DIE X AGENTEN - Im Lichtermeer 1982

This is one of my primary records and I'm glad I can listen up at any time original sounding from this Hamburg punk/wave band X-Agenten and their song "Wanderer" is well known by any NDW fan. I remember a friend of mine had this record and we have heard this song up and down and I was then quite funny about this song because it has not much to say and the music is very monoton and I thought they're a typical useless NDW band. Today, however, I like the song really well. I discovered their first LP many years ago at a record fair and took them with me and I think the album has with NDW not much to do, fast punky pieces, little ska and pop elements makes 'Im Lichtermeer' by far do not sound so shallow and superficial, they have brilliant lyrics too and the music of the X-Agenten fits nicely into the year 1982, when German underground music under the name of the Neue Deutsche Welle enjoyed their day, although at that time also a lot of pop and related genres NDW were called and a lot of shit was thrown on the market. A year later, Durch Die Wüste, the second album was released tends more into a pop sound, but it's still far away from the drunken-society-normed shit, you know. Unfortunately, completely underestimated in my opinion, because they were a band with many facets and this makes them very interesting and still worth hearing nowadays.

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BLÜMCHEN BLAU - Wie Die Tiere 1982

Blümchen Blau was an Austrian "NDW" band from Vienna which was active in the early 80s. Until today, their biggest success "Flieger". Blümchen Blau were the most famous Austrian New Wave Band and their music was pretty much on the temporal and stylistic boundary between the early and the Underground commercial exploitation of the NDW which was thrown on the market. Musically it's pretty catchy rock/pop with some wave ska influences. The band is not nearly as happy over how the band name or the very colorful LP cover promise. Their single "Flieger" has nothing to do with Extrabreit's hit, but also based on the Hans Albers classic and was a respectable hit in Austria that time. In Germany, the song was not succesful, which is probably the oversaturation of the market 1982 in Germany was, as in the musical quality. Songs like "Eisenbahn" offered precisely the oblique madness that the commercial NDW stripped quickly and become a "cheeky" had hit infusion. The subsequent singles were no longer released in Germany. In addition to "Flieger" is "Weihnachtsmann", the most famous single of Blümchen Blau, which was already covered by the Hamburg band Charles Lindbergh n.e.V. in 1983 on their early tapes and live performances. Interesting and a nice gag is that on the LP cover the German texts were translated into Yugoslav, but of course was much meaningless. Most songs have a great groove, the singer is charismatic and the lyrics are simple sneaky. Under professional conditions and completely free of added time pressure in Vienna Gorilla studios recorded, is this album one of the most charismatic and still incomparable NDW record of all time. A short time later, the band broke up.

- Huge Thx to Reinhard -

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PROFIL - Berühren 12'' 1981

A trip to the NDW days with a band called Profil, founded by Heinz (vocals), Lüdtke (guitars), P.M. (keys), Weide (bass), B.Hartmann (drums) and their well-known 'Berühren' is a extremely driving song, which has become a cult hit in the electro and wave scene, and remains a highlight of every NDW party. The maxi version, released on the Weltrekord label, can only be bought at a high price as the original, has meanwhile been re-released on numerous compilations. Two more singles and an album followed, but somehow the air was out and the band couldn't build on the debut. The album, which ranges from fast, danceable numbers to thoughtful-melancholy songs, can only confirm the versatility of the five and in contrast to many other records that were released at this time, is anything but an embarrassing LP. With both hits released so far and other excellent electronic pearls, it can certainly be described as a German poprock milestone and more than lives up to the seal of approval of a Weltrekord slab. With the last 7Inch in 1983 they say goodbye to the already declining NDW scene.

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IDEAL - Zugabe 1983

Ideal is one of the bands for me that was falsely labeled as NDW-Band. Ideal were different, musically & lyrically and this live album, which also was the last, they prove the impressively vivid contrast to the Hubert Kah & associates. Absolutely brilliant punk rock, fast & snotty, and the organ brings the groove here that many NDW bands simply do not have. Fuck, what an album ... that has made in my opinion music history.And here's even a new song (Acryl - Kopf Aus Chrom) on it and it was not published anywhere else. And songs like 'Erschießen', 'Berlin' or 'Ich Kann Nicht Schlafen' are simply implusiver live. I am proud to present you this brilliant LP. Ideal were cool and they still are .. And as a bonus there are 2 newly remixed old songs here. In addition to off-colors one of the most important bands of this 'new wave' era. Ohhh .... I'm back in the 80's... there are bands like sand on the sea but Ideal were unique! In June 1983 appeared this album (a live album) as a "keepsake, farewell & thank you to the fans" tribute. On 26.April 2007, guitarist Frank Jürgen Krüger died at the age of 58 years, the result of a long battle against cancer. Sad and a real big loss.

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V/A - Die Neue Tanzmusik Ist Da Da Da 1982

The first NDW sampler now and as you probably recognize, here are a few punk bands represented which have more less to do with traditional NDW music style. This record was created in collaboration with the German Cancer Society and a certain amount per purchase this plate went to those. A great thing! And I think that we have here a collection that shows how individual the early german music scene was and this demonstrated a knack for putting together different music styles on one album. I love such diversions (a little boring are the tracks from the Doraus & Palais Schaumburg but who give's a shit). Now it's up to you, brain or pleasure!

1.Da Da Da Ich Lieb Dich Nicht Du Liebst Mich Nicht - TRIO

2.Roter Rolls Royce - IDEAL

3.Heut' Nacht - SPLIFF

4.Ich Habe Mir Sooft Gewünscht - INA DETER

5.Stille Tage In Ostberlin - KFC

6.Exakt Neutral - DEO

7.Wir Bauen Eine Neue Stadt - PALAIS SCHAUMBURG

8.Lokomotivführer - DIE DORAUS & DIE MARINAS

9.Polizisten - EXTRABREIT

10.Radio - NICHTS

11.Beim Erstenmal Tut's Immer Weh - ABWÄRTS

12.Taxi - JAWOLL

13.Los! - STRASSENJUNGS

14.Messertraum - KATIA

15.Der Kommissar - THE WIRTSCHAFTSWUNDER

16.Sabine Sabine Sabine - TRIO

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SIEGER 1957 - Regen Über Tokio EP 1982

The releases from the Bremen based label Heimat Records are always interesting. Musically, they move between early German Punk, NDW or experimental stuff and sure some redundant records including. I like the label because they set not specifically in one direction such as AGR or Weird System did, rather they gave bands from Bremen and surrounding areas the chance to put their music among the people. They wanna stay small and nowadays Heimat plates are extremely rare and precious. If I can catch one, I don't hesitate. About Sieger 1957 there is not much to tell. A few members were active in AGM, the best punk band in Bremen, and this is their only release. Three tracks you like or dislike. It starts with a reggae tune, sax-intro and lapping comfortably forward. No real Punk cracker at all but nice playing as well. 'Aufstand In Der Badewanne (Riot In The Bathtub)' attracts the pace and is a nice two minute NDW/Punk goodie. The last one 'Europa' is the best for me here, much music like an instrumental and good lyrics about living in our narrow Europe. Check it out!

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RHEINGOLD - s/t LP 1980

A band with I grew up is not a punk band, No! at that time NDW was hot and a lot of bands were founded and published cool records. This is one of them: Rheingold was a German New Wave group that consisted of Bodo Staiger (vocals, guitar), Lothar Manteuffel (lyrics) und Brigitte Kunze (keyboard). They sang both in German and English and released three LP’s and several singles between 1980 and 1984.Before they formed Rheingold, Bodo Steiger sang together in a band with Marius Müller-Westernhagen. Inspired through the Düsseldorf's music scene and fellow Germans Kraftwerk, Steiger formed Rheingold who was named after the opera "Ring der Nibelungen" of Richard Wagner. Lothar Manteuffel wrote the songs and Brigitte Kunze did some vocals on their first self-titled LP that was released on Weltrekord. (38 weeks in the charts). Their most successful 7'' 'Dreiklangsdimensionen' was released in 1980 as well as the singles 'Fluss' and 'Fan Fan Fanatisch'. Fan Fan Fanatisch apperaed on their second album "R" which was released in 1982 and was used for the movie Der Fan, which cast also included Bodo Staiger in the main role, short story: A young presenter (Desirée Nosbusch) adores a music star called R (B.Staiger) and eat him because he does not reciprocated her love. The media "Scandal" pushed the sales of the soundtrack at #13 in the album charts. The band also released English versions of the songs in England and USA, not with much success as they hoped though. Neither did their last album show more success and so the band split and they never released music under this name. Lothar Manteuffel teamed up with former Kraftwerk musician Karl Bartos to form Elektric Music and Bodo Staiger was working with ex Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür and today he’s busy as a music producer. Rheingold were always a welcome contribution on various NDW compilations.

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RHEINGOLD - Das Steht Dir Gut 7'' 1982

Good vibes with a little NDW music from Düsseldorf and this is the first 7Inch from Rheingold's second album R. which is the soundtrack of the controversial cinema spectacle Der Fan, which was due to the naked scenes of the very young, barely adult TV presenter Désirée Nosbusch, who played the female lead as a counterpart to Staiger, and various brutal sequences including cannibalism symbols for heated discussions in worried the media. Das Steht Dir Gut is a consistently perfect catchy tune (one of my favourite songs), which was certainly one of the most melodious and catchy contributions of the increasingly commercial-oriented 82-NDW. On the flip is a short version of Stahlherz, an instrumental which is quite passable as well. Bodo Staiger died unfortunately on 4.12.2019. Schöne Single!

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FUCKIN GUTE BÜRGER BAND - Des Endlose Krampf Mit Dem Egoländers 1981

From Hechingen near Stuttgart came the Fuckin Gute Bürger Band and consisted of H.W. Rotkraut (vocals/guitars), Meier (guitars), Sandy (bass), Lord Patexx (keys), Micha Motorrad (drums). In 1980 they released their debut Live In Stammheim on Unknown Records (1000 copies). The second and final album followed a year later on the same label. The musical range of the five is pleasantly diverse, punk, NDW and a little bit of reggae flow into each other and the biting, vomited lyrics, are sharp and provocative. Political slogans are largely avoided and would rather suit the band less. At first glance one might think this is an uninteresting Seventies Kraut Revival band, but fourteen outpourings prove the opposite. I can't tell you how I got this slab, but I'm glad I ripped it. On Compilations are F.G.B.B. rarely found so give them a listen and enjoy good feelings with great guitar parts!

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NILP - Gift EP 1982

Here we have now a funny band from Zurich called Nilp, four songs that remind me a little bit of the NDW age in the early 80' but it sounds more punk with partially a nice Bontempi organ. Sung in beautiful charming "schwizerdeutsch" dialect. Is good at a party. That's all I have to say from the Alpfront. One more goodie on the famous Definitiv Zurich compilation - Enjoy!

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FRISCHE FARBE - Die Stärke Im Minimum 12'' 1982

Swiss group formed circa 1978 in Aarau by guitarist Gutze Gautschi. They started as a punk band featuring Dieter Meier, however, Meier left after two singles, "Cry For Fame" (released as 'Dieter Meier') and "No Chance" (released as 'Fresh Color'). Meier went on to form Yello. Fresh Color released further singles in their punk style. In the early 80's, Gutze Gautschi assembled a new band including drummer Danny Amsler and their sound moved into a more poppy new wave. Fresh Color started to include synthesizers and developped a distinct dubby production style. Then 'Frische Farbe' was created and release songs in German language; the band's debut longplayer "Die Stärke Im Minimum" (1982) was released via Gold Records. In 1984, Fresh Color shrunk to the duo of Gutze Gautschi and Danny Amsler. On the singles "Disco Nature" and "Get On Up", the duo merged their new wave background with disco and electro. When songwriter and vocalist Humphrey Robertson joined the group, they had their biggest success with "Disco Future" and released their second album, "Nightdreams", in 1985. Soon after, all of the three went into producing a large number of different projects. At the end of the nineties, Gautschi tried to revive Fresh Color. Enjoy now this four great NDW/Pop Love songs here, the a-side in german, the flip in english. Not Bad!

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EXTRABREIT - Hart Wie Marmelade 7'' 1980

A little nostalgia with old German rockin' stuff tonight with this 7inch from Extrabreit. The flip is a none album track and what should I say, it's long tome ago that Hart Wie Marmelade was played everywhere in the club in these times and I am always amazed in which countries the old NDW records land up and be heard. It was a nice time with interesting music, that can't be denied or? I know you like the stuff because the download link of their third album is still active. Two decent numbers, very well played, good lyrics, even today still okay.

- Special Thx to Fredrik -

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DIE LASSIE SINGERS - Helfen Dir 1991

June, summer, sun, beautiful music and since I had the pleasure to spend eight hours in the office today, I need cheerful music now and that's what the Lassie Singers do. Founded 1988 in Berlin-Kreuzberg and parted again ten years later. With their mixture of creative brilliance and technical dilettance, the band musically fit into the tension between late NDW aftermath and the burgeoning indie self-confidence of the early Hamburger Schule. On the one hand, the lyrics celebrated an offensive naivety and playfulness, but often played with a mischievous and charming hostility towards men. Thanks to legendary song titles such as freedom from a man's mouth (Puke), The couple's lie or How a narrow-minded taxi driver has just destroyed a burgeoning young love (Cologne), the Lassie Singers were at times as "female response to die Ärzte". Core of the group were Christiane Rösinger (aka Christiane Hügelsheim) and Almut Klotz (aka Almut Schummel), the rest of the cast varied. The founding member Funny Van Dannen left the Lassie Singers before the first album, but continued to contribute songs for the band. With Kathrin von Witzleben, Herman Herman and Heiner Weiß the band was completed and the first concerts were played at the legendary Kreuzberg SO36. Pretty soon amn got to the major sony, so that in 1991 the debut album "The Lassie Singers Help You" varied. Commercially, it was not very successful, as well as the Moodier successors "Sei A Go Go" 1992. Three years later, Klotz and Rösinger returned with a completely new line-up, including former Ideal guitarist Eff Jott Krüger. With "City Land Crime" and the accompanying single "Schade" the band reached the pinnacle of their success and also convinced the critics. Although the Lassie Singers sounded as pop and professional as never before, but by no means renounce the snappy-grotesque lyrics. However, the cooperation with Krüger was not consistently harmonious, so that the work was completed quickly. Instead, they tried one last time as a "real band". In 1995, the band recorded the album "Hotel, Hotel" with Britta Neander from Ton Steine ​​Scherben on drums and bassist Dodo Herting. Klotz and Rösinger recorded their first guitar themselves and was produced by Thomas Meinecke in Hamburg.

After four albums, hundreds of concerts and a lot of spilled pop star blood, 1998 the Lassies are over. "Tours make you old, fat, ugly and sad", they say at some point and enter the last round with the "Time-To-Say-Tschüss" tour. Not without promising to make young musicians into pop stars with their label Flittchen Records - they can never become as big as the original Lassie Singers. In the same year, the two compilations "Best of ..." & "Rest of the Lassie Singers" appeared on the specially for Klotz and Rösinger founded Flutchen Records. Christiane & Britta founded the band Britta with Julie Miess, while Almut Klotz found short-lived projects like Parole Trixi or Maxi played under people and was active in the Popchor Berlin founded by her together with Reverend Chr. Dabeler under the name Klotz + Dabeler. Almut Klotz died in August 2013 of cancer, Britta Neander died at the age of 48 years after a heart surgery in Berlin.

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UNDERJORDISKA LYXORKESTERN - Lögnens Mästare 12'' 1982

Now to a band where I'm really undecided. On the one hand their music bores me a little, on the other hand I can't say they suck, do you know what I mean? There are passages that I really like and some that don't infect me and I'm open to good early sound that came out of my youth, and you can't know everything and there was a lot of crap as well (see NDW) but I'm really undecided on this combo. Kicks partly and becomes uninteresting at the same time. A damn conflicht. But I'm posting it now, because it's rare and not total scrap, decide for yourselfs. Some facts: Underjordiska Lyxorkestern (Underground Luxury Orchestra) were formed after TT Reuter and Garbochock were finished and was a Swedish band from Lund and consisted of Henrik (vocals/keys/horns), D.F. Mikael (guitars), Peter (bass/violin/vocals) Binke (drums) and this is their second release on Heartwork Records after the fucking rare Kärleksön 7'' (five testpressings made & remains unreleased, was 1983 as one-sided single released). The only album, Prairie Romanser, was released in 1982 via Silence, and that was it. After releasing their first record, they were the opening act for Siouxsie & The Banshees on their Scandinavian tour in Summer 1982. Peter left the group in 1982 and they continued for a short time as a trio before disbanding in the mid Eighties. Found on some comps, one of them the great Vägra Raggarna Benzin Vol.3 & 4 double record set on Massproduktion. Well, it would be interested what you think about it and write your opinion in the comments.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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EXTRABREIT - Welch Ein Land! - Was Für Männer: 1981

Well-known and also popular overseas are Hagen's Extrabreit and they returned 1981 to the studio to record their sophomore effort. At that time the band consisted of Kai (vocals), Stefan & Ulrich (guitars), Wolfgang (bass), Rolf (drums). In the early 1980s, 3D technology was slowly gaining momentum, resulting in films, posters and even some TV commercials. To experience the effect, paper glasses with red and green plastic lenses were distributed everywhere. An interesting gag for the time. Extrabreit had the idea of using the new technology for Welch Ein Land!... and designed a stereoscopic three-dimensional photo for the cover and as far as I know it's the only one of its kind, and the first edition came with anaglyph glasses and this is innovation I miss these days. Well, a nice review: "WEL-WFM is a more angry, politically quarrelsome album and to everyone's big surprise, first single "Polizisten" immediately turned into the band's first hit, only gaining strength when the Bavarian government banned the song for openly insulting the country's police force. Around the same time, German music journalists had discerned a new trend and dubbed it NDW. Bands like Ideal, Trio, and Spliff demonstrated a new national self-esteem, and Extrabreit, with their raucous, untamed attitude, fit right in. Over a year after its release, Extrabreit's debut album followed its successor into the charts and the single "Hurra, Hurra, die Schule Brennt" quickly climbed into the Top Ten. By 1982 both of the band's albums had established themselves in Germany's Top Five album chart and against all odds Extrabreit had turned into Germany's most successful band of the year." - Enough bla bla, listen and enjoy the weekend!

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DIE WESTDEUTSCHEN CHRISTEN - Laß Mich Nicht Allein 12'' 1980

A fairly unknown band traveled through the eighties were Die Westdeutschen Christen from Berlin. The band's name is a bit funny and I would be interested as the guys came to it and christian rock came somehow later, poser noises... rather, very good NDW sound in the vein of Grauzone or ExKurs, thus quite similar to New Wave and catchy and simple without being superficial. All the four songs on the record are nice and danceable. They released their full length s/t album in 1982. So this sound of this 12'' is absolute characteristic for the early 80's in Germany and was released via Epilepdisc. All in all, no failures, a fine record and anyone who likes minimalistic sounds is right here anyway.

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ZERO ZERO - s/t LP 1981

Friends, yesterday was a real football thriller and the three points at the end are well deserved. As a small consolation we are visiting the Bavarian capital today and meet an interesting band which were active in the early 80s and Zero Zero released two albums and three singles, they consited of Gerald (vocals, guitar, synth), Jens (vocals, bass, synth), Peter (drums) and as guest Mike (sax) and my first contact with three piece Zero Zero came through the very good Reifenwechsel Leicht Gemacht compilation on Lächerlich! Schallplatten. Their debut (released via Null Null Records) contains thirteen catchy differentiated nervous goodies which are audible throughout and I really enjoy it. With the second album (Herzklopfen) they became more success-oriented and the 7Inch "Irrenanstalt" from that was a small hit and used on numerous mainstream NDW samplers. I hope, my Weißwurst friends are happy with that and now enjoy the warm sunny February Sunday.

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GROBER UNFUG - Kleine Schweinereien EP 1981

"Undistorted guitar, melodic bass, intelligent lyrics, for the Hamburg punk scene really an amazing project. Listen!" So a description I found and what we talkin' about is the debut record on Konnekschen records by this fantastic HH-combo. Three fine '77 punk goodies with slightly perverse funny lyrics, the band name says it all. The first, the title track, is a nice melodic tune with a decent tempo. Track two surprised with a deep synthie backtone, sounds a bit NDW style but with the fat bass-line and the damn good lyrics are but miles away. The last one is a nugget, a stomper which seeks its equal, "Titten Titten Titten", a perfect refrain, haha... a year later they released their only album 'Beat Und Glück' and then they disappeared. Great German KBD Punk!

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IHMESPATZEN - Haste Musi, Haste Töne 1982

Last record for today with rare material from Lower Saxony with the Ihmespatzen from Hanover and they played a healthy mix of New Wave/Punk and were never an NDW band. Their first sign of life was this mini album on Spargel Schallplatten (500 copies) with eight catchy numbers. In the same year they released a live tape, which was recorded on 4th August 1982 in the Raschplace Pavillion/Hanover, as Die Ihmespatzen Verspilen Sich in a limited edition. In 1982 followed the second album "Zu Gast Bei" on No Fun Records, of which 2000 copies were pressed. The Ihmespatzen were: Enno (vocals), Ralph (guitars), Detlef (bass), Wolfgang (keyboards), Immo (drums) and found on two tapes and a vinyl, Zu Gast Bei No Fun, compilation.

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BERNWARD BÜKER BANDE - Körperkontakt 7'' 1981

The Bernward Büker Bande was founded in the Ruhr area in 1979 by five extremists in terms of character and music in the following line-up: Bernward (vocals), Volkmar (guitars), Dieter (bass), Michael (piano), Rainer (drums) and in 1981 were six songs recorded for the mini-album Herzlichen Glückwunsch Zur Psychose and this 7inch was released (Welt-Rekord/EMI) as an appetizer before. Two amazingly good pieces somewhere between Rock & Roll, Punk and PowerPop, with the title track being a real bombshell. Fast and solid tempo with expressive lyrics, fits every punk compilation. The Flip is a little 'quieter' but not inferior. A reviewer wrote at the time: "These recordings show that German rock music can do without intellectual experiments with a Teutonic touch." A second album followed, but BBB unfortunately received little attention and went under in the course of the so-called NDW.

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