Woebot
Well-known member
If you havent heard the "Verschwende Deine Jugend" Compilation of German New Wave and Punk yet, buy or steal a copy. Its a classic compilation.
My favourite track on it is called "Fred Vom Jupiter" by Andreas Dorau & die MARINAS. My taste in NDW does lean towards the "catchy" (shall we say). Of course, prepare yourself for cultural sterotype, the Germans do austere fabulously, perfectly even, but its when the underground sound becomes poppy that all that austerity gains it's charm. Like Kraftwerk innit. Sublimely catchy but mechanik and precise (dont know if you know the Eddie Izzard sketch about "very precise instruments")
Fred Vom Jupiter has this chugging clanking steam zug propulsiveness. Much like the toy rocket on the sleeve might sound, with just the faintest edge of over-precision. Ally this with the swoony, off-the-mark, plaintive voices of (I learnt, REAL CHILDREN) and the concotion is irrestistible. This might well be the raindrop distilliation of all that was wonderful about Mouse on Mars. It was a big hit this track!
Also got me to thinking what an incredible label ATA TAK was/is:
http://www.atatak.com/assets/s2dmain.html?http://www.atatak.com//e/ehome.html
If you havent got a copy of Pyrolator's "Ausland" or Der Plan's "Geri Reig and the Normalette" get thee hence.
Have a look at the kids on the back sleeve. Aw, dont they look cute!
My favourite track on it is called "Fred Vom Jupiter" by Andreas Dorau & die MARINAS. My taste in NDW does lean towards the "catchy" (shall we say). Of course, prepare yourself for cultural sterotype, the Germans do austere fabulously, perfectly even, but its when the underground sound becomes poppy that all that austerity gains it's charm. Like Kraftwerk innit. Sublimely catchy but mechanik and precise (dont know if you know the Eddie Izzard sketch about "very precise instruments")
Fred Vom Jupiter has this chugging clanking steam zug propulsiveness. Much like the toy rocket on the sleeve might sound, with just the faintest edge of over-precision. Ally this with the swoony, off-the-mark, plaintive voices of (I learnt, REAL CHILDREN) and the concotion is irrestistible. This might well be the raindrop distilliation of all that was wonderful about Mouse on Mars. It was a big hit this track!
Also got me to thinking what an incredible label ATA TAK was/is:
http://www.atatak.com/assets/s2dmain.html?http://www.atatak.com//e/ehome.html
If you havent got a copy of Pyrolator's "Ausland" or Der Plan's "Geri Reig and the Normalette" get thee hence.
Have a look at the kids on the back sleeve. Aw, dont they look cute!