Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site hammer.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!hammer!dce
From: dce@hammer.UUCP (David Elliott)
Newsgroups: net.music.synth
Subject: Re: Synth Bands
Message-ID: <1251@hammer.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-May-85 11:45:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: hammer.1251
Posted: Mon May 13 11:45:57 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 15-May-85 00:19:49 EDT
References: <597@teddy.UUCP>
Reply-To: dce@hammer.UUCP (David Elliott)
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 30
Summary: 

Kraftwerk's "The Man-Machine" is usually overlooked in light of "Autobahn"
(their "hit") and "Computer World".

"The Man-Machine" is my favorite Kraftwerk album. It's got some of the
edge of the older stuff, but is technically better. Its "pop" feel is
similar to "Computer World" (in other words, the songs are short and are
organized in standard popular forms), but there is more bass and the
drums are not as electronic sounding.

I picked up this album because I heard "The Model" on Snakefinger's second
album, and I wanted to hear the original. I wasn't disappointed. "The
Man-Machine" is altogether a better album than "Computer World" and beats
"Trans-Europe Express" by a kilometer.

If you are into synthesizers with vocals and drums, check out the recent
Bill Nelson stuff (you may remember Nelson as the leader of Be-Bop Deluxe).
The American releases are almost all 4- and 6-song mini-albums. The recent
UK imports are mostly double lps, with one album of "pop" stuff and one
album of "home recordings using a broken 4-track". A couple of weeks ago,
I picked up a 4-record boxed set of more "home recordings" (plus some
post cards and a form to send in by March 31, 1985 to get a book of photos
by Bill Nelson).

Bill works in a very experimental fashion. Songs are composed as they are
recorded. He uses mostly electronic drums (though he is a very good drummer)
and very little guitar (which I sorely miss, because he is an excellent
guitarist; maybe he'll get a Roland GR-700). His music has an Oriental
feel to it.

			David