Kraftwerk

Recorded in 1970 at the newly established Kling Klang Studios, Kraftwerk's self-titled debut showed the band in their experimental rock phase, far from the sleek electronic pop they'd later pioneer. Ralf Hütter noted in a 1981 interview that they started the studio that year, and "commercially-produced synthesizers came rather late to Germany." Drums, guitar, organ, flute—run through tape delay, ring modulators, contact mics on the piano strings. The raw, improvisational quality pointed toward krautrock's experimental spirit. It also revealed the band's interest in electronic textures. This and the next two albums were research and development. The electronic revolution came after.