KRAFTWERK MINIMUM MAXIMUM DOUBLE LIVE ALBUM EMI RELEASE: JUNE 8, 2005 REVIEW: JUNE 8, 2005

True to their perfectionist reputation, the sound of this, Kraftwerk's first live album some 35 years into their career is absolutely wonderful: crisp, detailed and clean. Sometimes you can hear the crowd, but it's surgically removed most of the time (except in “Dentaku” where a wildly enthusiastic Japanese crowd sings along with the lyrics).
We were quite a few that caught Kraftwerk gigs last year, and we know what a musical treat we’re in for. All of their old tracks sound fantastic, and are very funky in that certain static German kind of way. A favourite of mine is “Radioactivity”, appearing here in a superb version blending elements of the original and the newer “The Mix” version.
I saw them twice on last year’s tour and my favourite gig was the one in Stockholm. Their visual style was of course breathtaking, and worked better at an indoor venue than at the huge Arvika stage they played later on in the summer.
Of course the most important thing to lay your hands on will be the DVD coming out "soon", where you get the visual impact as well. But this CD is a fantastic collection of the classic Kraftwerk songs mixed with some new ones, and will serve both as a memory of the concerts and as a best of album with updated versions. It's nicely packaged too, with fabulous colour pictures from their live set.

JOHAN CARLSSON