(o/t) Propaganda

"(Thwack!!) POWER!! (Thwack!!) FORCE!! (Thwack!!) MOTION!! (Thwack!!) DRIVE!!"

Does anyone here remember the mighty PROPAGANDA? German ZTT (Paul Morley-driven) signings of the mid-80's? They brought out one hell of a debut album "A Secret Wish", had a bit of success and stuff then vanished into solo projects and Simple Minds collaborations. Once considered the second of the great ZTT Trinity (Frankie unfortunately were the first and Art Of Noise were the third big act), the press gave them quite a favourable reception. I liked them at the time even though all the other music around then was bloody mullet-headed tinkly keyboard shite like Howard Jones and Thompson Twins. I thought they were quite hip and their music had a kind of pompous overblown grandeur that kind of suited them rather than work against them.

Anyone else here have any fond recollections of them - and, more to the point, what exactly are Michael Mertens, Ralf Dorper, Susanne Freitag and Claudia Brucken getting up to today??

Yep, I used to love Propaganda and still play A Secret Wish from time to time.

They also released a re-mix album called Wishful Thinking that featured, err, remixes of songs on A Secret Wish, mainly dub versions, which was really good as well.

Oh yeah, Propaganda were top.

I read on their website last year that they have reformed with the original line-up, (including claudia) and they were recording a new album.

Paul Morley is involved somewhere, and I seem to remember that Martin Gore from Depeche Mode had written them a track.

Then silence ......

Really? That's intriguing, mind you, everyone and their dog is reforming these days - even bands who swore would never ever do this. (What's the reckoning the Clash will do it as well?) Do you have the URL to their website by any chance?

My fave track is the first one "Dream Within A Dream" - pure cinematic nirvana!! Love the thrashy metallic noisefest of "Jewel" as well.

Do any of you possess the initial CD version which had "Frozen Faces" included as well as different (longer) mixes of "Dream Within A Dream", "Dr. Mabuse" and "Jewel" from that on the vinyl??

I do know that both these albums (incl the "Wishful" remixes) were reissued in new packages last year or so, but this initial "alternative" CD of "A Secret Wish" must now be a rarity....as the new version is the same as the original album. Hmmmm.

P.S. Susanne Freytag was kind of fit in a most un-Germanic way ;)

Propaganda were great. It looks as if their reformation has failed, as its almost been a year since the first single from that effort was to have been released.

I do have the original ZTT cd w/ Frozen Faces on it. I guess its time to dust that off too - its been a while.

I remember their 12" singles and remixes being excellent.

Pretty decent album from what I can recall...haven't listened to it in a couple of years. Hell, I bought it cause they covered "Sorry For Laughing".

Love their cover versions too: "Femme Fatale (Woman With The Orchid)" and Josef K's "Sorry For Laughing".

Remember when "Jewel/Duel" was used as incidental music for fast-action sports programmes? That was cool!

Actually, I remember now that Propaganda reformed once before - round about 1990 with two of Simple Minds taking over from Claudia/Susanne/Ralf and featuring a new female singer. They did one single and an album ("1234" ?) I think and didn't get very far before disappearing again.....best thing to do is to forget about re-forming. You can only conjure up that kind of magic once really.

Propaganda was for a brief period my "Favourite band not called New Order" and I still listen to Duel quite often. I seem to remember that they had a very good side project with Claudia involved in it. Anyone?

Originally posted by Hubert Mickle Do any of you possess the initial CD version which had "Frozen Faces" included as well as different (longer) mixes of "Dream Within A Dream", "Dr. Mabuse" and "Jewel" from that on the vinyl??

Hubert, guess what....after reading this I went straight to my CD collection & pick out Secret Wish. I was a bit thrilled to see my CD has Frozen Faces as Track 5.....WOW!!!! but my thrill turned to disappointment...coz...the disc has P-machinery as Track 5 and no Frozen Faces.... SOMEBODY MUST HAVE SWAPPED MY DISC!!! oh, well.....

Originally posted by Huber Propaganda was for a brief period my "Favourite band not called New Order" and I still listen to Duel quite often. I seem to remember that they had a very good side project with Claudia involved in it. Anyone?

Know what you're getting at, but the name escapes me - however, she did team up with Thomas Leer after the band split to form ACT (also on ZTT) . I remember one album and a single "Snobbery and Decay" but that's it.

Claudia has also released an album under her own name in the mid 1990's. She also released a single a few years ago as part of "The Brain" entitled "I'll Find A Way."

The full length record was good, but I've never heard the single by "The Brain."

They both pop up on eBay every now and then if you're interested.

Cheers for that useful info!! :) :) I'll have to have a look through it sometime.....

Originally posted by Green Pretty decent album from what I can recall...haven't listened to it in a couple of years. Hell, I bought it cause they covered "Sorry For Laughing".

That's only the second ever Josef K reference on here I think !! Respect sir

Talking of Postcard stuff - who remembers/digs The Fire Engines? - what a band!!!

Originally posted by Sloppy Giuseppe > Originally posted by Green> Pretty decent album from what I can recall...haven't listened to it in a couple of years. Hell, I bought it cause they covered "Sorry For Laughing".

That's only the second ever Josef K reference on here I think !! Respect sir

Thank you, kind sir!

Originally posted by Hubert Mickle Talking of Postcard stuff - who remembers/digs The Fire Engines? - what a band!!!

Would've if I could have found more than ONE record by them in the bins over here, which was the 45 of Candy Skin. The fractured pop of the A-side was nice, but I preferred the stinging guitars of the flip Meat Whiplash.

Originally posted by Green Would've if I could have found more than ONE record by them in the bins over here, which was the 45 of Candy Skin. The fractured pop of the A-side was nice, but I preferred the stinging guitars of the flip Meat Whiplash.

Keep your eyes peeled then for a compilation CD that was released by CREATION RECORDS (UK) about five or six years ago - which may pop up where you least expect it! - entitled "FOND" which collects EVERY single and EP the band ever did ["Get Up and Use Me..." onwards]......well worth breaking an arm for if you should see one...