Minimum - Maximum [German Import]

Although the liner notes for the first disc indicate German titles for Die Mensch-Maschine, Planet der Visionen, Das Modell and Neonlicht, these are all the exact same versions as on the UK edition, with lyrics partly sung in English and partly in German. And although the cover credits "Das Modell" to be from the Berlin concert the track is actually fully in sung in English and is exactly the same as on the UK edition, where it is credited to one of the London performances. The latter appears more likely to be correct.

Now on the second disc it gets interesting. First off Radio-aktivitaet is actually a German sung version, from a different concert. This also goes for Trans-Europa Express/Abzug/Metall auf Metall, being sung (where applicable) in German and taken from the Riga concert. Note that the track "Abzug" actually has it's own tracknumber on this edition, whereas on the UK edition it is integrated in Trans-Europe Express itself. This accounts for the total of tracks on the second German disc to be 13, instead of 12. "Nummern" is like on disc 1 the same recording as on the UK version, and the same goes more or less for Heimcomputer, Denkatu, Elektro Kardiogramm, Aero Dynamik and Music Non Stop. Computerwelt, Taschenrechner and Die Roboter however are recordings from different concerts, again all sung in German.

So in short, yes the German edition actually holds six different songs compared to the UK version. If this is enough to cover the rediculous mark up price is up to the individual buyer. I find it rather amazing Amazon can't offer it for the same price as the UK version, being an international operation and the discs coming from the same factory and distributor anyway. Also Amazon would do good to correct the German tracklisting on this page, as it is a copy of the UK tracklisting, therefore incorrect and potentially scaring off interested buyers.


Kraftwerk-tastic   July 17, 2005
P. Bougeard
2 out of 5 found this review helpful

Don't know if it is really worth paying the extra cash for something which is exactly the same as the UK release, but has a German sticker. Track listing the same, venues the same.....all the same, except a sticker in German and 10 more. Apart from that the CD is fantastic, as all the songs sound really beefed up and are great quality. My advice is to buy the UK release.