As Kraftwerk grew to be perfectionists, their release schedule became quite slow, a byproduct that frustrated member Karl Bartos enough to leave the group. In 1992, he formed Elektric Music, debuting with the single "Crosstalk." Debut album Esperanto arrived in 1993. Bartos contributed to Raise the Pressure, a 1996 album from Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner's Electronic. Elektric Music's surprisingly guitar-driven sophomore release, Electric Music, appeared in 1998. Bartos returned to synth pop in 2003 and released the album Communication under his own name. Various projects kept him busy until the Bureau B label contacted him for archival material. Rather than release rough mixes and demos, Bartos completed old tracks and added new material. Off the Record (2013) was the result. ~ David Jeffries