Kraftwerk, where would we be without them? Minimum - Maximum is the electro-Godfather’s first official live album. With tracks taken from their current world tour - now virtually two years underway, this double-album showcases 22 tracks plucked from gigs recorded in Poland, Moscow, Hungary, Japan, and America.

Anyone who has been fortunate enough to witness a Kraftwerk show over the past two years cannot fail to have been impressed by the seamless mix of sound and visuals that has accompanied their starkly futuristic, peerless collection of songs. Curiously, such is Krafwerk’s pristine digital sheen, that if it were not for the occasional bursts of crowd excitement, this could almost be a studio album. Only the faintest trace of echo can be heard from the various live auditoriums, so this is a superb soundboard mix.

There is little doubt in my eyes that Minimum - Maximum is Kraftwerk’s best work since The Mix, and unlike the tour that accompanied that album, Minimum - Maximum contains a much richer variety of material; there are no 25-minute interpretations of Pocket Calculator to be found on here!

The common consensus seems to be that Kraftwerk’s last studio album, Tour De France Soundtracks, was a bit of a disappointment. Having waited over 15 years for a new studio album, Kraftwerk returned with a repetitive, regurgitated sound that plodded along limply to their old Tour De France theme from 1983. However, whilst Minimum - Maximum cannot claim to be anything other than a retro-album, it’s clear that original members Ralf Hutter & Florian Schneider have worked hard to update the Kraftwerk sound, remixing, or in some cases re-remixing elements of classic tracks that last appeared on The Mix in 1991, and more than a few others too. Therefore, not only is practically every Kraftwerk classic spread across this double-disc, including The Man-Machine, Neon Lights, Autobahn, The Model, Radioactivity, Numbers, Home Computer, Pocket Calculator, and The Robots - but they have all been playfully updated with new vigour.

Minimum – Maximum starts a little slowly though, with the plodding Man Machine setting the tone, but soon moves into first gear with the track Planet Of Visions, known to you and I as Expo 2000. This has been heavily updated from the rather dour original, and after an engaging introduction, explodes into a typically throbbing slice of heavily-stylised Kraftwerk chic. The least effective section of the album follows, with a lengthy section of tracks lifted from Tour De France Soundtracks - a 20-minute venture that would be yawn-inducing were it not for the visual elements of Kraftwerk’s live show; so on this CD it is actually quite dull to listen to.

However, from here on it’s up, up all the way, as Kraftwerk blast through their back catalogue with effortless brilliance. Highlights here have to be the thoroughly enaging Neon Lights, which has been lovingly upgraded yet lost none of its sparkling, spage-age essence, whilst Radioactivity is a real blast, ending in an absolutely pulsating blaze of electronic vignettes and rhythms. Meanwhile, Trans Europe Express is simply the monster Kraftwerk classic, especially when backed by the pounding industrial rhythms of Metal On Metal.

Nevertheless, my personal favourite track on this live album has to be the stunning Numbers. Kraftwerk has always had a much overlooked tongue-in-cheek element to their music, but this is unashamed psychosis – and totally inspired; nobody but nobody makes electronic music as cool as this. Elsewhwere, Home Computer comes close to matching Numbers for sheer audacity, whilst Pocket Calculator is Kraftwerk displaying an unashamed daftness that will have you rolling in the aisle - the album is pumping on all cylinders at this point. Still, theres more to come with The Robots, the closing brilliance of Kraftwerk’s classic 1986 track, Music Non Stop, and quite a few more.

With Minimum-Maximum, Kraftwerk give the most entertaining history lesson around; not only are Kraftwerk the imperial, trendsetting Gods of all electronic music, but in 2005 - you'll be pleased to know - they still rule.