We're functioning automatic and we are dancing mechanic. This collection surveys Kraftwerk’s 2012-2016 Kraftwerk 3-D world tour, and culls the best recordings from their landmark shows in some of the world’s foremost art and concert institutions, including New York’s MoMA, London’s Tate Modern, Akasaka Blitz in Tokyo and the Sydney Opera House. The band run through eight classic albums in their entirety: Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Trans Europe Express, The Man-Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop (originally entitled Electric Cafe), The Mix and Tour De France Soundtracks. The material is extremely faithful to the original albums; nearly all the synthesizer and drum machine parts are played identically as they are on the originals, with the most noticeable difference being the vocals. The live mix is optimized for a concert setting, so the arrangements are much more loud and lush than the original recordings (“Computer Love,” “The Model,” “Autobahn”) with subtle differences in cadence that bring out parts you may have never noticed before. In some cases, they add new parts to double down on the sublimity of the originals; “The Hall Of Mirrors” adds strings to ramp up the eerie theatrics, and “Computer Love” adds a playful new synth arpeggio. Nine 180g vinyl LPs (The Mix is a double LP) individually housed in full-color spined matte sleeves and encased in deluxe hardcover box with code for free digital download. Crucial for Kraftwerk completists, a refreshing listen for Kraftwerk heads (us), and a decent substitute for anyone who didn’t get to go to the Kraftwerk 3-D world tour (also us). Recommended.

• 180g 9xLP vinyl pressing
• individually sleeved in full-color spined matte jackets
• housed in deluxe hardcover box
• digital download included
• NOTE: the download card contains a typo: ‘.com’ must be entered in the url instead of ‘.net’
• music label: Kling Klang 2017

reviewed by peanut dust 08/2017