Customer Reviews

Tour de France 03

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's really great to have this opportunity to listen to brand new Kraftwerk tune. It took them so long to compile the album since The Mix makeup release, but it's always worth to wait for Kraftwerk. Or do they wait for us?
Anyway, this single is an excellent example of high quality electronic music full with concept. It's truly recognizable Kraftwerk, it doesn't sound outdated though as some net sources try to tell. TDF 03 actually drives, fills you with energy, but, as any other serious record, requires you to listen to it a couple times before you really enjoy and love it. All in all, it's Kraftwerk's new single and one of the 2003 most significant events.

Innovators from the far left out-field who've managed to keep up there with the best for 30 years, Kraftwerk are a unique and often bizarre proposition. And here's another example why... take a fairly odd idea - "musical to cycle to" - put it through 11 iterations, stand back and see what happens. First off is their 1983 "Tour de France (CD Single)" featuring three excellent interpretations of their ridiculously catchy original tune, including some quite wonderfully integrated sound bytes of heavy breathing and buzzing derailleur gears. Then, 20 years later, there's "Tour de France Soundtracks" with its superb first three tracks (Tour de France Etapes 1, 2 & 3) which while some way away from their predecessors pick up on several of their chord sequences to become perfectly complementary, equally irresistible extensions of them, followed by it's final track, titled - yes you've guessed it - "Tour de France", that's a further excellent reworking of the original concept. And then, if that's not enough, mix it all up even more with this, their "Tour de France 03 (CD Single)" featuring four more, subtly different, versions of the first three tracks from the "Soundtracks" album.

Too much I hear you say... well possibly not. As you may by now suspect these guys are dedicated "velo-men" who know a bit about how to keep your legs turning, and if you put the whole 11 tracks together and hit the "shuffle" button you'll see why because you've got just about the best possible accompaniment to a serious blast on the pedals. A mesmerically addictive, wholly harmonious sequence of brain etchingly good back-beats & chord sequences that'll keep you cycling, jogging, driving or just chilling out for almost an hour before hitting, as you will, the replay button. And if you're not convinced, buy any one of these superb records for starters and then see if you can resist getting the rest.

The crucial thing about whether you're going to like the single or not is whether you like Kraftwerk's old stuff or not. By "old stuff" I mean the music pre-1991, that is before they did "The Mix". If you're a fan of the older stuff it's quite likely you won't be too thrilled with this. You'll probably know the original version of "Tour de France" (which hails from 1983) and the new versions are nothing like it. They more or less abandoned a lot of what made people like them so much in the past - those beautiful melodies and the almost robot-like singing. That's too bad. On the other side, this stuff is quite a bit better than a lot of the other stuff you're being subject to these days so that's two stars. If you don't know Kraftwerk's older stuff "Tour de France 2003" sounds almost like your run-of-the-mill electronica. You're getting four versions of the same song which are pretty much all the same - give or take some slight variations. It's better to get the actual album (which also has a few versions of this very same song).

Just as Expo 2000 was a logical progression from the Mix, Tour De France 03 leads us further into Kraftwerk's new sound. Very clean, rich and modern, I for one like the direction they are taking. Rather than putting out any old garbage, they seem to wait until they have something definite to express. Tour is very catchy and extremely toe-tapping. However, like all good electronica these days, its best points are subtle enough to be missed by the average listener -- this won't be any top 40 single! But open your mind (and ears!) to it and you will be rewarded.

I love the versions with lyrics, which are extremely well done and more of a throwback to the 70's albums than anyone has really noted. The production values, of course, are superb, with tons of ear-candy swirling around your head.

With a brand new album to be released soon, German techno-pioneers Kraftwerk are giving their fans a taste of what's to come with the single "Tour De France 2003". Although it sports the same title and similar artwork to the "Tour De France" single of 1983, "Tour De France 2003" is something different entirely. The single includes four different versions of the same track linked together to form a continuous 18-minute suite. The end result is nothing short of fantastic. "TDF03" has a more laid-back subdued sound as opposed to previous Kraftwerk music. However, there are still those trademark Kraftwerk rhythms all over the place which will have you dancing in no time.
"Tour De France 2003" is a welcome addition to anyones Kraftwerk collection. If this single is any indication of what the upcoming album is going to sound like, I can hardly wait.

While not an album it's an excellent single with TDF remixes. The tracks are typical Kraftwerk with their minimalist approach and instantly recognisable style. For Kraftwerk purists the CD is a definitely one for the collection.

To the band - Florian, bring on more new music! Awesome concert in Sydney Jan 03!

If you are a Kraftwerk fan add this to your collection.

Finally! it's here. Anew Kraftwerk single and soon a new LP! The news is out and this is a great event for anyone whos fascinated by electronic music and it's history. Kraftwerk did not invent electronic music but they are responsible for giving it that industrial robotic sound. Electronic music has its origins in the 60s with Wendy Carlos, Jean Jacques Perrey, Hot Butter, etc.

When I bought this record and did not expect a totally new mindblowing sound. A lot has happened since Kraftwerk's last release. Electronic music has so many ramifications now that it's hard to improve or innovate. But you can always stick to your original concept and be super cool. Kraftwert are 60% artists and 40% musicians. They're not just four guys (two guys actually) who sit around and try to do something cool. They do what they like as a form of art; they don't produce what people want to hear as most "artists" do. (ei. Matchbox Twenty, Alicia Keys, etc.) And is in any other form of art, their material you either love of hate. In my case, I love they whole concept behind Kraftwerk's music. I like what influences their vision. Man/Nature/Technology. Once you understand these three things, you'll understand what's going on.

Legendary synthpop pioneers Kraftwerk radically update their 1983 single "Tour De France" on this CD, which is a preview to the German outfit's first album of entirely new material since 1986's "Electric Cafe." Kraftwerk's earlier version had an icy, robotic feel, and the remake that surfaces on this disc is still unmistakably their sound, but it sounds more modern and polished. The groove isn't as beat-heavy (it's a little on the mellow side), but it's still a winner nonetheless. This CD has 4 different versions of the same track, and, in my opinion, the first one is the most effective. Equipped with spine-tingling synth touches and robotic voices, it's pretty much what we've come to expect from this quartet. If this is any indication of what the new album will sound like, then maybe we can depend on Kraftwerk to save us all from the sorry state pop music is currently in. Welcome back, guys!

Electro outfit Kraftwerk power up the studio to produce 4 variations on their classic techno recording Tour De France. It's evident from the beginning that the robots haven't been hibernating, but listening to the various sounds and movements of say, the past 20 years. I'm sure they are well aware that they are pioneers, their influence and impact to the pop and electro scene cannot be overstated, and resonates widely through all areas of music. In the 1970s purely automated electronic music was innovative, alien even, today the concept of mechanization is hardly something we think of as new. Perhaps it is best to think of this as Future Retro, a mere snapshot of things to come? Advances in technology have given the band greater flexibility with their sound and this latest offering uncovers the outfit anthropomorphizing once again. Hardly minimalistic in nature, their formerly cold, purely technological music has given birth to a warmer, brighter and more seductive sound. Their clever hypnotic melodies and oblique rhythms are now the focus accompanied by lush electro washes. Innovative not really, enchanting in its simplicity, hypnotic in its construction, yes.