Product Format: CD
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CD Edition of audio-visual sensation that comprises epic re-workings of melody and ideas from ex-KRAFTERK musician set in a thrilling modern setting!
The Karl Bartos ‘Off The Record’ album is brilliant - an audio-visual sensation and it’s in stock now!
Lost for many years, some of his early music has been reconceived and re-contextualised in a thrilling modern setting. Released in March 2013 it is an epic re-working of melody and ideas, and I’m here to tell you that Bartos has captured the true essence of KRAFTWETRK at their most commercially appealing. Each and every track – a mix of songs and instrumentals - captures that rustic, melodic, eccentric electronic simplicity and charm that made their 70’s/80’s work so accessible and hugely popular. All the sounds actually sound analogue, but there undoubtedly is some digital going on too, however, it is masked so well it still sounds analogue.
The whole album very much reflects the time the ideas were first realized by Bartos, but they still mange to feel of today in their own unique way.
If you are a fan of KRAFTWERK – You just have to buy this amazing album!
Here’s the story:
During KRAFTWERK’s heyday Karl Bartos wrote – off the record – a secret acoustic diary.
Based on his musical jottings – rhythms, riffs, hooks, sounds, chords and melodies – this is what he has come up with today: 12 brand new, exciting, timeless songs!
Karl Bartos is well known as one-quarter of the “classic” KRAFTWERK line-up. Many of their most influential rhythms and memorable melodies were actually conceived in his home studio. They would later be used on an unstoppable succession of hits from the Düsseldorf band as they ascended to the lofty heights of popular music culture.
As a major contributor to: ‘Man-Machine’ (1978) and ‘Computer World’ (1981) Bartos has had a decisive influence on KRAFTWERK’s music. Rolling Stone author Mike Rubin says of these years: “there's something timeless and universal about their songwriting of this period.”
KRAFTWERK went on to achieve worldwide success and cult status: in 1982 ‘The Model’ became a UK number 1. The track has become a classic in the history of music, along with ‘The Robots’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘Neon Lights’, ‘Numbers’, ‘Pocket Calculator’, ‘Home Computer’, ‘Tour de France’, ‘Musique Non-Stop’ and ‘The Telephone Call’.
Karl Bartos left the band in 1990. Subsequently he became an independent producer and writer – for his project ELECTRIC MUSIC, as a solo artist, and also together with fellow friends and musicians: – Bernard Sumner (NEW ORDER), Johnny Marr (The SMITHS) and Andy McCluskey (OMD).
In 2004 he co-founded the Master of Arts course “Sound Studies – Acoustic Communication” at the Berlin University of the Arts where he was a visiting professor, teaching Auditory Media Design up until 2009.
Any release from Karl is greeted with much excitement and the same is true of ‘Off The Record’.
He has opened up his music archive for the very first time - rediscovering and analysing hundreds of tapes, piles of sheet music and years of digital media. Inspired by his acoustic diary and adding his experience as a composer and producer, he has created 12 brand new songs – written and performed with masterly skill.
It took Karl two years to accomplish this original Bartos album: iron crystal music, vocoder newspeak, robot sounds, digital glitch, techno pop, catchy melodies, electronic avant-garde, roaring silence, futurism, and, of course, those rhythms! Rhythms of brutal minimalistic impact as found on the much sampled: ‘Numbers’ recorded three decades ago and described by Mikem Banks of Underground Resistance as “the secret code of electronic funk.”
* * * PLEASE NOTE: The CD Edition 44-Page Booklet will scale down to a 20-Page booklet after initial pressing is sold-out. * * *
The ‘Off The Record’ album is available as a 180gm Vinyl LP+CD – Stock # 1582158
The ‘Off The Record’ album is available as a Ltd 180gm Vinyl LP+CD+20-Page Book – Stock # 1582159
The 7” Vinyl Single from the ‘Off The Record’ album is: ‘Atomium’ - Stock # 1584275
KARL BARTOS: OFF THE RECORD CD Track List:
01. Atomium (3:16)
02. Nachtfahrt (3:30)
03. International Velvet (4:37)
04. Without A Trace Of Emotion (3:28)
05. Binary Code (1:41)
06. Musica Ex Machina (5:15)
07. Tuning Of The World (3:33)
08. Instant Bayreuth (3:37)
09. Vox Humana (2:56)
10. Rhythmus (4:16)
11. Silence (0:06)
12. Hausmusik (3:29)
TPT – 39:49