"Tour De France Soundtracks" is the tenth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk. Released in August 2003, the album was a celebration and retooling of their 1983 single of the same name, marking the 100th anniversary of the famous bicycle race. The album comprised 12 tracks in its original release, mixing new songs alongside the rewritten track "Tour De France."
As a follow-up to their 1986 album "Electric Cafe," "Tour De France Soundtracks" returned Kraftwerk to the general discourse. While a significant departure from back-catalog standards, the album was seen as Kraftwerk's most notable release of the 2000s. The album features heavy use of French language in several tracks in conjunction with German and English.
In tune with their theme, the album explored the culture and history of the Tour De France cycle race, with tracks named "Vitamin", "Aero Dynamik", and "Elektro Kardiogramm," exhibiting their style of melding sound, art, and performance.
This particular album was successful both critically and commercially. It debuted at number one in the German charts, and was well received in the UK and the United States. Its release further cemented Kraftwerk's reputation as pioneers in their genre, blending technology and music in a manner that was distinct, original and innovative, indicating their lasting influence on music as a whole. The band, famous for their love of cycling, expressed it fully in this album, making it a reflection of their personal interests as much as their musical oeuvre.
