Erasure4Rum

Timing; xPropaganda’s vinyl collection Strangely materialises on April 22nd, a celebration in record form of Record Store Day UK 2023. Strangely is a special assortment of remixes, edits, asides, moods and moments connected to xPropaganda’s album The Heart is Strange.

Some are completely new, some are new to vinyl, and collaborators include Martyn Ware and Beate Bartel. For record lovers everywhere!

Find your nearest participating store here: https://recordstoreday.co.uk/shop-locator/

RSD release is on an Apple & Spotify

After the incredible chart success last year of xPropaganda's 'The Heart Is Strange', and its accompanying Record Store Day release of rarities, UMR / ZTT are celebrating 40 years since Propaganda’s landmark 1984 single ‘Dr. Mabuse’.

To mark the occasion comes this coloured vinyl Record Store Day mini-album, created around the rarities in the ZTT vaults. Gathering together tracks that are rare or previously unreleased on vinyl, this 8-track wonder showcases a plethora of different interpretations of one of the mid-80s landmark electronic pop songs.

Highlights include: ‘The Last Word’, previously only on CD versions of ‘A Secret Wish’; the 10-minute DJ Promo version ’Das Testament des Dr, Mabuse’, also never released on vinyl; the heavily industrial ‘Im Stahlnetz Des Mabuse’ and the limited 1984 12” version of Das Testament Des Dr Mabuse (13th Life Mix)’.

Photography by Claire Muller, shot at the video interpretation of Propaganda’s The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse, directed by Anton Corbijn. Starring special guest: Vladek Sheybal and with an interesting appearance from Fad Gadget.

Die 1000 Augen Des Dr. Mabuse is the first of two volumes from The Afterlife of Dr. Mabuse. ZAFT1. “The young should make their preparations”

Universal & ZTT Records celebrates the 40th anniversary of Propaganda's ‘p:Machinery’, which is currently enjoying a renaissance as the theme for the Renault Symbioz TV ad campaign.

This limited edition 12" clear vinyl has nine tracks in total, three of which are previously unreleased on vinyl, and four of which are previously unreleased pieces from the ‘Disturbdances’ series first heard on Propaganda’s sell-out box set for Record Store Day 2019.

Originally released in 1985, ‘p:Machinery’ also features David Sylvian, Simple Minds' Derek Forbes, Magazine's John McGeoch and Berlin electronic luminary Moritz von Oswald. Production comes from Stephen Lipson and, for the previously unreleased material, Paul Morley. The package has been put together by renowned ZTT archivist Ian Peel, designed by Philip Marshall and features unseen photos from Claudia Brücken's archives.

The‘αlpha’ and‘βeta’ mixes of ‘p:Machinery’ are presented together-for the first time ever-and, also for the first time, they’re backed with the‘αlpha’ and ‘βeta’versions of the track’s original B-side, ‘Frozen Faces’. There were always two duelling sides to Propaganda:‘A Secret Wish ’vs. ‘Wishful Thinking’, ‘Dr Mabuse’in the dark vs. the daylight, ‘Duel’vs.‘Jewel’... This release completes that two-sided story. This is the αlpha incarnation of Propaganda at its very βest.

Propaganda / A Secret Sense of Rhythm, A Secret Sense of Sin 6CD box set






German synth-pop Propaganda band formed in Düsseldorf in 1982. They signed with ZTT Records in 1983 and released their first single "Dr Mabuse" in 1984. This was followed by their debut studio album A Secret Wish, two of the album's singles, "Dr. Mabuse" and "Duel", were UK Top 30 hits.

A Secret Wish which was written by Mertens and Dörper it received considerable critical acclaim reaching number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was followed by the single, "p:Machinery which became a hit in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland

The group spent the rest of the year on their "Outside World" tour, taking in Europe and America. A remix album, Wishful Thinking, was released in November 1985. Originally intended for the American club market, the album was also released in Europe.

This box set compiled and curated by ZTT expert Ian Peel brings together the album as well a selection of rare tracks and mixes, including a disc of 'Singlettes' (cassette singles) and some live material. Housed in a compact sturdy CD box, the booklet contains a note by Ian on the history of the band and the impact the album has had over the years.

A Secret Sense of Rhythm, A Secret Sense of Sin will be released on 14 November 2024, via UMR.

CD 1 Secret – An encyclopaedic edition of the debut Propaganda album, A Secret Wish. All the tracks from both the original 1985 Analogue Sequence and the later Digital Variation. All remastered for its 40th anniversary at Abbey Road Studios.

CD 2 Stahlnetz – An extended edition of the remix album Wishful Thinking. If A Secret Wish was ‘ABBA in heaven’, then Stahlnetz is ‘ABBA in hell’, its darker dance-floor counterpart, created ‘for the footsteps and heartbeats of the connoisseur’.

CD 3 Singlette – Propaganda’s three specially-edited EPs – originally released only on cassette – all with unique versions, mixes and sequences: Do Well, Complete Machinery and the initial intended sequence for (The Nine Lives of) Dr. Mabuse.

CD 4 Series – Propaganda’s contributions to Zang Tuum Tumb’s Action, Incidental and Fatal series. Featuring some of the biggest, boldest 12″ remixes in the history of electronic pop, connected by the Testament series of interludes and edits.

CD 5 Studio – A behind-the-scenes listen into Propaganda at work in Sarm Studios across 1984 and 1985. The construction of the album, including the singles and remixes, is a raw, illuminating work-in-progress juxtaposed with beautiful alternate takes.

CD 6 (Some Kind Of) Single – The final Propaganda single of the Zang Tuum Tumb era: a previously unreleased version of ‘Dr. Mabuse’ from John Hughes’ 1987 film Some Kind of Wonderful, alongside mixes created especially for TV and video.

CD 1: SECRET

- A Secret Wish (Propaganda's Analogue Sequence)

Dream Within a Dream
The Murder of Love
Jewel
Duel
p:Machinery
Sorry For Laughing
Dr. Mabuse (First life)
The Chase
The Last Word (Strength to Dream)

– A Secret Wish (Stepen Lipson's Digital Variation)

Dream Within a Dream
Jewel
Duel
Frozen Faces
p:Machinery
Dr Mabuse

CD 2: STAHLNETZ

Disturbdance One
Abuse - Here
Machined
p:Machinery - The βeta Wraparound...
Laughed
Sorry For Laughing - Alvin Clarke 12" Mix
Loving
Jewelled
Loved
Abuse - There
Im Stahlnetz Des Mabuse
Thought
Frozen faces - The Echo of...
Machined - Nowhere

CD 3: SINGLETTE

- (The Nine Lives of) Dr. Mabuse

Dr. Mabuse - A Paranoid Fantasy
Dr. Mabuse Der Spieler - An International Incident
Das Testaments Des Mabuse
Femme Fatale - The Woman with The Orchid
Dr. Mabuse - The Ninth Life of...

- Do Well

The First Cut
Duel
Jewel - Cut Rough
Wonder
Bejewelled

- Complete Machinery

Introduction
p:Machinery - Connected
Separation
Frozen Faces - βeta

CD 4: SERIES

Die Tausend Augen Des Mabuse
Testament One
Duel - Bitter-sweet
Testament Two
p:Machinery - Polish
Testament Three
Frozen Faces - αlpha
Testament Four
Sorry For Laughing - Unapologetic
Testament Five
The Murder of Love - Murderous Instrumental
Testament Six
p:Machinery - βeta
Testament Seven
Dr Mabuse - Special Instrumental Mix
Testament Eight

CD 5: STUDIO

Dream Within a Dream (Within A Dream)
P:Machinery - αlpha
Dr Mabuse (An International Conclusion) - Outtake 24.04.85
(The First Life of…) Strength to Dream - Outtake 04.02.84
Dream Within a Dream - Noise and Girls Come Out to Play
Frozen Faces - A Secret Sense of Rhythm
Frozen Faces - A Secret Sense of Sin
p:Machinery - Goodnight 32
The Chase - The Goodnight, Mix
Femme Fatale - The Orchid
Jewel - Rough Cut
Lied
The Lesson
p:Machinery - Passive
p:Machinery - The Voiceless βeta Wraparound Edit

CD 6: STAGE

Disturbdance Six
Dr Mabuse - Some Kind of Wonderful
Disturbdance Five
Duel - Top of the Pops Mix
Disturbdance Thirty-three - Parts one and two
Dr Mabuse - Anton Corbijn Video Mix
Disturbdance Seven
p:Machinery - Zbigniew Rybczyński Video Mix
Disturbdance Fourteen

Propaganda’s classic 1985 debut album A Secret Wish is being reissued as an SDE exclusive blu-ray audio and features brand new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and Stereo mixes by David Kosten.

A CD box set called A Secret Sense of Rhythm, A Secret Sense of Sin will also be available. This expands the album offers rare remixes and live tracks across six discs. Finally a vinyl LP edition featuring David Kosten’s new stereo mix, will also be available.

Formed in Düsseldorf in 1982, Propaganda signed with ZTT Records in 1983 and released their first single ‘Dr Mabuse’ in 1984. The album was written by Mertens and Dörper and received considerable critical acclaim when released in early July 1985 and peaked at #16 on the UK Albums Chart.

Other singles from A Secret Wish include ‘Duel‘, which reached #21 in the UK singles chart and ‘p:Machinery‘ which was issued a month after the album’s original release.

The album was rebuilt for Dolby Atmos from the multi-track tapes by David Kosten who says “I bought A Secret Wish on the day it was released in 1985 – I still remember playing the vinyl and having a wonderful kind of out-of-body experience on hearing Jewel for the first time. This was music to be immersed in and inspired by, with vast creative ambition and endless sonic bravery”.

This new blu-ray features the Dolby Atmos Mix, as well as his 5.1 mix and stereo versions. All Kosten’s 2025 mixes are based on the original vinyl version of the album (as opposed to the later CD edition).

Additionally, full instrumental versions of the album are available in Atmos, 5.1 and Stereo and there’s also headphones-only binaural versions available as vocal and instrumental versions.

Finally, the original 1985 stereo mixes of A Secret Wish are included on this disc in vinyl and CD variants

Propaganda / A Secret Wish SDE exclusive blu-ray



Audio stream summary:

A Secret Wish 2025 Atmos Mix
A Secret Wish 2025 5.1 Mix (96/24)
A Secret Wish 2025 Stereo Mix (96/24)
A Secret Wish 2025 Binaural Mix [headphones-only]
A Secret Wish 2025 Atmos Instrumental Mix (48/24)
A Secret Wish 2025 5.1 Instrumental Mix (96/24)
A Secret Wish 2025 Stereo Mix Instrumental Mix (96/24)
A Secret Wish 2025 Binaural Instrumental Mix [headphones-only]
A Secret Wish 1985 Stereo Mix – Vinyl Version (96/24)
A Secret Wish 1985 Stereo Mix – CD Version (48/24)
A Secret Wish is #51 in the SDE Surround Series. It will be packaged similarly to previous editions and ships with a free, collectible SDE Surround Series slipcase.

A Secret Sense of Rhythm, A Secret Sense of Sin – 6CD box
The 6CD box set was compiled and curated by ZTT expert Ian Peel and brings together the album as well a selection of rare tracks and mixes, including a disc of ‘Singlettes’ (cassette singles) and some live material. Housed in a compact sturdy CD box, the booklet contains a note by Ian on the history of the band and the impact the album has had over the years.