Trans-Europe Express (album)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Trans-Europe Express (Trans Europa Express) is the sixth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk. Recorded in mid-1976 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the album was released in March 1977 on Kling Klang Records. The album's themes were influenced by friends who suggested writing songs about the Trans Europ Express to reflect Kraftwerk's electronic music style. Critics have described the album as having two specific themes: celebration of Europe and the disparities between reality and image. Musically, the songs on this album differ from the group's earlier Krautrock style with a focus on electronic mechanized rhythms, minimalism, and occasional manipulated vocals.
Trans-Europe Express charted at 119 on the American charts and was placed on the Village Voice's 1977 Pazz & Jop critics poll. Two singles were released from Trans-Europe Express: "Trans-Europe Express" and "Showroom Dummies". The album has been re-released in several formats and continued to receive acclaim from modern critics who praise the album as one of the greatest and most influential records of the history of music.
To an African-American audience, the music is best known from the melody used in "Planet Rock". From 1977 to 1982 on Detroit radio Electrifying Mojo played the Kraftwerk's albums virtually every night, making a lasting impact on listeners.
Track listing
Side one
1. "Europe Endless" ("Europa Endlos")
Ralf HütterFlorian Schneider
Hütter 9:40
2. "The Hall of Mirrors" ("Spiegelsaal")
HütterSchneiderEmil Schult
Hütter 7:56
3. "Showroom Dummies" ("Schaufensterpuppen") Hütter Hütter 6:15
Side two
4. "Trans-Europe Express" ("Trans Europa Express")
HütterSchult
Hütter 6:52
5. "Metal on Metal" ("Metall auf Metall") Hütter 2:11
6. "Abzug[a]" Hütter 4:53
7. "Franz Schubert" Hütter 4:26
8. "Endless Endless" ("Endlos Endlos")
