Karl Bartos - 'Communication' (Columbia)
3/5
By: Matt Tomiak
With a new Kraftwerk LP recently unleashed upon the world, long-time member Karl Bartos releases an album of his own. And unlike the 'Werk, who virtually disappeared off the radar until this year, Bartos has kept busy over the years, as both the instigator of spin-off band Electric Music and collaborating with New Order and Johnny Marr as Electronic.
One track from 'Communication', '15 Minutes Of Fame' was released back in late-2000, although in the age of 'Pop Idol', the track's refrain of 'Stars ain't what they used to be/They're average people like you and me' seems wonderfully apt. Otherwise, as ever, vocoders, icy detachment and jerky, robotic techno/house forms the bulk of this collection.
And for a man approaching 50, 'Communication' feels relevant and new: his influence on a new generation of electronic artists (most obviously, Daft Punk) is irrevocably clear. A victory, seemingly, for work-ethic in the face of lethargy.
Artists in this article: Karl Bartos
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