The Sound of the Machine

By Karl Bartos

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Omnibus Press
• Release date: Jul 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781787592407

Karl Bartos

Born in the beautiful German village of Berchtesgaden in 1952, sound, music and culture have been a lifelong fascination for Karl. He studied at the Robert Schumann Conservatory in Düsseldorf, played at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and was in several experimental bands before he joined Kraftwerk for their American Autobahn tour in 1975. He co-composed tracks and performed with the band until 1990 and is featured on the seminal albums Radio-Activity, Trans-Europe Express, The Man-Machine and Computer World.

Reviews for The Sound of the Machine

[Jeff Mayer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great insight on Kraftwerk's greatest hits and their influence on electronic music. Karl was often uncredited on his contributions to Kraftwerk. This book does a deep dive into the actual tracks we know and love like Computer Love, Pocket Calculator, The Model and Tour De France for starters.