SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PROPAGANDA – PROPAGANDA

PROPAGANDA
PROPAGANDA
BUREAU-B

Propaganda burst on the scene in 1985 with their iconic debut album, A Secret Wish, on the famous ZTT label. In 1988, they began falling apart. Propaganda, then, is technically their third album, 33 years since their last album and almost 40 since their debut. Propaganda is the official third album from the band.

Propaganda features Academy Award-winning composer/musician Hauschka and pop singer Thunder Bae join the duo of Ralf Dörper and Michael Mertens to create this very electronic album. The album kicks off with the high energy and pounding “They Call Me Nocebo”. Here Propaganda is much more electronic and techno-based than previous albums. Elsewhere, the songs are much more standard synth-pop songs. “Tipping Point” is a very standard song, with great vocals, while songs like “Distant” are a bit more experimental and darker. It makes for an interesting listen, the flow of the album is very strong, and mixing it up with the different sounds makes for a much more intriguing listening experience.

However, it is songs like “Love:Craft” that harken back to the older sounds of Propaganda and prove that they continue to explore the electronic music world. The same can be said for the epic “Dystopian Waltz” that, musically, would not have been out of place on their debut album. This is not to suggest that the band is playing the retro card, but rather the fascinating use of synthesizers and programming to compose a very visual song. And, perhaps most surprising, the album ends with “​​Wenn Ich Mir Was Wünschen Dürfte”, a song made famous in the 1930s by Marlene Dietrich. The title translates to “If I Had A Wish”, which is a nice tip of the hat to their debut album A Secret Wish.

Propaganda may not be breaking new ground or creating earth shattering music with their self-titled album. But they did that many years ago. Here, they do what they do best. They have created a solid techno album that has a lot more to offer the world than just good beats. Thunder Bae’s vocals are perfect for the music and make the songs accessible and interesting. Dörper and Mertens create very interesting and intriguing music. Propaganda is a strong album that stands on its own two feet.

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