Propaganda release their third album of all-new material in four decades in October. Founder members Michael Mertens and Ralf Dörper have teamed up with British singer/songwriter - and fellow Düsseldorf resident - Thunder Bae.
The self-titled album contains eight songs, thirteen if you go for the limited double vinyl or CD editions. Purveyor Of Pleasure emerged as a lead single in May, with album opener They Call Me Nocebo following a few days ago.
More reminiscent of 1234, their 1990 album for Virgin, but with a harder sonic edge the songs are good...but are they great?
If you're looking for something inspired more by the ZTT-era iteration of Propaganda, then Claudia Brücken and Susanne Freytag have you covered. They teamed up with original co-producer Stephen Lipson as xPropaganda to release The Heart Is Strange in 2022.
Not simply an attempt to recreate the past, there's an exciting dramatic tension to the music. And hearing Claudia and Susanne's voices together again? Wonderful.
But which is better?
Propaganda with Michael Mertens, Ralf Dörper and Thunder Bae?
Or xPropaganda featuring Claudia Brücken, Susanne Freytag and Stephen Lipson?
...or you can just buy either or both, as you please.
IMHO XPropaganda are better...but that doesn't mean to say I don't like 'lad' Propaganda. Bought the XPropaganda album when it came out and it is one of my favourite albums of the 2020's; get the feeling 'lad' Propaganda will be good but not great..we'll see!
ReplyDeleteOn the strength of the music so far, it's xPropaganda for me too. As you say, it's a great album and so far the Propaganda singles have been merely...good.
Delete