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Rating:
I am about to review one of the fundamental records of electronic music that is surprisingly missing on Debaser: Trans-Europe Express by Kraftwerk.
After praising the beneficial power of radio stations (Radioactivity) and their contribution to the spread of electronic music in America as well as in Europe, it is indeed on the old continent that the four from Düsseldorf focus their attention. We are in 1977, and before deciding to transform into machine men, Kraftwerk make their general rehearsal by dedicating themselves to exploring Europe.
There aren't many tracks, but this is a '70s album with few but good songs, with a typical vinyl duration. After all, Kraftwerk has never been interested in quantity. "Europe Endless" is somewhat a manifesto of the record, not surprisingly it's the first track. The sound strongly recalls "Autobahn" but has a faster metronomic pace, almost as if adapting to the rhythms of new means of transportation. It's a track that gently introduces us with Teutonic grace to the impending technological revolution.
"The Hall Of Mirrors" is pure psychedelia: a sort of existential parable about man and his condition of eternal dissatisfaction. Synthesizer sounds mix with reverberated footsteps, but the situation is far from reassuring (the sounds suddenly expand, multiplying menacingly like reflections infinite times): the man looking at himself in the mirrored wall will have to confront his worst enemy, himself.
"Showroom Dummies" is almost post-punk! Is it possible that even here the Dusseldorf residents with their sounds anticipated everyone? It is now clear to whom the fellow German DAF drew inspiration from (if there was ever any doubt), as well as the American Devo!
On a conceptual level, the mannequins anticipate the robots we’ll encounter in The Men Machine; in this case too, Hutter and company call upon inanimate objects to give them a life of their own. We are faced with yet another metaphor for their music: artificial because it is produced with electronic instruments, but absolutely full of humanity.
"Trans Europe Express" is a journey, in every sense, but not only that. It will be the beginning of much modern music that is still being produced. The idea is simple: magically connecting Europe's capitals with a train journey, a collective means of transport reflecting the new ecological consciousness that Kraftwerk would become spokespeople for. In their carriage, illustrious guests also board, David Bowie and Iggy Pop, mentioned in the song's lyrics. The track begins with a synthetic loop resembling the noise of a locomotive starting up, followed by a succession of notes in fourth intervals; this arpeggio will appear in countless contemporary soundtracks. Then there's space for the captivating synthesizer riff, which with its abundance of semitones, could go on eternally without ever tiring.
The following tracks: "Metal on Metal", "Franz Schubert" and "Endless Endless" are compositions that revisit previously heard patterns.
An album a masterpiece of inspiration, composition, production, and content. All electronic music produced afterward has grappled with or been inspired by this album, while the thefts by third parties (Alias sampling) are countless. Trans-Europe Express deserves to be listened to at least once in a lifetime by anyone who calls themselves a music enthusiast. Warning: There is a serious risk of being captivated by the hypnotic melodies of this album, which therefore deserves the highest rating.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 The Hall of Mirrors (07:54)
The young man stepped into the hall of mirrors
Where he discovered a reflection of himself
Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass
Sometimes he saw his real face
And sometimes a stranger at his place
Even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass
He fell in love with the image of himself
and suddenly the picture was distorted
Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass
He made up the person he wanted to be
And changed into a new personality
Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking glass
The artist is living in the mirror
With the echoes of himself
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars fix their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars fix their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
03 Showroom Dummies (06:13)
1 2 3 4 [in German]
We are standing here
Exposing ourselves
We are showroom dummies
We are showroom dummies
We're being watched
and we feel our pulse
We are showroom dummies
We are showroom dummies
We look around
and change our pose
We are showroom dummies
We are showroom dummies
We start to move
And we break the glass
We are showroom dummies
We are showroom dummies
We step out
And take a walk through the city
We are showroom dummies
We are showroom dummies
We go into a club
And there we start to dance
We are showroom dummies
We are showroom dummies
[repeat to fade]
We are showroom dummies
Europe endless
Endless endless endless endless
Europe endless
Endless endless endless endless
Parks, hotels and palaces
Europe endless
Parks, hotels and palaces
Europe endless
Promenades and avenues
Europe endless
Real life and postcard views
Europe endless
Europe endless
Endless endless endless endless
Europe endless
Endless endless endless endless
Elegance and decadence
Europe endless
Elegance and decadence
Europe endless
04 Trans-Europe Express (06:52)
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Rendezvous on Champs-Elysees
Leave Paris in the morning on T.E.E.
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
In Vienna we sit in a late-night cafe
Straight connection, T.E.E.
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
From station to station
back to Dusseldorf City
Meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
07 Endless Endless (00:55)
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
Endless
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Other reviews
By Breus
"The album's title-track...offering a vivid sensation of cultural and emotional journey projected both towards the past and the years to come."
"The formula...no one before them had consolidated so evidently in black and white."
By Rocky Marciano
"The music creates the same union between modern technology and homage to old Europe."
"The four German robots, at the peak of their inspiration, aimed for the formal perfection of their music."
By R13569920
It’s as if the train had been sampled, we are indeed in the carriage observing Europe flowing from Berlin to Paris up to the predictable, shrill final brake at the station.
Trans Europe Express remains the album to be prioritized to get to know this unique and fascinating band, which had the merit of imposing a musical and cultural aesthetic through its albums.
By 123asterisco
A finite time (about 40 minutes) is capable of becoming a concrete image of infinite time.
The product of human industry, finally emancipated from human perishability, becomes eternal.
