Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond

Karl Bartos

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Book cover for Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond
Image for variant 9781917274128
Book cover for Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond
Image for variant 9781917274128

Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond

Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond

Karl Bartos

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Description

Karl Bartos, founding member of the seminal German band Kraftwerk, tells his story: a life intertwined with art, music, and culture.


"A full-blooded insider's account of life inside the Kling Klang studio. This is a must read for the robots' fans." Prog Magazine

As a core member of Kraftwerk, some of the most beautiful, era-defining music has been co-composed by Karl Bartos. From "Computer Love" to "Autobahn," "Tour de France" to Kraftwerk's 1982 number one single "The Model," Bartos's deft musical hand has undoubtedly shaped the contemporary musical landscape we know today.

For the first time, in The Sound of the Machine Bartos speaks candidly about his life in Kraftwerk for the first time. He vividly recalls his experiences in the Kling Klang studios during recording, describing the process and perfectly capturing the joy, passion and synergy of people composing and recording together.

At once cerebral and witty, Bartos's narrative journeys through his post-war childhood in Germany, his sense of wonder on first hearing The Beatles, his early musical ventures and his parallel career as a musician and teacher. Offering a fascinating insight into both a band and a man at the forefront of musical innovation over the last thirty years, Bartos also looks to the future, sharing his hopes and fears for today's musical culture.

Critical Reviews

"An incredibly detailed book about Bartos's life" The Guardian

"Funny, cultured, detailed." Classic Rock

"Full and frank disclosure of life in the world's most influential electronic band... Karl Bartos' enjoyable tome." Record Collector

"Illuminating" Financial Times

'An enjoyable memoir that tracks the course of a dual identity' Irish Times

Publishing Information

Publisher: Omnibus Press
Pub date: 2026-04-28
Length: 656 pages

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