Recorded 1974–2003 Release date 2 October 2009 | Artist Kraftwerk Label Kling Klang Studio | |
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Released 2 October 2009 (Germany)
5 October 2009
23 November 2009
(box set) Genres Electropop, Krautrock, Electronic music Producers Fritz Hilpert, Ralf Hütter, Conny Plank, Henning Schmitz, Florian Schneider Similar Kraftwerk albums, Krautrock albums | ||
Kraftwerk the catalogue
The Catalogue (German language edition: Der Katalog) is a boxed set comprising eight albums by Kraftwerk that were released from 1974 to 2003. All albums are digitally remastered, with most of the cover art redesigned, including rare photographs in the liner notes that were not part of each album's original release.
Contents
Due to licensing issues, three of these albums—Computer World, Electric Cafe (now re-christened with its original working title of Techno Pop) and The Mix—are unavailable in the U.S. except as part of the boxed set (although they can now be purchased digitally via the iTunes Store). The Techno Pop album contains a slightly revised track listing from its predecessor Electric Cafe: the song "The Telephone Call" now appears in its much shorter single mix, and that single's b-side remix, "House Phone", has been added as a proper album track.
Contents
The albums included in the boxed set are the following:
Formats
As with previous Kraftwerk releases, the collection is distributed in two versions: English-language vocal tracks for international distribution and another (Der Katalog) with German-language vocal tracks. The boxed set contains eight CDs in mini-vinyl card wallet packaging, plus individual large-format booklets. On October 5, 2009, Kraftwerk released several remastered albums with redesigned artwork.
Release
The boxed set was initially planned for release in 2004 on compact disc and vinyl format and was distributed as a promotional boxed set on compact disc. Copies were often sold on eBay for high prices. An actual release date was not announced and the project remained unreleased for years, despite having a page on the Kraftwerk Web site during this time.
The individual remastered albums were eventually made available on compact disc in October 2009, while an 8-CD boxed set and heavyweight vinyl versions followed in November. Due to licensing restrictions imposed by Warner Music Group, the albums Computer World, Techno Pop (formerly known as Electric Café) and The Mix have only been made available in the US from Astralwerks Records as a part of the box set, or individually as imports (the iTunes Store also carries the complete remastered catalogue as well). The collection may also be purchased in three different configurations from the group's Klingklang Shop; with a T-shirt, with a set of mouse pads or all three items together.
Proposed second boxed set
On 2006 Ralf Hütter suggested that a second Kraftwerk boxed set containing the band's first three albums would be released but there has been no official news regarding such a project or an amended release date since.
Reception
The box set received universal acclaim from critics.
Finally, after cancellation and consternation Kraftwerk’s back catalog gets remastered and reissued. We think it’s—whisper—better than the Beatles.
Yes, the remastering is a huge improvement. The sound shines like brand new—a punchier low end, crisper syn-drums, even more shimmering neon lights. And warmer human voices. Looking back, it's remarkable how concise these albums are, averaging around 40 minutes and seven songs each, as is the fact that such feats were achieved by purely analogue means. Even in 2009, compare them to tour-mates Radiohead, and its debatable which band [is] truly the most forward-looking.
Songs
Autobahn22:43
Kometenmelodie 16:41
Kometenmelodie 25:31