Released on 10th May 1981, Computer World marked Kraftwerk’s last big record, and the last work from the group’s series of concept albums which began in 1974 with their fourth album Autobahn, quickly followed by Radio-Activity, Trans-Europe Express and The Man-Machine. All of them were recorded at their private studio Kling Klang, where they devised a mobile equipment system which they carried with them for the first time for the Computer World tour.
The dawn of a new decade saw a dazzling number of new styles come to life. The band led by Ralf Hütter, at the time still accompanied by the two other legends Florian Schneider and Karl Bartos, offered up a concept album based on the rise of computers in Western societies - all the tracks confronted the topic either directly or indirectly. Above all, with this concise (a full half hour of music!) and minimalist record, Kraftwerk opened doors for a whole generation of producers, introducing them to electro-funk with Numbers (which would inspire Afrika Bambaataa the following year for Planet Rock, marking the beginning of hip-hop) or laying the foundations of mental techno on Computer World and synthpop on Computer Love. Ten years after their debut, Kraftwerk prove that they are still several steps ahead of the rest. © Smaël Bouaici/Qobuz