The Man-Machine

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The Man-Machine
Kraftwerk - The Man-Machine.png
Studio album by Kraftwerk
Released May 19, 1978
Recorded 1977–78
Studio Kling Klang Studio
(Düsseldorf, Germany)
Genre
Length 36:10
Label
Producer
Kraftwerk chronology
Trans-Europe Express
(1977)Trans-Europe Express1977		 The Man-Machine
(1978)		 Computer World
(1981)Computer World1981
Singles from The Man-Machine
  1. "Die Roboter"
    Released: May 1978 (Germany)
  2. "Das Model"
    Released: September 1978 (Germany)
  3. "Neon Lights"
    Released: December 1978
  4. "The Robots"
    Released: 1978 (UK)
  5. "The Model"
    Released: November 1981 (UK)

The Man-Machine (German: Die Mensch-Maschine) is the seventh studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released in May 1978. It includes the singles "The Model" and "The Robots".

Upon its release, the NME stated: "The Man-Machine stands as one of the pinnacles of 70's rock music."[1] Although the album was initially unsuccessful on the UK Albums Chart, it reached a new peak position of number nine in February 1982,[2] becoming the band's second highest-peaking album in the United Kingdom after Autobahn (1974).[3] The Man-Machine was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 15 February 1982, denoting shipments in excess of 100,000 copies.[4]

Background and release

The Man-Machine is the first Kraftwerk album to have Karl Bartos co-credited as a composer along with Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Emil Schult co-wrote the lyrics for "The Model".

In October 2009, a remastered edition of the album was released on CD and digital download by Mute Records in Europe and by Astralwerks in the United States,[5][6] with heavyweight vinyl editions released in November 2009.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars[8]
Drowned in Sound 10/10[9]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music 4/5 stars[10]
Mojo 5/5 stars[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 4/5 stars[12]
Sputnikmusic 4/5[13]
Uncut 4/5 stars[14]
The Village Voice B+[15]

The NME wrote a glowing review and said: "Kraftwerk manage to convey the entire 'melange of elements' by musical means alone: the sparsity of the lyrics leaves the emphasis squarely on those robot rhythms; chilling tones and exquisite melodies." Critic Andy Gill also praised the "complexity of construction", saying "there's a lot more than electronic percussion in there".[1]

Track listing

Side A
No. Title Lyrics Music Length
1. "The Robots" ("Die Roboter") Ralf Hütter Hütter, Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos 6:11
2. "Spacelab"   Hütter Hütter, Bartos 5:51
3. "Metropolis"   Hütter Hütter, Schneider, Bartos 5:59
Side B
No. Title Lyrics Music Length
4. "The Model" ("Das Model") Hütter, Emil Schult Hütter, Bartos 3:38
5. "Neon Lights" ("Neonlicht") Hütter Hütter, Schneider, Bartos 9:03
6. "The Man-Machine" ("Die Mensch-Maschine") Hütter Hütter, Bartos 5:28

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Man-Machine.[16]

Kraftwerk
Additional personnel
  • Günther Fröhling – photography
  • Leanard Jackson – engineering
  • Karl Klefisch – lettering
  • Joschko Rudas – engineering
  • Henning Schmitz – assistant engineering
  • Johann Zambryski – artwork reconstruction (2009 remaster)

Charts

Chart (1978) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 56
Austrian Albums Chart[18] 15
Dutch Albums Chart[19] 29
German Albums Chart[20] 12
Swedish Albums Chart[21] 24
US Top LPs & Tape[22] 130
Chart (1982) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[2] 9

References

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External links

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