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Today the English version of the Kraftwerk 8-CD-boxset is released (The Catalogue), anybody ordered this? Is it looking good? Any sound improvements? 
The German version (Der Katalog) is released later this month. Is it the same, except for the language?
I'm looking forward to buy one copy before december holidays. Don't know which one. 
havent got the catalogue, but have bought man machine and computer world which both sound amazing.
In our country (The Netherlands) they ask 199,99 euros for the English one, and 144,99 euros for the German one.
Why would that be?!
i've had the promo for 5 years now.
The sound quality for the english versions is great.
I expect the german one should be just as good.
I'm rebuying the english box, and the german one. I'm also getting both english and vinyl releases also.
Kraftwerk is actually one of my favorite bands, and has been edging out new order at times.
Their output is not as much, but the quality of what they've been doing lately (dvds/live cds) etc, has been very good.
Looking forward to the re-release of this package.
later -1
Luke wrote:
The German version (Der Katalog) is released later this month. Is it the same, except for the language?
some songs have german vocals, some have different german samples.
yes there are different songs, but there's a lot that are mostly instrumental that will be the same across both sets...
later -1
-1 wrote:
Luke wrote:
The German version (Der Katalog) is released later this month. Is it the same, except for the language?
some songs have german vocals, some have different german samples.
yes there are different songs, but there's a lot that are mostly instrumental that will be the same across both sets...
later -1
Thanks, I lately heard that some songs on the German box (and the older German CD versions) are a little longer than the English ones. Can anybody confirm this?
Luke wrote:
-1 wrote:
Luke wrote:
The German version (Der Katalog) is released later this month. Is it the same, except for the language?
some songs have german vocals, some have different german samples.
yes there are different songs, but there's a lot that are mostly instrumental that will be the same across both sets...
later -1
Thanks, I lately heard that some songs on the German box (and the older German CD version) are a little longer than the English ones. Can anybody confirm this?
go to discogs.com
they're exactly the same.
later -1
I would be careful with these remasters.
Most of the specialist audio sites have said that the remastered sound is pretty poor. Even mainstream magazines have said that the sound is NOT an upgrade on the original CDs. The following extract from the Uncut magazine review is typical:-
"Sadly, the remaster is a fiasco. The soft tones of “Computer Love” become sharp, the wide spaces of “Home Computer” contract into tunnels, and “Pocket Calculator” bears down on us like a spiked ceiling in a horror film. Equally poor is the remastered Radio-activity, where atmospheric crackles and hisses have been removed by noise reduction software. For pity’s sake, they’re part of the music! Autobahn, Trans-Europe Express and The Man-Machine have less sound-quality issues, but are all inferior to the original EMI CDs. Anyone planning to buy the 8CD …The Catalogue, would be well-advised to sample an individual remaster first."
...I have heard both the 2004 promo and 2009 remasters and decided to keep my original 1980s versions of the Kraftwerk CDs. OK the original CDs are quiet but if you dial in a bit extra volume they are fine. That said I hear they have done a good job on the new CD sleeves.
Just to clarify the differences between between the English and German versions of the new box set ("The Catalogue" vs. "Der Katalog")...
Kraftwerk's first two electronic albums (this is excluding the early prog albums), "Autobahn" and "Radio-Activity" were only released in one language worldwide. "Autobahn" was only recorded in German. "Radio-Activity" was recorded as a German/English hybrid. It was titled "Radio-Aktivität" for the German market, but the music is the same as on "Radio-Activity." For these remaining albums, both English and German language editions were issued (I am not counting some of the Spanish and possibly French editions that were also recorded):
Trans Europa Express (aka Trans Europe Express) Die Mensch Maschine (aka The Man Machine) Computerwelt (aka Computer World) Electric Cafe (same title in Germany, but with German lyrics) The Mix (same title in Germany, but with German lyrics)
The German "Der Katalog" will include remastered versions of the above albums with vocals in German. In my personal opinion, Kraftwerk's music sounds MUCH BETTER in German than in English. The lyrics are much more direct and effective in the band's mother tongue. The emotional (or lack thereof) content comes across much better in German. Despite the slight price difference, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying "Der Katalog" from Amazon Germany instead of the US or UK editions. Again, in my opinion, this is the true way that Kraftwerk's music should be heard and experienced! ;-)
As for the mastering quality, I cannot yet speak to that. As I got tired of waiting for the remasters, I broke down and paid a hefty pricetag for the 2004 UK promo (I know, it's in English). I am no audiophile, but the sound quality sounds pretty good to me.
-Mike
i am used to the english versions, because i have listened to them for 20+ years...
however, i have all the german versions also, and prefer those over the english ones..
i think you left out the live cd/dvd, which also had a german release too..
later -1
Agreed - was mainly referring to the albums included in the boxset. I also neglected to mention that the remastered version of "Electric Cafe" is now titled "Techno Pop" (the original working title of the album). But am guessing that all the Kraftwerk nerds are aware of that already! ;-)
I have some of the English versions of the albums myself, but tracks like "Schaufensterpuppen" ("Showroom Dummies"), "Europa Endlos" ("Europe Endless"), and "Die Roboter" ("The Robots") just sound so much more powerful in German. But, like what -1 said, I guess it depends on what versions people have become accustomed to over the years.
-Mike
steinomite wrote: Agreed - was mainly referring to the albums included in the boxset. I also neglected to mention that the remastered version of "Electric Cafe" is now titled "Techno Pop" (the original working title of the album). But am guessing that all the Kraftwerk nerds are aware of that already! ;-)
-Mike
...also they have messed with the track listing on Techno Pop (aka Electric Cafe). Instead of adding "House Phone" as a bonus track at the end of the CD they have inserted it after a shorter version of "Telephone Call". This seems bizarre to me as it completely wrecks the flow of the original album. There are no extra tracks on any of the other albums so why be inconsistent and do this to "Electric Cafe" ? This is another reason to give this particular remaster a wide berth IMHO.
...it's an even worse crime than the remaster of Brotherhood that pointlessly persists in adding "State of the Nation" as a bonus.
The new Man-Machine sleeve looks dreadful, like they dropped the photographic element at the last minute. 
Hmm - wasn't aware of the "House Phone" addition. I guess I'll hang on to my 2004 promo box set which doesn't have this track added. This promo edition also left "The Man Machine" artwork pretty much alone.
And yes, the new "The Man Machine" artwork isn't that great. I am OK with most of the artwork reformatting (Autobahn, Radio-Activity, TEE, etc.), but "The Man Machine" looks rather bland without the band members on the cover.
As for the albums Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Trans Europe Express, The Man Machine and The Mix; the original sleeves are presented in the inner sleeves this time. So You'll find the original sleeves with the band members in there. Looks pretty cool to me. I'm ok. with the 'new' approach on the outer sleeves.
About the House Phone track: The transfer of Electric Cafe re-issued as Techno Pop contains a reconstruction of the track the Telephone Call and is now split into two tracks: 4.The Telephone Call and 5.House Phone. Whereas on the original this was something of a dead flat-song, this has been re-constructed into a new vibrant reconstruction KW mix.
Luke wrote:
About the House Phone track: The transfer of Electric Cafe re-issued as Techno Pop contains a reconstruction of the track the Telephone Call and is now split into two tracks: 4.The Telephone Call and 5.House Phone. Whereas on the original this was something of a dead flat-song, this has been re-constructed into a new vibrant reconstruction KW mix.
...one has to wonder what on earth Kraftwerk were thinking of by messing around with Telephone Call. I guess there would have been a few comments if New Order had decided to slip in one of the remixes from the "Rest of" into the middle of one of their original albums. Very strange decision IMHO.
Adam Tate wrote:
Luke wrote:
About the House Phone track: The transfer of Electric Cafe re-issued as Techno Pop contains a reconstruction of the track the Telephone Call and is now split into two tracks: 4.The Telephone Call and 5.House Phone. Whereas on the original this was something of a dead flat-song, this has been re-constructed into a new vibrant reconstruction KW mix.
...one has to wonder what on earth Kraftwerk were thinking of by messing around with Telephone Call. I guess there would have been a few comments if New Order had decided to slip in one of the remixes from the "Rest of" into the middle of one of their original albums. Very strange decision IMHO.
Not entirely. Electric Cafe was born out of torture and struggle. The original title was abandoned as well as some musical ideas that eventually undermined the album when came on the market in 1986. So maybe it's an attempt to restore to what they originally aspired to?
If Get Ready were to be rearranged with including Behind Closed Doors somewhere in the middle, I won't have a problem.
