And once again, I appear out of the mist.
'Trans-Europe Express' by Kraftwerk (1977)
Recently, I re-watched the movie 'Blade Runner' and I forgot how astounding that movie really is. It does justice to the sly biblical themes that it presents, like the concept of the prodigal son, but what was really interesting was the questions it posed. When machines become so advanced that they're able to replicate humans in almost every way, what's the difference?
Today the world is dominated by machines. Machines control our money, they get us to and from most places, they allow us to farm en masse, they allow us to talk to each other from long distances, and generally unite and keep the world running. But a question must be raised, without the use of tools, what are we? Humanity got to where it is because of our usage of tools. So who's in control, who really has the power?
power: possession of control, authority, or influence over others
Looking at that, can we honestly claim that it is us who has the power over the machines, because if we were so powerful, why do we depend on them? A brain is no use if there is no limbs or other body parts. I think it's more of an equal relationship. At least until we build sentient machines. Then, we have reason to worry.
Kraftwerk seem to embrace a machine sensibility. They call themselves showroom dummies, and the cover of the album really supports that. They're trying to say that, in the end, if you look at science and evolution, we're just complex machines. The best computer ever made is still the human brain. And again, it raises the question, just what is the difference between man and machine?
Trans-Europe Express invokes the feeling of travel, the album being named after what is now a defunct rail system in Europe, that stretched between countries. That is a prime theme in the work of this band, the sense of traveling, going places, perhaps leaving somewhere forever and trying to find a new place to call home. And while many accuse Kraftwerk of trying to be like machines a bit too much, there is a pulsing humanity lurking beneath the surface of this album, with songs like 'Hall of Mirrors', where they say 'Even the greatest stars, despise themselves in the looking glass.'
The album is composed as if the classical way of composition and music making never went out of style. I say that is pretty spot-on. All classical music needed was an electronic revamp. And Kraftwerk provided that. Even if you don't like techno, listen to this album at least, for it is the magnum opus of a highly important band in the development of 20th century music.
Life is timeless, and so is this album.