Propaganda ca. 1985 by John Stoddard

This is some kind of madness, but it appears that Claudia Brücken collectors have their work cut out for them this year. First, there was the DLX RM of Propaganda’s “Wishful Thinking” remix album in June, followed closely by the Claudia Brücken live DVD/CD “This Happened” in July. In August, we caught our breath. Now it’s September and the ZTT curators show no sign of letting up at their busywork. Scheduled for release today is the latest in an continuous series of ZTT reissues mining the sonic gold of their imperial phase. It’s a new Propaganda compilation featuring an overview of their work for the label cleverly entitled “Noise + Girls Come Out To Play – A Compact Introduction To Propaganda.”

ZTT/Salvo | UK | CD | 2012 | SALVOCD059

Propaganda: Noise + Girls Come Out To Play – A Compact Introduction To Propaganda UKCD [2012]

1. Before The Start You Already Bleed (Testament Four) 
2. Dr Mabuse (Anton Corbijn Video Mix)
3. Femme Fatale (The Woman With The Orchid)
4. Duel (Thirds) 
5. Testament Five 
6. Jewel (Rough Cut)
7. P:Machinery (Beta)
8. P:Machinery (Alpha) 
9. Dream Within A Dream
10. Wonder
11. Lied
12. Frozen Faces (A Secret Sense Of Sin) 
13. Testament Six 
14. Im Stahlnetz Des Mabuse 
15. Das Testament Des Mabuse
16. (The Ninth Life Of) Dr Mabuse
17. Strength To Dream (As Testament Seven) 
18. P:Machinery (Zbigniew Rybczynski Video Mix)
19. Femme Fatale (The Orchid)

Let us step aside of the fact, for the nonce, that this is a Propaganda compilation derived from the period of their career where they made but a single album for the ZTT mothership! Well, that and a remix album of said album [“A Secret Wish” – but you knew that]. Instead, let us marvel at the fact that we live in a universe where it is not only possible, but actually desirable to do so! This salient point is what keeps grown men of a certain age weeping like babes at the sweet perfection of it all.

ZTT Sampled | ZTT IQ6

Reviewing the contents reveals what I suspect are essential truths regarding this release. The mixes of the tracks “Dr. Mabuse” and “P:Machinery” appear on audio release for the first time. Nice, but I have to admit, I’m most anxious to hear the “P:Machinery [βeta]” remix, because the label lists the track as being 8:00 long. And that implies that it is actually the until-now-available-on-LP mix by that name, which was released only on the “ZTT Sampled” album [see left], way back when. Instead of the commonly available other “P: Machinery [βeta]” mixes which clock in at 9:30 and 10:37 respectively. Thus a cosmic wrong shall be righted! Surely, reason to buy right there?

But wait! Sweetening the pot are nine tracks in deep red, which are in fact, previously unreleased. This is why our fingers tremble on the smooth glass of our hand held devices; credit card at the ready! Any time I get to hear yet another remix of the godlike “Dr. Mabuse” is cause for celebration and immediate purchase. At least in theory. Sadly, budgetary issues have left me only holding “This Happened” currently in-house with the earlier “Wishful Thinking” pencilled in on the want list along with this gem of a release. And be warned that Ms. Brücken is a highly moving target; she’s not exactly resting on her considerable laurels this year. With two Propaganda releases and a live CD/DVD already out just this Summer, there are still four months left in 2012 and we haven’t heard the last of her. Not by a long shot.

– 30 –