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Kraftwerk
@ Riverside Theatre, Perth,
15th December 2023
(Live Review)

Review by Melanie Griffiths

Photos by Pete Gardner (@petegardnerphotography)

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Kraftwerk / Photo – @petegardnerphotography

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As the OGs of electronic innovation, Kraftwerk not only crafted the genre’s foundation but set the pulse for countless music artists who have launched into a futuristic sonic odyssey.

That was the main takeaway from their Perth show which was an artistic expression seamlessly melding hypnotic visuals with a stoic delivery by four senior males. It was a night that pulsated with the original production motifs and beats that influenced legendary acts like Daft Punk and New Order as well as more recent chart-toppers like Flume and M83.

Kraftwerk, formed in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1970 has evolved over the years with only Ralf Hütter being the only original member of the current lineup. Kraftwerk’s early years were marked by experimentation with avant-garde and krautrock elements, but it wasn’t until their fourth album, “Autobahn”, that they solidified their signature electronic sound.

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Kraftwerk / Photo – @petegardnerphotography

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In one sense playing in the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, which has been described as a “Soviet-era mausoleum” seemed a cold venue choice. But with Kraftwerk’s minimalist and functional approach to music, it was a very fitting choice for the sold-out crowd. Coming out to their four workstations, each member of Kraftwerk glowed a lemon yellow in their lit-up body suits that would change colours and intensity throughout the night. With zero interaction the pulsating electronic beat of the influential “Numbers” began before melding into “Computer World” with its computerised voice and number counting in several languages.

The visuals were astonishing featuring rich displays of binary numbers and vintage computer-generated graphics. The repetitive and robotic elements of the songs underscored the band’s conceptual focus on the “man-machine” relationship, a theme that runs throughout their body of work.

By the third song, “Spacelab”, the crowd of fans and audiophiles had reached a perfect state of digital harmony given the amount of phones that were raised to capture the visuals of an alien spaceship descending from the astral heavens to slice through the atmosphere to land at Elizabeth Quay.  The audacious and witty visuals played like actors on a stage, and the combination of synthesisers, and drum machines created intertwining layers of electronic precision and rhythm through meticulous modulation, creating a musical journey that transcended traditional boundaries.

The thematic exploration of the impact of technology on society and the relationship between man and machine has never felt so timely in a year where AI invokes equal parts optimism and fear. “The Man-Machine” and “Computer Love” resonated a timeless vibe despite its age. Legendary track “Autobahn”, had people rocking in their seats and “The Model” had those up in the stands dancing in a digitised haze.

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Kraftwerk / Photo – @petegardnerphotography

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The concert reached its crescendo with the pulsating rhythms of “Tour de France,” which got a roar of appreciation, leaving the audience in awe of Kraftwerk’s ability to transcend the limitations of traditional live performances. The marriage of sound and visuals, coupled with the group’s visionary approach to music was a masterclass in the persistence of humanity in a world that tries to define and control it.

It was two hours of synth music delivered by innovators who pushed the boundaries of a live performance. Closing out with “The Robots” and “Boing Boom Tschak” was a playful and satisfying conclusion featuring electronic percussion and robotic chants.

Not merely a concert but performance art, Kraftwerk captivated with their innate ability to evolve much like communication and technology with a sense of wonderment and an undercurrent of caution. Sure it may take a couple of days to dissect all the nuances of the concert, but that is the fun of plugging into the sonic world of Kraftwerk.

4.5/5

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Kraftwerk / Photo – @petegardnerphotography

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Check out Pete Gardner’s (@petegardnerphotography) full gallery of this show HERE

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Follow KRAFTWERK
Website – Facebook – Instagram

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Kraftwerk / Photo – @petegardnerphotography

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AMNPLIFY – DB