The sound that Kraftwerk invented with the use of technology established them as the godfathers of modern-day house, techno, and disco.
However in the 80’s it also established them as the progenitors of genres like synthwave, synth-pop with the increased use of synths in even rock music which can be heard in the work of the Alan Parsons Project and even bands like Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode.
What’s even more interesting is that their sound was even touching genres like hip-hop. For instance, Trans-Europe Express was sampled by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force for Planet Rock. In 2010, Dr Dre on Under Pressure from his Detox album featuring samples of Trans-Europe Express.
Their Album Computer World influenced Daft Punk, the Chemical Brothers, Underworld, David Bowie. Juan Atkins, Larry Heard in the Detroit scene which has become a focal point in the history of techno.
You may not know about Kraftwerk but in one way or the other you know their sound, be it in a form of a sample by a pop act, or modern music that’s influenced by it or the basically the synth-laden sound of science fiction in movies like Blade Runner and even some disco music.