Ancienne Belgique

Attention: this is not a concert but an album listening session!Registration is obligatory and can be organised via info@abconcerts.be Please mention ‘Kraftwerk’ in the subject line. Also ...

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Attention: this is not a concert but an album listening session!

Registration is obligatory and can be organised via info@abconcerts.be Please mention ‘Kraftwerk’ in the subject line. Also clearly state the number of persons with whom you will be attending.
Please note: there is a maximum capacity of 50 people. So be quick. Huis 23, Steenstraat 23, 1000 Brussel.

Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express, 1977, Kling Klang Records, 43 min. introduced by Koen Galle & Tristan Jong (DJ Kong / Gratts)
 
The 6th album by these electronica pioneers from Düsseldorf was yet another step further removed from the Krautrock sound they helped to establish in the early ’70's of last century. Since its release, the album has influenced many generations of artists and bands and is still very highly ranked in many charts and “best of”s.
In 2009, leading British webzine Drowned In Sound described the album as follows: "Trans-Europe Express is all at once antique, timeless, retro and contemporary. Its status as modern electronic music's birth certificate is well-earned, but its hallowed reputation should never be allowed to disguise its true value and power as a work of art. Nor should it obscure a longevity that, 32 years on, we might as well start calling by its real name: immortality". So it's the ideal album to introduce a concert by those other electronica greats Orbital. Phil & Paul from Orbital don't hide the fact that Kraftwerk is one of their greatest influences either.
The session will be introduced in English by DJ duo Kong & Gratts, (22 tracks, FM Brussel, ….) and will last until approximately 7:15 pm.
As an exception to the rule, instead of listening to the the original vinyl album, for this session we'll be listening to the 2009 re-master CD version from The Catalogue. This version is considered by Kraftwerk themselves to be of superior quality to any former versions. More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Europe_Express_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catalogue
http://www.kraftwerk.com/

http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14730/reviews/4138106

33 1/3 – Classic Album Listening Sessions
The idea behind 33 1/3 is as simple as can be: music lovers gathering to listen to a 'classic' album - uninterrupted and in the most ideal circumstances possible (technically, surroundings,..) - always introduced by an adept of the album in question.
The intention of this new series is to offer an alternative to the manner in which the musical experience has evolved over recent years. By listening to strongly compressed MP3s, YouTube films, or to sites like Spotify, with small earphones or via laptop speakers we miss out on essential elements of the music, often without realising it. Many albums were created as an artwork in themselves and so deserve to be listened to in their entirety. A great deal of attention was often paid to obtaining the best possible sound quality, the artwork, the order of the songs, the mood of the songs and the ‘story’ the artist wanted to involve the listener in. In many cases, no effort was spared to record the albums in the best studios, in order to make use of the best sounding mixing tables, microphones, pre-amps, compressors, reverbs,  etc... All of this is completely destroyed in a few mouse-clicks.
During the 33 1/3 sessions we will listen to an album in its entirety – without interruption and with the best possible technical means – and in that way attempt to experience the album in the way originally intended when it was recorded, mastered and released.