Computer World

Their 1981 release, "Computer World", is a synthy celebration of computers in society. It was a very appopriate theme, considering the recent microchip revolution. Using their drum machines, basic waveforms, synth voices and quirky spoken word lyrics, they showed the world that computers were everywhere, even in music and were here to stay.

The title track opens things with a electro-disco rhythm, before diving into warm synth sweeps. The vocals, human and electronic, list off things influenced or controlled by computers. It's sound and themes set the tone for the rest of the album.

This is followed by "Pocket Calculator", probably the catchiest and funniest track from the album. My personal favourite. Lots of square and saw waves. The lyrics describe a man with a calculator that plays a melody. He adds and subtracts, he plays the melody, he is the operator. Doesn't seem like meaningful stuff, but the deadpan, slightly nervous way it's spoken makes it very amusing.

"Numbers", the third track, feautures an elastic sounding drum machine, off-key synths and various synth and computerized voices counting in various languages including German, English, French, Spanish and Japanese. It leads straight into "Computer World 2", a sort of remix of the title track. It adds the "Computer World" melodies to the beat and voices of "Numbers". The synth vocals try counting to 20 in German very fast toward the end, which is funny.

"Computer Love" is a bit gentler than the previous tracks, with soft drum machines and mellow, prettier synths rather than harsh or icy ones. Probably for that "love" feel. The echo plastered vocals tell a tale of a man about to go on a date, nervous because he doesn't know what to do. The accented voice makes things sound all the more nervous for the singer, more genuine. We've all been in his shoes. Gets a bit pointlessly repetitive toward the end though.

"Home Computer" has a catchy rhythm, and more cheeky electronic sounds, but not much in the way of words. The synth sweeps are a bit cold, a little spooky. Again, very repetitive

"It's More Fun To Compute" starts off very dark and foreboding, with metallic zaps and grating synth strings. Early into it though it goes back to the repetitive rhythm melodies of Home Computer, which brings the album to a close. Bit of a let down as far as closers go.

I respect this album, and I know it's really influential, it's just not an album I listen to a lot, hence only 3 stars. Just not my thing. I have to be in a techno mood, which isn't very often, otherwise all the repetitive beeps get annoying. If you are into electronic music, you should enjoy this, or get a laugh out of it at least.


Fantastic!   February 26, 2004
B. Trapp (Michigan)
It's rediculous how good this album is. I was at a record store and picked it up on tape (a brand new tape in 2004?). They had the CD but for some reason I thought the tape would be a better buy. A nod to nostalgia. Anyhoo, I bought it and was blown away. It's not dated (at least to me). When I listened to it with my little brother he was like "Woah, who is this," and I've been preaching the Kraftwerk gospel ever since. Don't let my rambling talk and bad spelling turn you away from this album. It's a keeper!


A must-have for anyone who likes electronic music   February 7, 2004
Although there are already dozens of 5-star reviews of this album, I just had to add my own. Yes, this album is THAT good, and I agree with the reviewer who said it should be on a 10 Greatest of all time list. Tastes being what they are, not everyone in the world will love this album, but if you like electronic music even a teeny tiny bit (and you probably do, since you're reading this page), this album is simply a must-have. Whether it's techno, electro, house, downtempo, IDM, synth-pop, or someother sub-genre(s) that float your boat, this album WILL appeal to you.

It really blows my mind to think that this album was released in 1981, practically 25 years ago. Forget the prophetic lyrics about a computer-connected world and the rise of home computing, the music itself sounds timeless. You cannot pin an "80's" label on this dark, multilayered sound, which if released today would be hailed as a wholly modern, year 2004 electro masterpiece -- yes, I'd call it electro, based on the percussion programming and the "bleepy" analog synths-- and not an 80's throwback. Computer World is remeniscent of the Detroit techno sound, but of course it predates it by many years, and I would also say that it's more original and engaging than most Detroit stuff that I've heard (and I love the Detroit sound, FYI.) Anthony Rother, another German, and his alias Little Computer People also carry on the sonic tradition of this ground-breaking album.

Although I don't own the complete works of Kraftwerk, I'd wager that this is probably their greatest creation. Computer World was the first Kraftwerk album that I ever purchased, and since it was so astonishingly good, of course I bought some other Kraftwerk albums. The other albums range in quality from so-so to downright bad, and not even their better stuff (Transeurope Express, for example) is anywhere near as good as Computer World. Music, lyrics, overall soul and feeling and originality -- Computer World has it all.


Unfortunate indication of things to come   January 16, 2004
Andre M. (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States)
With admittedly clever computer-driven tunes, this was actually a pretty good CD/Album with tunes like "Pocket calculator," "Numbers," (the inspiration for Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock,"),"Computer Love," etc. While this was not bad as a novelty, it unwittingly helped ruin pop music in the 80s as producers discovered it was cheaper to make records of preprogrammed beats than of real singing and musicianship. While this trend seems FINALLY to be on the wane, this was basically the one that strated it all. But on it's own, it's not that bad. If an absolute hater of computerized music like me can recommend it, you might wanna give it a try.