Trans Europe Express

A relentlessly metallic, pseudo-militaristic theme that is the aural equivalent of a futuristic train journey through a post-industrial Europe, 1975's "Trans Europe Express" remains one of seminal electronic-pop collective Kraftwerk's most monumental and recognisable works. The main string-synth riff from this coldly dispassionate, precisely propulsive anthem was even sampled (without permission) by hip-hop maverick Afrika Bambaataa for his breakthrough "Planet Rock" hit in 1982. This plagiaristic offence has an interesting, similar parallel 23 years later, when sappy-pop bedsittters Coldplay shamelessly lifted the main melody from Kraftwerk's 1981 "Computer Love" for "Talk". Check out the official video, which comprises stock images of a surreal post-World War Two Europe interspersed with whimsical shots of the members of Kraftwerk travelling on an, you guessed it, express train.