Kraftwerk

The Capitol Years box packages three of Kraftwerk's most influential and entertaining albums together to present an impressive cross-section of their electronic material. Made up of 1975's Radio-Activity, 1977's Trans-Europe Express, and 1978's Man-Machine, this collection reveals that there is indeed a vast amount of variance and differentiation in Kraftwerk's bizarre world of robotic rhythms, steel-plated beats, and repetitive effects. Radio-Activity explores the concept of radio and wireless communication, led by such intriguing tracks as "Radioactivity," "Radio Stars," and "Ohm Sweet Ohm," incorporating automated vocals with ample amounts of raw electronic effects. With a little more regard for short-stinted mechanical acrobatics and novelty noises than for lengthy, mesmerizing sweeps, this album is wonderfully contrasted with Trans-Europe Express, where their sound begins to imitate the same type of somnific feel as 1974's Autobahn, only this time the trance-like rhythms are joined by a melding of electronic beats and sporadic melodies. As the strongest of the three albums, Trans-Europe Express applies actual structure and progressive transition to the underlying electronic activity, emerging as some of the most accessible and enjoyable material of Kraftwerk's career. Man-Machine sports greater musical movement and deeper, more colorful musical tones, revealing Kraftwerk's shift toward commercial pop, in a sense. Although sporting a chrome-plated, mechanized feel which keeps in stride with the album's concept, the group still manages to seep some melodic distinction and rhythmic appeal underneath the main electronic runs so that the album doesn't suffer from being overly sedated or unaltered during its advancement. The combination of these three releases is not only beneficial from a cost standpoint for the consumer, but it also gathers some of the most significant electronic music ever to be created while demonstrating this German band's often underestimated electronic wizardry. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide