ZANG TUMMM TUMB ARTICLES “the first draft of history”

PROPAGANDA ‘The Secret Wish’ (ZTT ZTTIQ3)

IT’S A piquant theory, the one which muses whether our reality is merely part of someone else’s dream. Propaganda don’t have the answer, but they have the soundtrack.

There is a wonderful sense of occasion to ‘Secret Wish’, the feeling that there’s a real event going on here. Grand is the word for a pseudo classical fairytale web of intrigue and drama — with some pop songs in between. I don’t know how they do it — none of them can really sing, but it’s fab.

Side one has three themes — gentle, meandering, jazzy; harsh, punch and metallic; pure pop (‘Duel’, of course). As usual, the Fairlight is put through its paces and coughs out some massive sounds.

Side two has six themes, including perhaps the most exciting single of last year, ‘Dr Mabuse’. At times it thunders along like Brunhilda in a bad mood, but it has enough soft moments to satisfy the mawkish. Rather like a film score, it sets scenes, makes sweeping statements, has opening and closing overtures. A fine aural concoction, a drama for the ears that sets Propaganda up to be ZTT’s finest. ☆☆☆☆☆

Betty Page