It all began for me with the "Top 40" abridgement of "Autobahn" so long ago. Curiously I'd owned no other album by Kraftwerk until I listened to this collection of on-stage performances worldwide. Then I HAD to hear more. Mission accomplished!

The sound quality and editing are simply outstanding. Some tracks on the "Doppel CD" are in German as compared to the other version, but that by itself shouldn't compel you to get both. And the "extra track" runs just short of two minutes.

I've not yet attended a concert of electronica. Do you wonder as I do what's actually done on-stage? Here's my theory: Most but decidedly not all tracks are collations of discrete "loops" programmed as subroutines. To keep "the human factor" in play each band member initiates a loop on cue, and possibly terminates same. If you will, a four-handed piano played with the left hand and requiring an overt act to stop playing. The band members probably see each other's participation on-screen as well, if only to quickly determine when something ISN'T working and, pardon the expression, switch to backup...

Kraftwerk does at least one thing different: It sings along. Word is Herrn Huetter is the most active on-stage, and there's no doubt from the discs that he sings unfiltered. It must be a lot of fun to watch a performance. Frankly I think to a man the band members start each show in a somewhat petrified state, and I certainly don't envy them, for what must it feel like to leave a studio and perform quite that way while standing in front of tens of thousands of highly interactive fans with a light-and-sound show raging over and behind your head? Small wonder "Die Roboten" need show up, for relief if nothing else!

While generally not questioning Kraftwerk's influence some reviewers brand the music humorless and soulless. They should try the orchestral works of Charles "Unsweetened Lemonade" Ives or John "I Have You Now" Cage. Kraftwerk has BEAT, from Disc 1's Vitamin onward the performances grow more human, and by Disc 2 everybody's having a good time, I daresay the band members included...

Latest word is that Herrn Schneider, a founding member, pursues his own projects. Gentlemen, you provide much pleasure and have done so for decades. If all that takes is the push of one button or a thousand in unison you will not hear me to complain!

Minimum-Maximum is a grand live recording with Kraftwerk. I have been listening to them since I was like 14 (back in 1988). I went to their concert in Lund 1991 and I was blown away. The sound quality on this recording is impeccable and their classic tracks sound even better live then in the studio. In fact listening to it gives me warm pleasent memories of me being back at that concert. The book-let is filled with photographs from the concert and I wish I could have been there. They play both new tracks such as Planet of Visions and Vitamin. But ofcourse they also play classic tracks such as Radioactivity, The Model and many many more! I absolutely love this recording and recommend it to fans of Kraftwerk and fans of great music in general!

This live rendition(s)are the most excellent sounds that I have heard in a very long time. I am 39 years old and I have been listening to KRAFTWERK since the age of about eight. I did not expect the quality of the music to be the same. As a matter of fact, it was better!!!! I am a trance-techno-industrial lover!!!!! This CD is a very highly recommended source of trance-techno for all layers of this type of sound. I absolutely love it!!!!!! The most impressive part is that it is all live!! I would give anything to see KRAFTWERK live. I love you guys, Billy