Abba in Hell
May 25, 2022 12:49 PM Subscribe
Propaganda are back after 37 years, with a new album and performing live Famously described as "Abba in Hell", Düsseldorf synthpop duo Propaganda (Susanne Freytag and Claudia Brücken) released the astounding album "A Secret Wish" in 1983. (Here are the tracks Duel and Dr Mabuse.) Then they split up, leaving behind a cult following and a handful of remix albums based on the original master recordings by ZTT's Trevor Horn (see also). But now they're back as xPropaganda with a new album, The Heart Is Strange, and it's like they'd never left.
Good news! Though, this many years later, the phrase “Abba From Hell” definitely made me expect something more metal.
posted by Going To Maine at 1:16 PM on May 25, 2022
posted by Going To Maine at 1:16 PM on May 25, 2022
One of my first singles that I bought as a young boy in the Netherlands was Duel. Fond memories and now I am exited to hear their new album!
posted by Pendragon at 1:33 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Pendragon at 1:33 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
It is very good indeed with the opening words a call back to Duel.
posted by fallingbadgers at 1:47 PM on May 25, 2022
posted by fallingbadgers at 1:47 PM on May 25, 2022
The secret heart within A Secret Wish is the epic Dream Within a Dream.
posted by googly at 1:56 PM on May 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by googly at 1:56 PM on May 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
Momentarily confused with Winnipeg's seminal punk outfit Propagandhi (warning screaming guitar solos)
posted by zenon at 2:18 PM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by zenon at 2:18 PM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
722. dream within a dream
“Propaganda are mostly forgotten now, but trust me, this is what 1985 sounded like. Big, majestic, mysterious, not afraid to explore the darker side of things – a dream within a dream indeed.
posted by philip-random at 3:12 PM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
“Propaganda are mostly forgotten now, but trust me, this is what 1985 sounded like. Big, majestic, mysterious, not afraid to explore the darker side of things – a dream within a dream indeed.
posted by philip-random at 3:12 PM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Dream Within a Dream was a killer track on my old 80s mix tapes. There was also an awesome live radio version from that mid-1980s tour, which is similar to a few live versions on YT.
posted by ovvl at 3:24 PM on May 25, 2022
posted by ovvl at 3:24 PM on May 25, 2022
Oh, how exciting! My favorite single from “A Secret Wish” was “p:Machinery”—the first song of theirs I heard on the radio. Can’t wait to dig into this.
posted by ejs at 3:38 PM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by ejs at 3:38 PM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Propaganda originally had four members as indicated in the article.
posted by user92371 at 4:37 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by user92371 at 4:37 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
If this is ABBA in hell, well then, hell ain't a bad place to be. It reminds me of Nico & the Faction if they'd been poppy.
posted by not_on_display at 4:38 PM on May 25, 2022
posted by not_on_display at 4:38 PM on May 25, 2022
I know several people who are going to be very excited about this!
posted by arcticseal at 5:25 PM on May 25, 2022
posted by arcticseal at 5:25 PM on May 25, 2022
My roommate was cousin to one of them, sad to say I don't remember which, and he introduced me to A Secret Wish. It's been one of my favorites ever since. What Ive heard so far of the new stuff is good but different from, you know, 35ish years ago. I like it.
posted by jwest at 5:38 PM on May 25, 2022
posted by jwest at 5:38 PM on May 25, 2022
I could swear that when I saw them at the original 930 Club in DC, they did a cover of "All Tomorrow's Parties".
My memories of those times are obviously not 100% reliable, but I'd like to think that this one is true.
posted by bcarter3 at 10:58 PM on May 25, 2022
My memories of those times are obviously not 100% reliable, but I'd like to think that this one is true.
posted by bcarter3 at 10:58 PM on May 25, 2022
I jumped at the opportunity to pre-order the BluRay version of the album with 5.1-channel and Dolby Atmos mixes, which landed on my doorstep this morning. As I dropped the disc into the player, I appealed to the Mousai for a follow-up inspired by A Secret Wish, rather than the second studio album, 1234. My expectations are exceeded in every way--the album feels like a seamless extension of the debut album. Claudia Brücken and Susanne Freytag are on point, delivering gorgeous vocals on every track. Stephen Lipson, who produced A Secret Wish, not only produced/engineered/mixed this album but also played guitar and programmed every track; supported by a great set of musicians--Ash Soan on drums, Pete Murray on keyboards, Terry Edwards on sax and trumpet--who've worked with artists like Pet Shop Boys, Annie Lennox, and Squeeze. A surprisingly great album after such a long hiatus!
posted by prinado at 11:32 PM on May 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by prinado at 11:32 PM on May 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Great news. Claudia Brücken fans may also want to check out her work with Act (here's "Absolutely Immune" off the band's sole album, released on ZTT).
posted by the sobsister at 9:08 AM on May 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by the sobsister at 9:08 AM on May 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
So hard not to sing out loud; my heart thrills at that key change every time: "The first cut won't hurt at all..."
posted by nkknkk at 1:40 PM on May 27, 2022
posted by nkknkk at 1:40 PM on May 27, 2022
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