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Kraftwerk: Inspiration For Techno Music As We Know It Today

by Manuel Marino | Techno Music

by squarewithin

Have you ever been walking down the street when a car drives by and you hear a cool beat that makes you want to start grooving down the sidewalk? More than likely, it was an awesomely mixed electronic dance music jam you heard, also known as techno.

As is often the case with the origins of music genres, the history of techno depends on who you’re talking to and which region you explore. The beginning story of techno differs whether you’re discussing techno in Europe or the United States. However, what is generally accepted as the story of techno’s emergence is that in the 1980s, three Detroit artists, known as the “Belleville Three,” combined the repetitive electro sounds of Kraftwerk with the rhythms of funk.

And here lies one key element to the fantastic booty-shaking sounds we hear today: Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk is an electro music band from Germany that started creating beats in the 1970s. The group was initially formed by classically trained musicians Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, who became intrigued by the technological capabilities of machines. Since Kraftwerk’s inception, there have been several additions and departures from the band. Their international breakthrough album, Autobahn, marked the …

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