Various Artists - 8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk Performed on Vintage 8-Bit Video Game Systems

Genre electronica Publisher Astralwerks / ReceptorsMusic External Links Official 8-Bit Operators Website Official Astralwerks Website

Perhaps the most underrated of musical innovators, Kraftwerk has finally gotten their due the last few years in that they laid the blueprint for a bevy of genres in electronic/computerized music. It's hard to fathom, but this type of music in no way shape or form existed before the German duo of Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider hooked up their synthesizers and invented what was known as Kraut Rock in the 70s.

Also of note, Kraftwerk popularized the kind of sounds that arose in video game systems, the everlasting looping of computer blips and midi-drones were easily weaved into something to provide enjoyment. 8-Bit Operators brings this contribution by the German innovators to the forefront with a compilation of Kraftwerk's best played with only 8-bit video game systems and imaginations.

Anyone with an olde fashioned Nintendo will get a kick out of the music, and it does not come off as a novelty either (something increasingly hard to do with tribute discs). The 8-bit sound is updated here and not readily apparent if you're not paying attention; an incredibly lush sound that simple computer and synth noises that Kraftwerk introduced to the world.

Some songs ("Trans-Europe Express," "Kristallo," "Pocket Calculator") are more 8-bit-based than others ("The Robots," "Showroom Dummies," "Radioactivity"), but this doesn't diminish the love. If you were hoping that Super Mario would be sampled and used liberally, this may not be for you.