On Monday evening, legendary electronic outfit Kraftwerk arrived in Nottingham as part of their first UK tour since 2017, their last gig being also at the same venue some nine years ago. Before that their only previous appearance in the City was at the adjacent Rock City, in 1981, forty five years ago
A capacity crowd awaited this rare visit, one which is likely to be their last for the legendary electronic pioneers, influencers for electronica ever since, not least the Human League. This Multimedia tour offers stunning graphics and a familiar crowd pleasing romp through their back catalogue
So many of the band’s tracks have become much celebrated not only for Kraftwerk’s original renditions but also for their sampled use elsewhere in modern music.Tthe main synthesiser motif from the band’s Computer Love track was used by indie-rock titans Coldplay on their single Talk,Whilst Trans Europe Express was sampled by Afrika Bambaataa in their unmistakable hip-hop floor filler, Planet Rock. Both featured in the band’s two-hour career-spanning setlist.
Kraftwerk’s signature use of visuals helped t provided a stunning setting for the musid.of the four members of the group stood static in illuminated boiler suits behind their consoles throughout the course of the show. the sound in this purpose built concert hall was faultless.
Starting with opening tracks Numbers and Computer World, Kraftwerk walked the strong crowd down memory lane, thanks to staples from their discography such as The Model, Autobahn, Radioactive, Tour De France, Trans Europe Express, Music Non Stop and encore closer Robots.
The band even gave a nod to the East Midlands as visuals of Nottingham featured on screen during Space Lab.
Witty onstage badinage was at a premium, except for a moment from only remaining original band member Ralf Hutterto discuss Kraftwerk’s collaboration with Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto- the exquisite “Merry Christmas Mr lawrence.”The band, currently made up of founder Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Falk Grieffenhagen and Fritz Hilpert were otherwise silent and taciturn
At the end of the show, each member of the group exited ceremoniously one by one by way of finale-Leaving only Hütter to bid his farewells, by way of “Gute Nacht, Auf Weidersehen.”
Setlist
Meine Damen und Herren ( walk on)
- Numbers / Computer World / Computer World 2
- Home Computer / It’s More Fun to Compute
- Spacelab
- The Man-Machine
- Ätherwellen
- Tango
- Electric Café
- Autobahn
- Computer Love
- The Model
- Neon Lights
- Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence(Ryūichi Sakamoto )
- Geiger Counter
- Radioactivity
- Tour de France / Tour de France Étape 3 / Chrono / Tour de France Étape 2
- Trans-Europe Express / Metal on Metal / Abzug
- Pocket Calculator
- Planet of Visions
- Boing Boom Tschak / Techno Pop / Musique Non Stop
Garyswordz 