MARIA DUARTE recommends a remarkable study of the friendship between a Palestinian and a Pakistani, broken by a hostile state
Latest editorial
Album reviews with Simon Duff: November 11, 2024
New releases from Propaganda, David Gilmour and Jon Hopkins
MATTHEW HAWKINS rakes through un-fancy words and flair-free summaries to find who and what might be flamboyant
PETER MASON is exhilarated by an exciting, well-considered and historically minded tribute to the great Trinidadian instrument
Reducing historical lives to ‘male’ and ‘female’ roles, we lose the nuance of those lives and a clearer understanding of past societies, suggests CLAIRE ISABELLA GILMOUR
CHRIS SEARLE relishes the genius of pianist Alexander Hawkins, his many ensembles, and his new album
Propaganda
Propaganda
(Bureau B)
★★★★★
GERMAN electronic pioneers Propaganda’s music first emerged in the mid-1980s. An eclectic fusion of Wagner, Abba, Simple Minds and Prince. Epic chord progressions, melodic intensity and driven production ideals. Those ideals remain firmly in tact on the new album. Founding members Michael Mertens and Ralf Dorper are joined by vocalist Thunder Bae.
Album opener They Call Me Nocebo is imbued with the nocturnal mood of vintage Propaganda but expresses itself within the context of modern dance and new electronic sounds. Purveyor of Pleasure continues that feel, full of intense rhythms, and pulsating Moog bass. The standout track is Tipping Point, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXRHGS3A3cw, a high-octane delight taking on issues of climate crisis and the rise of the far right in Europe.
Similar stories
New releases from The Mountains Goats, Ed O’Brien, and YHWH Nailgun
New releases from Old Spot, Chris Marksberry, and Clementine Lovell
New releases from Shearwater, Florry, and Navy Blue
New releases from Kneecap, Sam Blasucci, and Juni Habel