Radio-Activity by Kraftwerk

Nevertheless this is an album full of sweet melodies and clicking electronic drums and percussion. It has a darker feel than later albums, partly due to the albums subject matter, the threat of Radiation.

Some songs are very experimental but mostly they are very melodic and highly enjoyable tracks like 'Antenna' with its early bassline being a highlight and the dual language vocal on title track 'Radioactivity'.

Not advisable for an introduction to Kraftwerk, purchase 'Computer World' or 'Man Machine' first to get used to their sound.


In The Air For You And Me.....   August 17, 2002
M. FAVER (Leicestoh)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The follow up to Autobahn, Radioactivity is Kraftwerk doing what they do best. Slightly more experimental than its predecessor Radioactivity is a subtle blend of simple, intelligent melodies and hints of higher brow conceptual ideas.

As with Autobahn mention should be made of the contrast of this lp to everything else that was happening in 1975. These were the days that if you wanted a new sound on a record, you had to invent the instrument that produced it. You didn't just pirate or buy the software !

Again, it works so beautifully as an 'entire' album experience rather than as individual tracks that you should listen to it alone and picture in your mind the austerity of post war Eastern Europe and Soviet Russia. The pre disaster Chernobyl experience if you like. It is, at the same time, beautiful in a cold and machine like way whilst laced with subtle mechanisation warnings as well as warnings of the very well known threat that radioactivity poses to its creators.

It is contemporary, electronic 'volkmusik' for a generation more at home with 'synthetic, elctronic sounds' than accoustic guitars and cowboy hats. Nevertheless, a form of folk music it is and all the better for it in my opinion.

This lp is as good as Autobahn. There are some reasons for considering it to be better, but surely that would be heresy !


Music for Europe   July 11, 2002
R. Hallett (UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

The precision and presentation of the music is executed in a clinical manner. The music is sparse but is made dense with the 'electronic atmospherics' that is the background throughout the whole music exercise. What is also striking is both the use of German and English language making this a 'truly' International release. Some lovely moments in this CD that that would point the way forward to Kraftwerk, but also give them cause to look back and go 'negative' so to speak. Whereas they state on this release 'Radioactivity is in the air for you and me' as being a 'positive factor, they stated much later as in 'The Mix' "stop radioactivity". An interesting CD but, one to get 'last' after you have obtained Autobahn, Man Machine, Trans-Europe Express, Computer World, the Mix....approach the releases before Autobahn with caution as they are quite different. Rating 7/10 but an essential purchase for Kratwerk 'fans' ...


Those German trick cyclists never fail.   February 3, 2001
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Worth it for 'Radiocactivity' alone this album is a great introduction to their, erm, 'werk'. The precision and restraint mixed with the simplicity of the lyrics is strangely comedic but this remains seriously good stuff.