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)
