hier ist übrigens eine review vom kraftwerkkonzert in manchester am 2. juli, hier veröffentlicht mit freundlicher genehmigung von rob windle, webmaster der (:
Kraftwerk Manchester Velodrome 02/07/09 Review: Robert Rumbell 16th July 2008
Electrogods Kraftwerk - live in Manchester! A one off Kraftwerk gig in the UK in an unusual setting, how could I possibly pass on the opportunity?
Rumours were abound beforehand that this was going to be something rather unique, and as we arrived at the Velodrome we were handed a pair of 3D glasses contained in a wallet which simply said KRAFTWERK 3D 9:30.
The air of anticipation had already begun. This Velodrome definitely has the impressive 'wow factor' as you walk in. It has a banked cycle track surrounded by seating, we were in the standing area in the middle of the track.
After the World premiere of Steve Reich's 2x5 performed by 'Bang On A Can', and a chance meeting with Andy McCluskey of OMD, the lights went down at 20:30 (catching some people out as they believed it was 9:30 as per the time on the glasses) and the usual opening of 'Man Machine' was met with huge appreciation from the crowd, back-lit onto curtains were huge silhouettes, and yes I did see movement, the curtains opened to a huge roar and we had begun.
A huge mitrix screen filled the back of the stage, 80's retro computer writing, ZX Spectrum type graphics fused seamlessly with state of the art visuals. Ralf was in his normal far left hand position, and I was transfixed.
At this point I have to say that the sound quality in the Velodrome was immense, for a sports venue the acoustics were amazing, every note every nuance was crisp and powerful, by the end of the first track I was already in electro heaven.
A few tracks in and the unmistaken heavy breathing of 'Tour De France' filled the arena, this flowed immediately into the 2003 'Tour De France Etapes' soundtrack. Immediately the Velodrome cycle track lit up and Olympic Team GB cyclists took to the track and raced around us in a wave formation to the pounding beats. This was probably the most surreal moment I have ever experienced at any concert and not for the first time of the evening I did have a small tear of joy.
The set continued, almost like a greatest hits, 'Autobahn' and 'The Model' getting the loudest cheers. The first part ended and the curtains closed.
Suddenly, strobe lights lit up some unearthly creations again in huge silhouettes, the curtains opened and the 4 robot alter-egos proudly started to raise their robotic arms in unison to the thundering opening of 'We Are The Robots', after being cycled around this strangely seemed quite normal.
The curtains closed again and by now it was 9:30 and we had a sea of people wearing 3D glasses.
The curtains reopened and the 4 members were now wearing luminous neon gridded skin tight costumes, reminded me of the film 'Tron', then the screen kicked in...
Numbers flew in and out of the screen and into the audience, the collective gasp said it all, forever pioneers, while live 3D had been done before, this was surely the perfect concert to exploit its potential. The 3D continued for the whole of the 2nd part, and was probably at its most effective during Vitamin, where pills of all shapes and sizes seemed to come without touching distance.
My track of the evening was the stunning 'Radio-Activity', while now turned into a protest song, it is even more powerful live. Again, I stood transfixed, as static as the men on the stage.
The concert entered the final straight with some of the 'newera' Kraftwerk tracks and finished with 'Music Non Stop', while each member took their turn in the spotlight and then exited stage right, leaving Ralf on his own and to the biggest cheer of the night.
Then it was over, the 2 hours flew by in a flash. It was more than I ever imagined it would be, going to see Kraftwerk is no longer going to a concert, it is going to a multi-media experience. In an ideal World it would have been nice seeing more than 1 original member, however quite seriously I will say that this was the gig of the year, and quite possibly the gig of my lifetime.
Setlist: - Heute Abend - The Man Machine - Planet Of Visions [Expo 2000] - Home Computer - Tour De France - Tour De France Etapes - Autobahn - Computer Love - The Model - Neon Lights - Showroom Dummies - Trans Europe Express - We Are The Robots - Numbers - Computer World - Radioactivity - Vitamin - Aero Dynamik - Musik Non Stop
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... but it's not a day i'd choose to forget. (omd)
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