Galeote: Electro

miércoles, 11 de mayo de 2011

Komputer - 1997 - The World Of Tomorrow

Consciously retro in an electro-pop kind of way, The World of Tomorrow succeeds because the group doesn't try to sidestep their obvious debt to Kraftwerk. The analog synthesizers, vocoderized singing, and lockstep beats all point to the godfathers of techno, and Komputer does a good job of it. They even manage to push the envelope a bit farther, with commentary -- albeit superficial -- on tracks like "Bill Gates" and "More Automation." As a tribute LP, The World of Tomorrow is delicious fun; as a standalone work, however, it fails to add much to the Kraftwerk legacy.

1 The World of Tomorrow Komputer 4:11
2 More Automation Komputer 5:07
3 Bill Gates Komputer 4:26
4 Valentina Komputer 4:53
5 Looking Down on London Komputer 4:14
6 Terminus Interminus Komputer 7:40
7 Singapore Komputer 4:50
8 The Perfect Pop Band Komputer 4:09
9 Komputer Pop Komputer 5:17
10 Motopia Komputer 3:04
11 Valentina [Phobos Mix] Komputer 7:15
12 Valentina [Probe Mix] Komputer 6:03
13 Looking Down on London [Metroland Mix] Komputer 8:19

¡Aquí!

martes, 8 de septiembre de 2009

Bambaataa, Afrika - 1986 - Planet Rock-The Album

Afrika Bambaataa, one of hip-hop's progenitors, was known as a talented DJ before his single "Planet Rock" came out in 1982 on Tommy Boy. The song, which sampled (actually re-recorded in the studio) elements of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" and was the first R&B track to use an 808, helped define a new movement in music, electro, which then inspired Miami bass and Detroit techno, and pushed the musician's status toward near iconic. Planet Rock: The Album, a collection of singles that came out four years later, captures Bambaataa's energy and innovation. This is his work with Soulsonic Force, which means his collaborations with James Brown ("Unity") and John Lydon ("World Destruction") are missing, but it's a good collection, the equally interesting "Renegades of Funk" (in remix form) and "Searching for the Perfect Beat" also present. There are also three previously unreleased tracks, which although not quite having the impact of the first half of the record, are much more than filler, and include guest appearances from famed Furious Five rapper Melle Mel on "Who You Funkin' With?" and D.C.'s Trouble Funk, appropriately, on "Go Go Pop." The original 12" version of the title track is enough to make Planet Rock: The Album a worthwhile purchase, but the inclusion of the other material pushes that to necessary.