MetaChat - Kraftwerk covers:

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

10 April 2007

Kraftwerk covers: lo-tech and even lower-tech. Here are 10 remakes of Kraftwerk songs, half done on 8-bit audio chips, and half done by string quartet.→[More:]

8-bit:
Covox- Computer Love
Glomag- Pocket Calculator
Nullsleep- The Model
8-Bit Weapon- Spacelab (this one is especially good)
Neotericz- Electric Cafe
These are all from the album 8-Bit Operators. Up next: the Balenescu Quartet!

post by: BoringPostcards at: 06:38 | 9 comments

Five arrangements of Kraftwerk songs for string quartet, from the 1992 album Possessed:

The Robots
The Model
Autobahn
Computer Love
Pocket Calculator

To me, it indicates what good songwriters Kraftwerk really were, that even when you take their songs out of the very recognizable context of Kraftwerk's "sound," the songs are still great.

posted by BoringPostcards 10 April | 06:47

Wow, thanks for all the cool covers recently, BP.

posted by danostuporstar 10 April | 08:21

aaaaamen. and thank you so much! I must get that string album! sounds great!

posted by dabitch 10 April | 08:29

A bit tangential but the sixth movement of Philip Glass's "Heroes" Symphony, "V2 Schneider", would fit very well the Balenescu pieces: Kraftwerk as interpreted by Glass by way of Bowie and Eno.

Unfortunately, my Philip Glass collection is deficient in this area.

posted by mischief 10 April | 08:31

I'm glad y'all are enjoying them!

mischief- that is an excellent idea. I may build a radio broadcast around that idea. :)

dabitch- Possessed is a great album! These five are the only Kraftwerk songs on it; the others are one David Byrne song, and several Balenescu originals.

posted by BoringPostcards 10 April | 09:04

re: kraftwerk covers... i've always liked big black's cover of "the model" - whether their intention was snark or sincerity, it certainly is noisy.

that balenescu quartet album is pretty awesome, yes.

posted by syntax 10 April | 09:54

I love that Big Black cover, too, syntax... the bass kicks ass on that.

posted by BoringPostcards 10 April | 10:07

yeah, i've always been a big fan of big black's bass sound - treble all the way up on the amp, nice and punchy. a great sonic compliment to roland the drummer. :)

hey, have you ever heard señor coconut's el baile alemán album? it's all kraftwerk covers done in a latin pop style. it's funny as hell.

posted by syntax 10 April | 14:06

Oh god yes, I love that album which in turn turned me on to everything señor coconut does.

posted by dabitch 12 April | 05:15

← boomshine || a mild eponsteriana →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN