Kraftwerk: Future Music from Germany

Not a history of the band per se - although that is inevitably covered to some degree - but an attempt to place Kraftwerk in a wider cultural context, in which it is largely successful. That said, I would like the author to have meditated a little further upon the contributions of the individual players. While Ralf Hütter emerges, somewhat inevitably, as the primary author of the touring art installation / Gesamtkunstwerk that Kraftwerk have become, it would be nice to have a little more information or detective work done regarding the input of the likes of the late Florian Schneider or erstwhile percussionist Karl Bartos, or even current members like Henning Schmidt. Bartos especially is still very much in the game as a solo artiste and perhaps doesn't get the kudos he deserves - he surely was rather more than the observer and drum programmer Hütter would like us to believe. These are nitpicks though - it's a very enjoyable read and throws its net wide to contextualize Kraftwerk as both a band and a cultural phenomenon. Essential reading for any student and fan of Kraftwerk.

As a life long Kraftwerk fan I found the book to be very comprehensive and a joy to read.

While this is a very good book that is never boring and still quite comprehensive for any Kraftwerk fan, I do feel that it does not cover enough of Kraftwerk's painstaking work on attaining absolute sonic perfection.Granted, how they worked in the Kling Klang studio is a fairly tightly held secret, it should have been emphasized more that Kraftwerk often took months to create just one certain sound.Also their sense of humor and child-like wonderment and playfulness that permeates their entire milieu was barely mentioned

Interesting story tracing development of Kraftwerk's music and influence. A++ seller.

Been following Kraftwerk since Autobahn came to the USA. So glad they were inducted into the Hall of fame. The book fills in the backstory. Great Job

It became boring and focused too much on the artistic, live performance, and later years of Kraftwerk.But it's OK, cheap, thin, worth a read. Though it's clear if you care more about the music and the band members, this will fall far short. At some point I'll read either the Bartos or Flur books, but this has left me uninspired.

Gets a tad dry as the end of the book come on but so did Kraftwerk. Glad to have read it; we’ll composed and constructed.

I enjoyed the book overall. I wanted to know more about the band members. Gossip or not, I wanted more about their relationships and lives.

Good book

Absolutely blown away by this book. I’ve long enjoyed Kraftwerk, with Autobahn being the track that first introduced me to their music, probably some 40 years ago. This and other albums are on my iPod and remain fresh and relevant. Their musical influence and legacy is astonishing.I’ve learned so much, not only about the music but about the social context in which the ideas and influences developed. Uwe Schütte brings the whole story to life; the people, the studio, postwar Germany, Bauhaus and conceptual art...the list is endless. Having read with interest the way in which the title track, Autobahn, was developed, I’ve listened with renewed interest and have a greater understanding of how, musically, it alludes to both industry and countryside and a number of other subtexts.You don’t need to be a Kraftwerk fan to appreciate this book. It’s an apposite reference work with a place in musical history and I’d commend it to anyone with even a passing interest in music.

A perfect accompaniment to the body of work. Very erudite and thorough. Drills down through the myths and yet still is bounding with love and passion for Kraftwerk. Especially considering the lack of interviews from Hutter and Scheider. Definitely one of the best music bonus I've read.

Uwe Schütte's music biography on Kraftwerk provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration into the pioneering German electronic musicians' impact on the music industry. Schütte's meticulous research and engaging writing style successfully captures the essence of Kraftwerk's avant-garde sound and their influence on various genres. A must-read for both long-time fans and those curious about their groundbreaking musical contributions.

I am so delighted with this item! Books about the influential and mysterious group Kraftwerk are unfortunately very scarce, so this is a joy to read.I ordered it not long before one of the group’s founders, Florian Schneider, passed away, so it is with added poignancy that I read this very timely and comprehensive history of the group.