Kraftwerk: Minimum-Maximum

 

 

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First, I'd like to state that I have not experienced any audio glitches, as mentioned by a previous reviewer. (Before blaming the disc manufacturer, try it on another DVD player first...)

Now, for anyone who is not familiar with Kraftwerk's music, let's just say that it's not something the "average modern music listener" is going to enjoy or appreciate. To understand where they're coming from, some sort of electronic music primer is helpful.

Electronic music has been around is some form or another for many decades. Very few early compositions where ever part of the mainstream music scene. One of the earliest known pieces of electronic music was heard on TV, from the TV series "Dr. Who".

Most of what was heard back then was stuff performed on the slightly bizarre instrument called a therimin (invented in the early 1900's). The movie industry used the instrument predominantly to create eerie, high-pitched monophonic warblings. Electronics pioneers such as Robert Moog created an electronic keyboard-based instrument with greater expressive capabilities and reliability. A chart topping song in the 70's came along, called "Popcorn" by Hot Butter, helped bring the instrument into the mainstream musical consciousness.

By the early 70's, electronic keyboards appeared in music shops all around the world. People tended to be divided into two camps: those who thought synthesizer music was phoney or "too synthetic" (using a somewhat misguided distortion of the word "sythesizer" to mean "synthetic") and those that enjoyed the amazing flexibility and range of the instrument.

Walter Carlos's album, "Switched-On Bach" (as well as the theme music for the movie "Clockwork Orange") illustrated that the synthesizer could be a truly expressive and emotional instrument (not to mentioned a "serious" instrument).

Kraftwerk had formed in the 70's and their musical style, in comparison to what most North Americans were exposed to, seemed rather cold and calculated. It certainly had nothing to do with the rock world. Visually, the members of Kraftwerk did not appear to be cool or hip. They didn't grow their hair long or jump around on the stage like caffein crazed monkeys.

They also weren't known for trashing hotel rooms either. Albums such as "Autobahn" and "Radio Activity" found a farily large niche market in the U.S. and Canada. Regardless of their record sales, they still weren't a household word. Even people who professed to know music still didn't know who they were.

But, despite their mainstream obscurity, they were able to continue to sell albums and stay together as a group for over 30 years.

"Minimum-Maximum" is simply a dream come true for any Kraftwerk fan. The visuals are so tightly and logically matched to the music, it's a joy to behold. The four members of the band appear anchored to their pedestalled computers throughout the entire concert. Although this does not seem like a very exciting thing to see on your TV screen, they make up for it by their sheer musical brilliance and background visuals.

The audio quality and 5.1 surround-sound mix is absolutely top-notch. Tunes such as "Autobahn" sound completely fresh partly due to the technical advances in digital music creation, and the treatment that a 5.1 surround-sound mix provides the listener with. With a stereo mix, you have the feeling that someone else is on a ride in a Volkwagon Beetle. In surround-sound, YOU are the one taking the trip!

I cannot praise the audio aspect of this DVD enough. The bass is incredibilty tight and deep. The high end is crisp and clear, without any of the harsh edge experienced with standard audio CD recordings.

At the beginning of the concert footage, you start to wonder if these guys are actually PLAYING this music. You sense that perhaps they are just running all of this on auto-pilot. But as the show unfolds, you get a better view of their hands, and realize that they really are CONTROLLING the music. There are times where you see them getting into the groove (as much as anyone can be being tethered to their respective machines).

I also appreciated how the crowd noises and cheering was handled by those responsible for the audio mixing. The cheering is toned down smoothly shortly after each song begins. Some live concerts have certain individuals who are either cheering, whistling or screaming in some fashion that makes them noticeable and distinctive from the rest of the crowd. Such is not the case with "Minimum-Maximum". For the most part, the crowd is just seen at the bottom of the screen in silhouette form.

The background screen visuals are smoothly transitioned between the background and the foreground. The computer animation provides visual cues to what the listener is hearing. Rather than just a bunch of random, non-sensical eye-candy, Kraftwerk presents a pleasing visual accompaniment to their songs.

Kraftwerk has become the electronic template to which others have tried to imitate, but seldom achieve. For anyone who has ever been in a clothing store that plays "dance music" over their P.A. knows, and hears the same old musical patterns played over and over and over until your brain starts to explode, making "real listenable dance music" is a major feat to which Kraftwerk can claim superiority at all levels. Kraftwerk is really more "brain food" than mindless "dance grooves" though.

For anyone who has enjoyed ANY music they've heard by Kraftwerk, this DVD will be sure to please. But, if you haven't taken the leap over to a surround sound setup yet, you'll be missing out on a near-spiritual experience.

I don't have this DVD (yet), but would like to correct the editorial synopsis, which states that Kraftwerk are British. Kraftwerk are, in fact, a German group.

I purchased this DVD at an HMV in the Greater Toronto Area in Jan. 06.
I returned it once due to audio glitches/dropouts in both the DTS and Dolby Pro Logic audio streams. My second copy had the exact same audio trouble.
I have contacted Quality Assurance at EMI Canada but have yet to hear back.
Has anyone else experienced this?

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