Karl Bartos: Communication – A timeless statement on media, culture, and music. Karl Bartos, renowned as an essential member and songwriter of Kraftwerk during their most innovative years, is reissuing his solo album Communication on Hamburg’s Bureau B. First released in 2003, 13 years after leaving the legendary electronic group, the re-release arrives at a moment when its central theme, the transformation of culture through electronic media, feels more relevant than ever. When Bartos departed Kraftwerk in 1990, he left behind a catalogue that had redefined electronic music: “The Model”, “The Robots”, “Numbers”, “Pocket Calculator” and many more bear his imprint as co-writer and melody-maker. 2021 Kraftwerk’s classic line-up was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for their innovative work – the first German band ever to be honored. With the sharp witted electro-pop of Communication, the Kraftwerk legend extended that legacy, turning his focus toward a rapidly evolving media landscape at the turn of the millennium. At the time, the album’s exploration of celebrity culture, digital imagery, and the early internet felt like a glimpse into the future. Today, it reads as sharp cultural analysis of a reality that has since become ordinary. Two decades later, this reissue allows Communication to be reconsidered on its own terms. The questions Bartos posed, about image saturation, reality fragmentation, and identity commodification, resonate more strongly in the age of smartphones, social media, and streaming platforms than they did in the early 2000s. Karl Bartos: „We are living in an age of huge behavioural manipulation. Cybernetics, artificial intelligence – this is a major challenge for humanity.“ Bartos’s role in shaping Kraftwerk’s defining sound is undisputed, yet Communication also asserts his independent artistic voice: one that critiques media while celebrating the joy of electronic sound. Its re-release is less a nostalgic act than a reminder that Bartos’s work continues to speak directly to the cultural present. With this reissue on Bureau B, Communication endures as both a document of its time and a timeless statement on media, culture, and music. Tracklist A1 The Camera A2 I'm The Message A3 15 Minutes Of Fame A4 Reality A5 Electronic Apeman A6 Life B1 Cyberspace B2 Interview B3 Ultraviolet B4 Camera Obscura B5 Another Reality
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.
 
        
            Recommended equipment and accessories
- 
            
                                      Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube PreampDelivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain 
- 
            
                                      Edifier R1280DB Powered SpeakersCombining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound. 
- 
            
                                      Ortofon 2M Blue PremountedMounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction. 
- 
            
                                      Nagaoka MP-110H CartridgeFeatures a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV 
- 
            
                                      Denon DP-400Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance 
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
- 
            
                  Solence Angels Calling (Red)Better Noise Music
 October 31, 2025
- 
            
                  Aesop Rock I Heard It's a Mess There Too (Red)Rhymesayers
 December 12, 2025
- 
            
                  Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers Glory (Emerald)Mom+Pop
 November 7, 2025
- 
            
                  Green Day Warning (25th Anniversary, Remastered, Bonus Tracks) [5xLP]Reprise
 November 14, 2025
- 
            
                  Anna von Hausswolff ICONOCLASTSYear0001
 November 14, 2025
- 
            
                  Blue ReflectionsCooking Vinyl
 January 9, 2026
- 
            
                  Paul McCartney and Wings WINGS (Deluxe) [3xLP]Capitol
 November 7, 2025
- 
            
                  Ragana & Drowse Ash SouvenirLa Vida Es Un Mus
 November 14, 2025
- 
            
                  Hunny Spirit!Epitaph
 January 16, 2026
- 
            
                  Cavetown Running with ScissorsFutures Music Group
 January 16, 2026
- 
            
                  Gary Numan Telekon (45th Anniversary Expanded Edition; Sparkle Rainbow) [2xLP]Beggars Banquet
 December 12, 2025
- 
            
                  The Lunar Effect Fortune's Always HidingSvart Records
 November 14, 2025
- 
            
                  Vowws I'Ll Fill Your House with an Army (Yellow/Black)Out Of Line
 October 31, 2025
- 
            
                  Slash LIve At The S.e.r.p.e.n.t. Festival (Tri-Color 3Lp) [3xLP]Earmusic
 November 7, 2025
 
                 
                         
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                
                 
                
                