Radio-Aktivitat (Radio-Activity) Kraftwerk 1976 Several reissues since, different words and mixes This is Kraftwerk's first all-electronic album, and it shows that someone had been listening to a lot of short wave. Nobody had heard of "trance music" yet, but some of these mixes certainly qualify, invoking that dreamy, ethereal, phase-shifting quality of ionospheric signals. A lot of the backgrounds use a German machine that sounds like, but isn't, the more famous "Mellotron." On top, tinkly little tunes fade in and out of synthesized radio noises, or change channels. As with real short wave, earphones can be a revelation. The synthesizer tracks are simple. After all, this was 1976. However, it's also because Kraftwerk was still doing slow-tempo things that sounded like pioneer classical composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, not like the dance grooves from Trans Europa Express on. Plus, the music sounded good on drugs. Again, this was 1976. There's been some confusion about this album, because of the word play on "radio activity," as in traffic heard on the bands, versus "radioactivity," as in nuclear radiation. This works in German just as well as in English, and was left ambiguous by intention. Different songs concern both of these. Some versions of the album had nuclear radiation stickers enclosed, and a special long mix of the title track was done later for an anti-nuke protest. This later version is the one making the rounds most frequently now, with a wall-bending bass and slightly rewritten words that make a stronger protest against radiation contamination ("Stop Radioactivity!") The famous Morse code was also changed to send "SOS" at the end. This is probably the only time Kraftwerk ever got involved in a political cause. Later the Radioactivity song was remixed yet one more time, as the technogeek "William Orbit Hardcore" version. Fun stuff, good music, but no Morse code. Here, we have translated the original German lyrics on the first album, with a little help from Babel Fish on Alta Vista. It can be seen that all but "Geiger Counter" (an instrumental) and "Uranium" are in fact about shortwave radio. Back of CD: Deutscher Kleinempfanger = Little German Receiver. Achtung! Vor Abnahme der Ruckwand Netzstecker ziehen! = Warning! Pull power supply plug before servicing in rear! Vor Inbetriebnahme auf richtige Netzspannung achten! = Before [using] check alignment [of jumpers] to correct mains voltage! Vor Nasse schutzen = Protect against wetness Songs: (Titles translated from German) Giegerzahler (Geiger Counter) A simple, synthesized, analog-sounding thump, sounding a bit like a click track, becomes faster, and segues into the title tune: Radio-Aktivitat (Radioactivity) (Morse code: RADIOACTIVITY) (English) Radioactivity It's in the air for you and me Radioactivity Discovered by Madame Curie Radioactivity Tune into the melody Radioactivity It's in the air for you and me (Morse: RADIOACTIVITY IS IN THE AIR FOR YOU AND ME) (German) Radio-Activity All around for you and me Radio-Activity It radiates waves to the receiver Radio-Activity When we go around our future Radio-Activity All around for you and me (English Morse: RADIOACTIVITY DISCOVERED BY MADAME CURIE RADIOACTIVITY TUNE IN TO THE KRAFTWERK) Radio-Activity (Repeat English verses) Radioland (Radioland) Drum machine riff throughout sends Morse "U" (German) We hear with the Radio Phone (tuning noises) We can tune the Transmitter-Sound (Interval signal-like tones) By pressing the lightning-key faster (switch click) We reach the short waves (woozy radio noise) We fine-tune the knob by hand (tuning noises) This puts us in the Morse code band (Morse S's and V's) Vocoder: Electronic music comes from the Radioland (Weird space ship and radio sounds) (English) Turn the dial inside your hand Till you find the short wave band Vocoder: Electronic music, sounds from Radioland (Weird space ship and radio sounds) Aetherwellen (Airwaves) (German and English alternate) When airwaves swing Distant voices sing Senderpause (Transmission Pause, Tuning Interval) (This was mistranslated into "Intermission" on the American album, but in fact it's a tuning interval. Several tinkly IS type themes are played.) Nachrichten (News) (Sendepause segues into some time beeps and layered unintelligible news voices, sounding like John Cage music. There's some uncopyable Morse and general short wave fun.) (End of side 1 on the LP. End of nothing on the CD.) Die Stimme der Energie (The Voice Of Energy) (Spoken, processed with a Vocoder) Here I speak, The Voice Of Energy! I am an enormous electric generator. I supply you with light and strength, And enable you to send Speech, Music and Pictures by way of the Ether, And you can also receive. I am your servant and also your master, Therefore guard me and take care of Me, the Genius Of Energy. Antenne (Antenna) (English) I'm the antenna, catching vibration You're a transmitter, give information! (German) We are arranging Antennas in the Firmament Receiving Tones, and information for everybody (English) I'm the transmitter, I give information You're the antenna, catching vibration (German) It is the Transmitter of Pictures, Sounds, and Words Electromagnetic at every place (English) I'm the antenna, catching vibration You're a transmitter, give information! (German) Radio-Transmitter and Receivers are we Playing in the Ether, the Wave-Keyboard (WellenKlavier) We are arranging Antennas in the Firmament Receiving Tones, and information for everybody (English) I'm the transmitter, catching vibration You're the antenna, catching vibration I'm the antenna, catching vibration You're the transmitter, give information! I'm the transmitter, I give information You're the antenna, catching vibration Radio Sterne (Radio Stars) (Spoken/German) From the Distant Universe Spark Radio Stars Vocoder/German: Pulsar and Quasars Pulsar and Quasars Pulsar and Quasars Pulsar Quasar Pulsar Quasar Pulsar Quasar Uran (Uranium) (Spoken/German) Through Constant Decay Making radioactive Rays from the Uranium Crystal Making radioactive Rays from the Uranium Crystal Transistor (Transistor) (Nice synthesized sitar-type music, very psychedelic) Ohm Sweet Ohm (Ohm Sweet Ohm) (Vocoder, chanted, like the Hindu mantra) Ohm Sweet Ohm