Kraftwerk - 6music Specials!

BBC 6music have just run an excellent series of documentaries and specials over the weekend celebrating the overlords of Elektro, Kraftwerk, 30 years on from their 1982 UK number 1 single, the Model.  The undoubted highlight of the series was Wall Of Sound's Mark Jones and his excellent occasional 6mix show Back To The Phuture which featured a guest appearance by Mute Records boss Daniel Miller.

Kraftwerk expert and fan Daniel takes us through the story and impact of possibly the most influential group in pop music history. Also worth a mention is Huey Morgan's interview with Kraftwerk fan (and sampler via Planet Rock!) the legendary Afrika Bambaataa.

Catch the programme while you can here!

The Sparks That Fired The Elektro Revolution

While previous recordings had hinted at an electronic future to come, two records came along in 1977 that changed the direction of music inspiring the next generation of electro producers. Donna Summer's I Feel Love (masterminded by Giorgio Moroder) and Kraftwerk's Trans Europe Express were responsible for turning open-minded punkers on to the possibilities of machine music. On the day Martyn Ware (later of B.E.F. /Heaven 17) went to Phil Oakey's house and formed what became the Human League, he brought two records:  I Feel Love and TEE. Playing these two landmark discs, Martyn told Phil  "We can do this!"  David Bowie remembers Brian Eno bursting into the studio while they were recording Low in Berlin putting the single of I Feel Love on the deck and declaring, 'I have heard the sound of the future.'  From house to hip hop (Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker famously sampled TEE on the game-changing Planet Rock), pop to dubstep, r 'n' b to d 'n' b, all owe a debt to these visionary records.