Kraftwerk - Radio-Activity (1975)

If you see a Kraftwerk album in a sale you buy it. Everyone does that, don't they? Which is why I own this, the earliest Kraftwerk in my collection (I really must get a copy of Autobahn).

I don't think I've listened to it as much as some others, but let's give it a spin.

We open with Geiger Counter, a minute of clicks sounding like a Geiger counter, before the first proper song, Radioactivity, a fine electronic piece, clearly the inspiration for OMD's Electricity. Radioland is a bit of a dirge, full of radio squeaks and pings, and after a wave of high frequency noise, Airwaves is more lively, with a catchy theme. The radio show continues with a short repeated phrase in Intermission, some News (including time pips) and the spoken Voice Of Energy. Antenna is an understated, gentle piece, followed by Radio Stars, an almost ambient piece, apart from the space age boing which pierces through everything, then Uranium, whispered speech over a drone. The album concludes with Transistor, an electronic instrumental which wouldn't have been out of place on a Gong or Tim Blake album, then the finale, Ohm Sweet Ohm, a simple little ditty, following a synthesised voice opening.

There's a lot to enjoy here, but it does feel a little transitional between the innovation of Autobahn and the more mature sound on following albums such as Man Machine. It's not my first choice for Kraftwerk listening, but it has its moments.

Link to full album

3* - a solid effort which doesn't hit the heights of some other albums