The Illustrasionist

Performing in Berlin for the first time in over 10 years, Kraftwerk returned in a blaze of glory with their retrospective 3-D show—a performance that was a timely reminder of Kraftwerk’s indelible mark on contemporary music, both locally on any given Sunday in Berghain, and to international chart hits by the likes of Jay-Z and LCD Soundsystem.

After blockbusting shows in MoMA and the Tate Modern, Kraftwerk continue to break new ground (even in their old age) by elevating their music to the status of art. Just before closing for major renovations, the Neue Nationalgalerie was therefore an apt choice. Each evening of the eight-night run sold-out within minutes, as cohorts of middle-aged men in square-rimmed glasses flocked to pay their respects. Standing in revered, foot-tapping appreciation, they nor anyone else were in the least disappointed…

The four “operators” of Kraftwerk, led by the last remaining original member Ralf Hütter (aged 68), delivered a different seminal album each night, followed by a grandstanding medley of hits. The appearance of these elderly statesmen of electronic music, with slight paunches protruding from their morphsuits, alongside the overtly and deliberately retro visuals, only underlines the fact that much of this music was created over 30 years ago. Yet now from 2015, the enduring appeal of their rhythmic loops and ever prescient technological themes show Kraftwerk to be the ultimate sonic pioneers.