The last great Kraftwerk record and probably their funkiest release. Yet they maintain most of their analog minimalism throughout.

This is a great record, from the futurist (actually Russian constructivist) art direction to the sci-fi themes, pure perfection. The sound of Kraftwerk is completely unique (as far as I know). I love the minimalism of the arrangements and the synthetic nature of the music. There is no attempt to mimic natural instruments here. This is a must own album if ever there was one.

Trans-Europe Express is a classic record which laid the groundwork for virtually all the electronic dance music that proceeded it. The music is mesmerizing, precise and minimal without ever becoming dull. Although, I think I prefer their next two albums just a tad more, you can’t go wrong here.

I am glad I never got in to Yo La Tengo whilst they were coming into prominence. I probably would have bought everything they released on the day it came out. By ignoring them for a decade or two, I was able to limit my music dollars towards buying what is considered by many to be their best record and leaving it at that. The record is very good with several memorable tracks that are awash in feedback and a dreamy ballad or two for good measure.

A great follow up to their first Christian garage-rock album. The one is even scuzzier and louder and ends with a great tune whose lyrics consist of Mike Lucas rabidly speaking in tongues. Praise the Lord! The Knights have saved me with their scuzz-rock brand of Christendom. Hallelujah!

The title does a good job in describing this release. Kirk seems to have shifted away from sequenced sounds and more toward found beats and loops. He uses the same samples again and again throughout this CD to a different effect each time. Each track is like a variation on a theme. While not as hypnotic as his first few electronica CDs, this is still some good stuff.

Cabaret Voltaire’s final album ended with a dazzling, CD filling track that drifted between various sonic themes and styles, yet maintained enough of a consistency to justify it being a single piece. Agents With False Memories is a similar attempt at creating an epic electronica composition but it falls short. There’s just not enough variety here. The beats and music hardly change during the course of the entire 45 minutes. The only real variety is in the mass of found lo-fi voices that are overlaid on the mix.