Label:
Kling Klang – 50999 9 66022 1 8, Parlophone – 50999 9 66022 1 8, Kling Klang – 509999 660221 8, Parlophone – 509999 660221 8
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo, Red Translucent, 180g
Country:
Europe
Released:
9 Oct 2020
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Electro, Synth-pop
A1 The Robots 6:13
A2 Spacelab 5:57
A3 Metropolis 6:01
B1 The Model 3:41
B2 Neon Lights 8:53
B3 The Man•Machine 5:32
The Man-Machine is closer to the sound and style that would define early new wave electro-pop -- less minimalistic in its arrangements and more complex and danceable in its underlying rhythms. Like its predecessor, Trans-Europe Express, there is the feel of a divided concept album, with some songs devoted to science fiction-esque links between humans and technology, often with electronically processed vocals ("The Robots," "Spacelab," and the title track); others take the glamour of urbanisation as their subject ("Neon Lights" and "Metropolis"). Plus, there's "The Model," a character sketch that falls under the latter category but takes a more cynical view of the title character's glamorous lifestyle. More pop-oriented than any of their previous work, the sound of The Man-Machine -- in particular among Kraftwerk's oeuvre -- had a tremendous impact on the cold, robotic synth pop of artists like Gary Numan, as well as Britain's later new romantic movement.