity’ which have an ambient, soaring, sublime quality. Then there was more celebration of German engineering with ‘Trans Europe Express’, ‘Metal auf Metal’ and ‘Abzug’ – simplistic but strangely beautiful with a unique synthesised doppler effect. The band leave the stage and the curtain quickly rises on four robotic representations with plastic faces and red shirts for a rendition of ‘Robots’ (obviously). Then there's a second encore in illuminated suits before the show ends with ‘Musique Non Stop’. The applause was rapturous and the whole audience was buzzing and fizzing with sensory over-stimulation. I have to confess I was not always the biggest Kraftwerk fan but, having seen this performance, it is impossible not to be impressed at the band's mastery of a genre they invented and still own. And the “men-machine” have been doing this since the 1970s yet still sound like they are from the future...which is a huge accomplishment.
Also at New Theatre, Oxford
Band Links:-
http://www.kraftwerk.com/https://www.facebook.com/KraftwerkOfficial/
https://twitter.com/kraftwerk
Picture Gallery:-
profiles |
Kraftwerk-The Catalogue (2009) |
Jon Rogers, in the first part of a two part profile, examines the history of seminal German electro outfit Kraftwerk, and 'The Catalogue', a new box set, which collects together all their albums between 1974 and 2003... |
Kraftwerk-The Influence (2009) |
features |
The Image That Made Me Weep (2022) |
In our column 'The Image That Made Me Weep', in which our writers write about the impact of a particular photo or image on them, Tommy Gunnarsson writes of a rare photo that finds Kraftwerk smiling. |
reviews |
Minimum-maximum (2005) |
Impressive double CD and first official live album, recorded during last year's universally praised world tour, from seminal German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk |
Tour De France Soundtracks (2003) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsHeavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
World Party - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
related articles |
Wolfgang Flur: Interview (2015 |
John Clarkson speaks to former Kraftwerk drummer and percussionist Wolfgang Flür about his new retrospective 'Eloquence', which compiles all his pop recordings from 2002 until 2014 |
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart