The human band with robotic hearts are coming. Yes, German act Kraftwerk return to New Zealand to play at the Auckland Town Hall on November 26.
Last here for the Big Day Out in 2003, the musical pioneers, who conjure up sparse and hypnotic tracks with a popmusic sensibility, pretty much invented electronic music in the 70s. Throughout that decade they released classic albums like Autobahn, Trans-Europe Express and The Man-Machine.
The quartet's stunning Big Day Out performance consisted of them standing motionless behind their laptops - apart from the occasional sashaying hip movement - with giant graphics projected on to a screen behind.
While they have not been hugely productive since 1986's Electric Cafe they released the Expo 2000 single in 1999 and also announced they would be touring again. Since then they have released a live album and Tour de France Soundtracks, an album to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the cycle race which included a new version of the band's 1983 single, Tour de France.
The band has influenced many aspects of modern music, from the new romantics and hip-hop to pop and dance music, as well as inspiring musicians like David Bowie, U2, and Joy Divison through to the Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and LCD Soundsystem.
