Back To The Outside World

In April, I wrote about Propaganda's debut album A Secret Wish for the inspirational blog No Badger Required (thanks again, SWC, it was a privilege)

In a kind of timey wimey contrivance that Doctor Who would consider tenuous at best, I've uncovered a review of 2002 CD/DVD compilation Outside World, that I wrote in 2006, which I thought I'd share with you here. You can find the tracklist on Discogs.

As part of Zang Tuum Tumb's bid for music (world?) domination in the first half of the 1980s, alongside Frankie Goes To Hollywood and The Art Of Noise, Propaganda were fully immersed in remix culture from the outset. My first purchase was the p:Machinery 12" single that, characteristically for ZTT, segued the instrumental and vocal versions to provide an epic slab of Germanic alt. pop. 

I subsequently sought out their other releases, including the classic album A Secret Wish and it's accompanying remix set - at a time when remix albums were still few and far between - Wishful Thinking. 

Like all ZTT acts, the music was just part of Propaganda's appeal, taking into account the striking sleeve art and the ever-photogenic Claudia Brücken and Susanne Freytag. In an odd sense, Propaganda were my ABBA (Suzanne was my favourite, in case you're wondering), though their story pretty much ended with these few releases. 

Ignoring the short-lived and largely forgettable Propaganda Mk II at the start of the 1990s, the band and their music seemed consigned to the vaults of history. However, with music's obsessive need to reevaluate and reclaim it's past, Propaganda are back with a collection of their finest moments committed to single. 

Of course, times have changed: remix albums are now ten-a-penny and, as the flood of recent 1980s 12" compilations demonstrates, much material from this period now sounds horribly dated. Fortunately, the innovative approach of Trevor Horn, Stephen Lipson and Robert Kraushaar, combined with the quality of Propaganda's songs, means that Outside World neatly avoids this problem. 

The versions of signature tune Dr. Mabuse build on the original's strengths and never feel repetitive. Likewise, p:Machinery (beta), which originally appeared on the rare ZTT sampler album IQ6, replaces the song's killer synth hooks with the squalling guitar of Magazine/Siouxsie & The Banshees legend John McGeoch (RIP). 

The 12" mixes of Duel and it's aggressive sibling Jewel are little more than extended workouts, but lose none of their impact. However, the cassette-only mix of p:Machinery (connected) is a less successful segue of the original and 12" versions, seeming heavy handed by comparison. 

Of the B-sides, Frozen Faces - here in two versions - is the standout, whilst the take on The Velvet Underground's Femme Fatale retains it's curiosity value. 

A limited edition bonus DVD compiles the three single promo videos, plus alternate versions and TV commercials, which reinforce Propaganda's innate sense of style and are a treat for those like me who missed them the first time around. 

Despite original members Michael Mertens and Suzanne Freytag reactivating Propaganda and releasing a 12" single at the end of 2005, the prospect of a full reformation seems unlikely. Still, Germany's arguably greatest 80s pop act have left a formidable legacy that loses none of it's appeal with the passing of time.

Footnote: fast forward to 2025 and in time-honoured tradition, there now exist two active versions of the band. Propaganda, with Michael Mertens, Ralf Dörper and Thunder Bae, sound not unlike the Mk. II version if I'm honest. xPropaganda, reuniting Claudia Brücken and Susanne Freytag with Stephen Lipson are perhaps closer to the spirit of thie ZTT-era music that I love so much.

1) p: Machinery (The Beta Wraparound (Remix) ft. John McGeoch) (1985)

2) Frozen Faces (Live) (1985)

3) Tipping Point (2024)

4) Only Human (Album Version) (2022)