MAN/MACHINE/MUSIC (English version)

On October 17^th, the prestigious Litteraturhuset Fredrikstad will host a special exploration and celebration of the pioneering German electronic band Kraftwerk with Torgrim Eggen, Apoptygma Berzerk and Halvor Bodin.  Acclaimed author and music journalist Torgrim Eggen will present a lecture on Kraftwerk and their influence on music, art, and culture. Combining visuals, interviews, and stories, Eggen will guide the audience through the creation of the singular electronica powerhouse of Kraftwerk and the band’s impact on the past, present, and beyond.

After the lecture (in Norwegian), Stephan and Jonas Groth of current leading electronica act Apoptygma Berzerk will perform Kraftwerk covers as well as original music from their last two experimental instrumental releases «Videodrome» and «Stop Feeding The Beast». APOP’s performance will be accompanied by a mesmerizing visual presentation by innovative artist Halvor Bodin. Bodin has designed most of APOP’s artwork over the years including the covers for «Videodrome», «Stop Feeding The Beast», and the classic «Welcome To Earth».

APOP has been on a long and fascinating musical journey. Shifting through and melding genres such as Futurepop, Trance, EBM, Industrial and Synth-Pop, the band has traveled from the underground to the commercial charts and now the art gallery, weaving a history similar to that of Kraftwerk in many ways. The music of APOP perfectly conveys how the seeds planted by Kraftwerk have germinated into interconnected yet still distinctively individual branches in an ever-growing musical tree.