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New Kraftwerk Direction For JLS?
Luke Turner , April 5th, 2012 13:26

The MOR-Machine? Clue on poster!

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Are reality tell shopping centre pop stool-singer types JLS taking a sideways move into avant European technopop minimalism? The new JLS poster (above) seems to suggest so. Advertising the JLS 4th Dimension tour, which sees the boys "fahren fahren fahren auf der M1" to the Manchester MEN Arena, the Birmingham LG and London O2, bears a remarkable similarity the the artwork for Kraftwerk's classic 1978 album, The Man Machine. You will note, though, that JLS have eschewed the tight, utilitarian tailoring of the German group in favour of the kind of cheap shiny shirt and tie combo more commonly seen at your local branch of Yates' Wine Lodge. As you'll be able to see from the reaction in the comments on the band's facebook page, the Teutonic aesthetic has gone down well with the JLS fanbase, who seem to have acquired the collective horn.

But as friend of the Quietus Mr Richard Clouston points out, JLS are not the first teatime entertainers to borrow imagery from the pioneering German electronic group. Previously, cuddly/punchable professional North Easterners Ant & Dec nicked the Man Machine look to promote their television programme Red Or Black?. You can see them trying to contain their expanding Saturday telly frames into the classic red shirts below:

Peter Pan
Apr 5, 2012 6:53pm

Hmm... the collective horn? Judging by the profile pictures, some might not even be old enough other than getting a collective horn over an ice cream or similar child-like dessert. But I suppose they say that kids are growing up earlier. Good though, judging by the many interesting, well-written comments on that Facebook band page, that this stroke of genius from JLS HQ has sparked an interest among a new generation in Kraftwerk. Erm.

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John jr
Apr 5, 2012 8:52pm

Dopplereffekt had the Kraftwerk look on their Gesamtkunstwerk CD too!

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David Gerard
Apr 6, 2012 7:34pm

Their audience's parents would have been born when that first came out ...

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Darren Stuart
Apr 13, 2012 11:14am

Absolutely ridiculous. Imagine JLS in 34 years time, from when Kraftwerk released 'The Man-Machine'. They'll have one original member, with three others ranging from their late 30's to '50's.

Joking aside. Kraftwerk's music transcends all other musical genres, right from pre-Autobahn up the their current live shows. No modern day pop act could do that now. Evem Madonna's struggling a bit.

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