"Autobahn" is the fourth studio album by German electronic band Kraftwerk, released in November 1974.
"Autobahn" is not a completely electronic album, as violin, flute, and guitar are used along with synthesizers. The title track features both untreated and vocoded vocals; the remaining tracks are purely instrumental. Kraftwerk used a Minimoog, an ARP Odyssey, an EMS Synthi AKS and various devices of their own design and implementation, such as their famous electronic drums.
The title track is intended to capture the feeling of driving on the Autobahn: from travelling through the landscape, the high-speed concentration on the fast lane, to tuning the car radio and the monotony of a long trip. It describes the A 555 from Köln to Bonn
The remaining tracks have a two-part structure – an introduction followed by a main section – and are loosely based around a theme of the night, beginning with twin tracks "Kometenmelodie (Comet Melody) 1 and 2", then an ominous-sounding "Mitternacht" (Midnight) and the final track, "Morgenspaziergang" (Morning Stroll). This last track begins as a dawn chorus bird-song effect created by the electronic instruments, with an extended conclusion that uses a repeating variation of the melodic phrase heard in the first instrumental section of "Autobahn".
Track listing
01. Autobahn (Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Emil Schult) - 22:43
02. Kometenmelodie 1 ("Comet Melody 1") (Hütter, Schneider) - 6:26 (inspired by Comet Kohoutek)
03. Kometenmelodie 2 ("Comet Melody 2") (Hütter, Schneider) - 5:48
04. Mitternacht ("Midnight") (Hütter, Schneider) - 3:43
05. Morgenspaziergang ("Morning Walk") (Hütter, Schneider) - 4:04
Released: 1 November 1974
Recorded at: Conny Plank's Studio, Köln , Germany
Genre: Krautrock, Electronic, Soundscapes
Length: 42:26
Label: Philips
Producer: Conny Plank, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider
Personnel
Ralf Hütter - vocals, electronics
Florian Schneider - vocals, electronics
Klaus Röder - violin, guitar
Wolfgang Flür - percussion
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