During November 1974, the German Krautrock outfit Kraftwerk released their fourth studio album, 'Autobahn.' This album saw a refinement to their more experimental previous sound and set the foundation for their definitive electronic music style. This is widely considered as the first major Kraftwerk release and their 'commercial breakthrough,' paving the way for a musical career that continues to this day and a further seven studio albums.
The title track, the 22-minute epic 'Autobahn' was edited into a single version which reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 11 on the UK charts. This track epitomises the hypnotic atmospheres seen in many of Kraftwerk's output through the use of an extended arrangement with minimal instrumentation and material. The album continues with 'Kometenmelodie' ('Comet Melody'), 'Mitternachht' ('Midnight') and 'Morgenspaziergang' ('A Morning Stroll') which illustrate a more ambient style of writing.
This album represents a key milestone in the development of electronic music, Kraftwerk would later go on to refine their style and famously inspire a great number of synthpop acts from the late 70's and 80's, earning them the titles such as 'The Godfathers Of Electronic Music' and 'The Electronic Beatles'. No other act has been more influential on the development of today's pop music.
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