To contrast with our outer space visionary of last week, Sun Ra, I thought we might tilt ourselves in the other direction, toward our future robot overlords. (Did I say overlords? I meant protectors.)
Here is Kraftwerk in San Paolo, from March 2009. The German electronic music group formed in 1970, but I first heard them in the 1980’s, on dance floors and urban radio stations with crossover hits like ‘Tour de France,’ ‘Trans World Express,’ and ‘Numbers.’ They brought a futuristic, computery vocoded sound to music, and the rap and R&B world ate it up for a while, with much imitation as a form of compliment. Afrika Bambaataa’s ‘Planet Rock” is an homage, as are songs by Warp 9, and the Jonzun Crew.
Rock music was also influenced. Think of Gary Numan in his car, the Human League, Soft Cell, and all of techno and electronica.
Ready for the robots?
http://youtu.be/_r3AJEUM4Nk
music non stop
I also like this piece of theirs, in which they all walk off stage one by one.
music non stop by kraftwerk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQENfDAnL-s