8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk was released [1] in 2007 by the group 8-Bit Operators [2][3][4] on Kraftwerk's US label Astralwerks and EMI Records worldwide. It features cover versions of Kraftwerk songs by several prominent chiptune artists.[5]
| 8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by 8-Bit Operators | |
| Released | 2007 |
| Recorded | 2006–2007 |
| Genre | Electronic |
| Label | Astralwerks/Caroline/Virgin/EMI |
In March 2007, the CD release reached as high as number 1 on the CMJ RPM (North American college Electronic) charts.[6][7]
Background
editInspiration for the project as quoted by Jeremy Kolosine[8][9] (credited as Executive Producer of the release, and noted founder of the early 80's electronic group Futurisk and chipmusic band Receptors.)[10]
Well the first thing that comes to my mind when I saw a gameboy show was Kraftwerk's Computer World Tour from 1981, where four of them played various handheld devices during the song 'Pocket Calculator'. Plus it came up in a print from a Glomag quote, and an 8 Bit Weapon April Fool's joke that backfired.
This Kraftwerk covers compilation was somewhat unusual in the fact that Kraftwerk's Ralf Hütter selected the final track line-up.[8][11]
In a subsequent interview, when asked about the 8-Bit Operators release, Ralf Hütter responded:[12]
It is mind stimulating, the minimum/maximum coming from sound levels and thoughts and ideas. Like Autobahn and Trans-Europe Express are very basic and elementary ideas, but they offer a pattern or concept for improvisation.
CD Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Performing artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Robots (Die Roboter)" | Bacalao | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Pocket Calculator" | Glomag | 3:54 |
| 3. | "Computer Love" | Covox | 3:40 |
| 4. | "Showroom Dummies" | Role Model | 3:59 |
| 5. | "The Model" | Nullsleep | 3:57 |
| 6. | "Radioactivity" | David E.Sugar | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Kristallo" | Oliver Wittchow | 4:22 |
| 8. | "Spacelab" | 8-Bit Weapon | 4:54 |
| 9. | "Computer World (Computerwelt)" | firestARTer | 4:26 |
| 10. | "Electric Café" | Neotericz | 4:03 |
| 11. | "Trans-Europe Express" | Receptors | 4:02 |
| 12. | "Tanzmusik" | Herbert Weixelbaum | 3:58 |
| 13. | "It's More Fun to Compute" | Bubblyfish | 3:52 |
| 14. | "Antenna" | Bit Shifter | 3:48 |
| 15. | "The Man-Machine (Die Mensch-Maschine)" | gwEm and Counter Reset | 4:06 |
Vinyl
editA vinyl 12-inch single version was released on 24 February 2007 as a precursor to the full-length CD, and reached as high as number 17[13] on the Billboard magazine Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart.
Side A of the vinyl consisted of 8-Bit Operators' "Pocket Calculator (Megamix)" version by Glomag (featuring 0x7f, Bit Shifter, Bubblyfish, firestARTer, Hey Kid Nice Robot, Ladybug, M-.-n, Nullsleep, Psilodump, Random, Sidabitball, and David E Sugar).
Side B was an alternate cover of Kraftwerk's "The Robots" by the Los Angeles chipmusic rap group 8-Bit.
References
edit- ^ 8-Bit Operators Archived 2008-04-15 at the Wayback Machine. Astralwerks.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ 8 bit Operators. www.8bitops.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ OUT NOW! 8-BIT OPERATORS ~ WANNA HLD YR HANDHELD BEATLES TRIBUTE | 8-BIT OPERATORS KRAFTWERK TRIBUTE on ASTRALWERKS / EMI | 8bitoperators.com | receptorsmusic.com | 8bitops.com | futurisk.net | kraftwerk.8bitoperators.com | beatles.8bitoperators.com | 8-bit micro-chipmusic / nintendo gameboy chiptunes / handheld micromusic / atari space-punk / c64 electro-funk / nintendo DSi synthesis / korg ds-10 / lsdj / nanoloop | ksine | shakespace | futurisk | free music. 8bitoperators.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ Kraftwerk Goes 8-Bit – Music News at IGN Archived 2006-12-16 at the Wayback Machine. Music.ign.com (2006-11-29). Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ 8-Bit Operators. Stranded In Stereo (1971-06-25). Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ www.hypnote.com Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine pdf of RPM issue #1008 chart(8-Bit Operators at #21 - high position #1)Retrieved September 20, 2011
- ^ google.com Archived April 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine search:north "american college electronic rpm charts 2007 8 bit 8bit operators" Retrieved September 20, 2011
- ^ a b Kraftwerk Gets a New Sound on '8-Bit Operators'. NPR. Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ jeremy.kolosine.com. jeremy.kolosine.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ Chaos Control Digizine – music interviews, news, and more!. Chaoscontrol.com (2007-02-06). Retrieved on 2011-03-02.
- ^ An Ode to Kraftwerk The Original Computer Geeks Ft Worth Star-Telegram, February 18, 2007
- ^ Reid, Graham (27 September 2008). "Interview: Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Hot Dance Singles Sales Pocket Calculator Almusic.com (charts-awards/billboard-singles) retrieved September 20, 2011