Kraftwerk – Autobahn Clearance

With its iconic emil schult sleeve, Kraftwerk release their international breakthrough album. The symphonic title track, an epic ode to the joys of motorway travel, wraps a mesmerising motorik rhythm around a sampled collage of car horns, engine noise, whirring tyres and radio crackle. In edited form, it becomes a revolutionary hit single around the world. Elsewhere, in wordless industrial folk music, the band reveal both their light and dark sides – Mitternacht is all creeping midnight shadows, while Morgenspaziergang is fresh with morning dew and birdsong. Two versions of Kometenmelodie, One a starkly gothic prowl, the other a sunny electro boogie, provide further instrumental sound paintings. Pure and strong and bold, Kraftwerk compose cinema for the ears. the pop world falls in love with them.