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  • The Sound of the Machine

  • My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond
  • By: Karl Bartos
  • Narrated by: Jim Boeven
  • Length: 19 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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The Sound of the Machine cover art

The Sound of the Machine

By: Karl Bartos
Narrated by: Jim Boeven
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Summary

Whether in Kraftwerk or as an acclaimed solo artist, Karl Bartos has had an extraordinary impact on electronic music. In The Sound of the Machine, Bartos’ recollections include his childhood in postwar Germany, the early musical encounters that led him to Kraftwerk, and fascinating insights from his time with the group, such as the genesis of monumental songs like "The Robots," "The Model," and "Tour de France," and candid accounts of his relationships with the other bandmembers.

©2022 Omnibus Press. English language translation © 2020 by Katy Derbyshire (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

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Detailed, absorbing, fascinating

This is exceptional. A detailed look at Karl's life - before, during, and after his time in Kraftwerk. Inquisitive and intelligent riffs on many topics - life in post-war Germany, computer technology, musical composition and theory, Werner von Braun, many more. It's a huge and absorbing story. Take just a moment to become accustomed to narrator Jim Boeven's diction and style, and the narration then forms a big part of the appeal. And using a native speaker makes for authentic pronunciation of German names and place names. This has been 19 hours very well spent. Credit also to Katy Derbyshire who did the translation of the source material into English. A very fine audiobook.

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