The Sound Of The Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond

by Karl Bartos

Whether in Kraftwerk or as an acclaimed solo artist, Karl Bartos has had an extraordinary impact on electronic music. In The Sound of the Machine, Bartos’ recollections include his childhood in postwar Germany, the early musical encounters that led him to Kraftwerk, and fascinating insights from his time with the group, such as the genesis of monumental songs like ‘The Robots,’ ‘The Model,’ and ‘Tour de France,’ and candid accounts of his relationships with the other bandmembers.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

640 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

detailed and interesting autobiography of one member of the classic line ups of Kraftwerk with his growing up classical music training , Kraftwerk and beyond. this book filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge of the band whom have seen of various occasions.

[John McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight

Bartos comes across as musically talented, fair in his outlook, perceptive in his views, and most of all, modest about the huge contributions he made to one of the most influential groups in music.

[Jonas Paro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kanske i längsta laget men mycket läsvärda memoarer. Bitvis lite väl tekniskt nördig men Karl Bartos är en sympatisk person och som medlem i ett av världens mest mytomspunna och inflytelserika band har han en hel del att berätta.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything Kraftwerk related is always high on my list to read. This was very interesting and quite technological in places but the main take from the book is how much time was wasted that could have been utilised to make more music and how they seemingly got bogged down trying to find the perfect mix.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kraftwerk were and to me at least, still are one of the most influential and original bands of my youth and today. Their electronic blueprint is something that has stuck by me all through my musical life. Many bands have tried to copy this blueprint since but so few have succeeded.
They were and still are the most original of bands.
Karl Bartos was one of the 4 protagonists that comprised the 'klassic' line up of Hütter, Schneider, Schult & Bartos. Composing such classics as "The Model", "Tour De France" & countless others in his career with the band.
His life is fascinating too, outside of the band and in. A talented tympanist and music teacher and a solo artist for over 30 years, he really has done it all, and has collaborated with many stars of the electronic world.
If you know the band and their music, this is a must-read publication and it will surprise you with its humour and insight.

Thoroughly recommended.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omgg that was so long but so fulfilling

So many names and German towns that went in one ear and right out the other. But what stuck with me is how brilliant Karl is about his craft. And how nonchalant he is about it. If I was ever this good at something i would never be this nonchalant about it.

Its kind of fascinating to get such a detailed overview of what it's like to exist on this side of the creative process. I enjoyed listening to the music that Kraftwerk alongside where I was in Karl's life.

One of his points that stuck hardest with me is how music streaming took away the intentionality that was once associated with listening to music. His words:

"It appears that music has become a by-product with no value. In a sound cosmos in which I can listen to all the music in the world, randomly and therefore with no meaning, music loses significance, becomes arbitrary."

While I'm not sure this completely resonates with me, since music has only become a major part of my life since the streaming era begun, I just wonder what the process of music-listening was like if I grew up in Karl's time.

[Quentin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal autobiography from a phenomenal musician from a phenomenal band! Kraftwerk has been one of my favorite bands since I ever started consciously listening to music, so hearing about the inner workings was like catnip to me to begin with - however, Bartos’ incredibly personable and conversational tone makes this a highly engaging and inspiring read!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew some things about Karl Bartos before reading this book (mainly that he had been a part of Kraftwerk), that has now changed.
This is a biography both of the life of Karl Bartos and the music of Karl Bartos, where the musical biography is the framework of his life's story and takes center stage.
He kept a "musical journal" from early on, where he wrote down what music he was working on at the time, which is the basis of this memoir.
A good chunk of the book looks at his sixteen years with Kraftwerk, but we also get to see his musical life before (at the Robert Schumann conservatory) and after (finding his way back to his own musical expression).

This is an open and honest description of the (musical) life of Karl Bartos from the viewpoint of Karl Bartos.

[Olly Colluphid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating brick. As a result of reading this I've purchased some more music...

Fascinating account of the process of music making, naturally more interesting on the music you know.

Well translated into English too.

[Daniel Rosanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about this book. I’ve long been a fan of Kraftwerk and also of Karl Bartos for almost 20 years, but I did not know much about him. This book is really quite amazing. It covers so much and is so well written, with great stories and deep emotion. It also has a really broad perspective on music and technology with fantastic references and resources for further learning. I also really enjoyed the walk through of his two last albums and the concepts and creation of specific songs, some of which I already loved, and now I understand better.

The interconnectedness of so much music covered in this book is astounding.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, detailed read..

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt expression of music in all its forms. Focuses on creative processes, emphasising the simultaneous importance and hindrance of technological advancement in relation to human expression.

[Pablo María Fernández · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a Kraftwerk fan, as probably you and most of the people who are reading this. Some time ago I read the excellent autobiography by Wolfgang Flür. This time is the other member of the classic line-up who was not a founder or owner: Kart Bartos. It was published in 2017 but we had to wait five years to get its English translation by Katy Derbyshire. Even though Bartos it's my favorite Kraftwerk member (he did for Kraftwerk what Alan Wilder did for Depeche Mode and I also love his music after he left) I must admit that Flür's is at another level.

Bartos is unique in many ways. The main one for me is that he is the only one of the four who has a classical background: he studied at a conservatory and performed in operas, concertos and more. Kraftwerk magic is the result of Hutter and Schneider's raw creativity powered by expensive instruments bought thanks to their family's money, Flür inventiveness to create drums and other percussion instruments and Bartos overall guidance on structure, beats and resources and inspirations drawn from his classical training. Along the book we learn that there were also key figures in their success like Emil Schult helping with artwork and lyrics, their French manager who did wonders to keep them relevant for the media in France and many others who many times didn't get credit.

The most interesting parts for me are when he analyzes the genesis of each song. Flür didn’t deep dive on that basically because he wasn’t there most of the time. As I guessed from Flür's biography, in its golden years Kraftwerk was a creative trio: Hütter, Schneider and Bartos. Unfortunately for Bartos, the founders never gave him the recognition he deserved and asked for. They treated him like a session musician or even worse (they didn’t allow him to play on other bands, as you can expect of any classic toxic relation).

I found the source of inspiration for their first songs fascinating. Pink Floyd was a huge influence for them and I didn’t realize until Bartos pointed it out. Many things I thought were Kraftwerk creations drawn heavily from their early album before “The dark side of the moon” (that I didn’t listen to before and was a happy discovery). I wish he would talk more about his post-Kraftwerk career that I find relevant, but it is not recognized enough (partly because of Bartos' fault because he relies heavily on his Kraftwerk hits when he performs live instead of using his Electronica tracks or more recent stuff).

In summary, it’s a great complement to Flür's biography and a must read for any true Kraftwerk fan. It is kind of poetic justice that Kraftwerk's official story is told by the ones who didn’t have a voice at that time. Florian had already passed away, maybe Hütter will give us a third and last autobiography to complete the picture of this incredible band.

[Tim Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karl Bartos' The Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond is a fascinating, deeply personal memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most influential electronic music bands of all time. Bartos, a key member of Kraftwerk during their most innovative years, takes readers on a journey through his creative process, the evolution of the band’s sound, and the cultural revolution sparked by their groundbreaking music. His writing is vivid and candid, offering fresh insight into the dynamics between band members, the challenges of artistic collaboration, and his own quest for creative freedom. The book is both a love letter to electronic music and a thoughtful meditation on the nature of creativity itself.

What truly elevates this memoir is Bartos’ ability to articulate the technical and emotional aspects of music-making with equal passion and precision. From the meticulous construction of iconic tracks like The Model and Tour de France to his later solo projects, Bartos reveals the meticulous craftsmanship and visionary thinking that defined his career. Fans of Kraftwerk will appreciate the behind-the-scenes anecdotes and rare photographs, but this book also stands on its own as an inspiring narrative about innovation, resilience, and artistic integrity. Whether you're a devoted fan of Kraftwerk or simply curious about the roots of electronic music, The Sound of the Machine is a must-read.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and listened to this autobiography. The audiobook only exists in English, and I read the German original. It’s an interesting, highly detailed account of Bartos’ life and will certainly entertain people who are interested in music in general, but of course, in the music of Kraftwerk in particular. The English translation is - quite frankly - not really that good. It is very stiff and sometimes awkward. Frequently it seems like Google translator was at work because idioms are not translated particularly well. For example, the German. “Sie machte mit mir Schluss” is translated as “she finished with me” instead of “she broke up with me”. This happens throughout the text, which is, of course, particularly bothersome for English native speakers. For me, it wasn’t a bigger problem because I had read the original German. However, I thought it was worth pointing out that the translation is quite weak.

Other than that, some passages funeral, the repetitive and don’t really add anything to the larger narrative, so a bit more editing would have made the reading experience a little better.

[Claus Willumsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Det er ikke voldsomt mange musikbiografier, jeg har læst, Crass, Therapy?, Bruce Dickinson er det vist blevet til, men jeg allerede nu afsløre, at Karl Bartos har skrevet en fantastisk selvbiografi.

Musik- og spilleglæden står ud af bogen som noder på rad og række.
Bartos er nysgerrig, og han bør gøre andre nysgerrige også; jeg sad i hvert fald og fandt den musik frem på nettet, som han skriver om.
Så jeg fik stort udbytte af hans viden om musik . . . Og så virker han bare som en flink mand.
Det er svært ikke at blive smittet af The Sound of the Machine.

[Karl Erdbeere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicht wirkliches Empfehlenswert für Leute, die wenig anfangen können mit Kraftwerk, aber für die Genießer, ist das eine komplette Bibel. Es beschreibt die Frei-Von-Hand-Musik-Philosophie von der persönlichen künstlerischen Sichten der von Kraftwerk und der von Karl, und das komplette Schleudertrauma an Seriösität.

Für mich ist das Buch sehr bewegend, und Karl Bartos ist derjenige, wo ich künsterlich als Vorbild nehme.

[Cliff Stammers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved every moment of this book. Karl Bartos comes across like someone I might have known for years. I feel like I have not only been a part of the whole Kling Klang scene, but also that Herr Karl and I are good mates who really should get together for a catch up over coffee some time! A remarkable book. I loved it.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite book of all-time. Karl is a great storyteller and offered a lot of valuable insights to his life, Kraftwerk, and beyond (ha ha ha). Definitely worth reading if you're interested in Kraftwerk or Karl at all!

[Peter Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, thorough and very enlightening read (at least, for someone who plays around with electronic music). I listened to the audiobook version which added something, I think, thanks to the German accent. Thank you Karl.

[Carl-Johan CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read about Kraftwerk peak and the music world around Man Machine - Computer World from Bartos pov. A bit long but still recommended.

[Shawn Persinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jeff Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Kraftwerk (or early electronic music in general), this is an interesting read. Nice to learn of some "personality" from the robot band as well.

[Jason Cady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the better music memoirs I've read in a while. Bartos actually focused on music and did not waste too much time writing about his personal life.

[Chad Alexander Guarino da Verona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass.

[Francis Longworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Intelligent man. Classically-trained musician. A cut above the usual rock autobiography. Under appreciated member of Kraftwerk who made substantial melodic contributions

[Lorenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Während des Lesens kamen bei mir verschiedene Eindrücke auf: Aufgrund der beschreibenden Art, mit die Bartos sein bisheriges Dasein als Musiker wiedergibt, vermisste ich analytische tiefe. Stilistisch erreicht das Buch zudem selten eine höhere Flughöhe als bspw. ein Tagebuch von mir. Nur ab und zu wächst er da etwas aus sich heraus. Zum Beispiel, wenn er Ralf beschreibt, wie er mit seinen rasierten Beinen im Klingklangstudio die Gazzetta liest.

Gleichzeitig – und wohl gerade wegen diesen beiden «Mängel» – wirkt das Buch ziemlich authentisch und nahbar. Und gerade das Letzte ist es, was mich daran begeistert: Es holt die mystisch verehrten Männer von Kraftwerk von Sockel runter und zeigt dem Leser, dass sie ganz normale Menschen sind, die gerne feiern, enttäuscht sind, wenn nur wenige Nasen ihre besuchten (ja, das passierte!)

Erwähnen muss ich auch, dass für mich «Klang der Maschine» auch ein Lehrbuch in Sachen Musik war (insbesondere im Bereich der Klassischen Musik und der Musique Concrete)

[André · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es hilft definitiv, sich sehr für Musik zu interessieren, und insbesondere natürlich für Kraftwerk. Dann ist es aber in der Tat sehr erhellend, weil man einen Einblick darin bekommt, wie eine Gruppe vom internationalen Format von Kraftwerk funktioniert, und wie der Mensch in der Maschine sich dabei (und danach) eigentlich fühlt. Schön ist, dass es Bartos - obwohl man durchaus merkt, was ihn geärgert hat - nicht nötig hat, nachzutreten oder einseitige Schuldzuweisungen zu verteilen. Er geht sehr respektvoll mit seinen Ex-Kollegen um. Man merkt allerdings, dass Bartos sich virtuoser musikalisch als sprachlich auszudrücken vermag - ein wenig mehr Lektorat hätte nicht geschadet, auch um ein paar der schlimmsten Namedropping-Auswüchse zu unterbinden.