Computer World In Tokyo: Tokyo 1981 (KCD9881)
Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan – September 8, 1981
(75:09) Numbers, Computer World, Computer Love, Home Computer, Neon Lights, Autobahn, Showroom Dummies, Trans-Europe Express, The Robots, It’s More Fun To Compute, Outro
Formed in 1970 in Germany, Kraftwerk were pioneers of electronic music and would be very influential to the genre throughout the 70s and 80s even having influence on modern dance tracks. Early on, their music was played on conventional instruments (guitars, drums, flutes, etc…) using tape manipulations to distort or mask their sound but by 1973 they began using more synthesizers and drum machines and were experimenting more with the vocoder and eventually some of the earliest sequencers. Around 1975 they solidified what many consider to be the classic lineup of founding members Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider with Wolfgang Flur and Karl Bartos.
Kraftwerk’s appearance at Nakano Sunplaza on September 8th, 1981 comes from a perfect sounding stereo FM broadcast. The sound is very clean and enjoyable with minimal audience mixed in between songs. They had released their eighth studio album, Computer World, in May of which the main theme dealt with the rise of computers within society. While they feature five of the albums seven songs here, they don’t feature anything from their first three LPs but do include the lengthy title track from their fourth album, Autobahn and two tracks each from Trans-Europe Express and The Man-Machine.
For fans of electronic or experimental music Computer World In Tokyo is an excellent quality recording certainly comparable to an official release. Packaged in a single jewel case with several photos of the band this is easily recommended to fans of this musical genre.
