Doing things differently is a ubiquitous idea in the West German music scene of the 1980s. Starting from scratch and owing to a straightforwardness rooted in punk, new things and personalities are constantly being invented everywhere, leading to an infrastructure of magazines, record labels, and venues.
The corresponding adventurous lifestyle, its irony, artistic concepts and some golden German humour are captured in this 53-minute mix featuring works by Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle, Ingrid Wiener & Chor, Martin Kippenberger, Santrra and others.
Featured cover art: Die Tödliche Doris – ” “
Playlist
Die Tödliche Doris – Fliegt schnell laut summend
Ingenious Dilletantes from West-Berlin, focussing on performance art and music. (1982, Zickzack)
Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle – Move Ahead
Avantgarde band from Munich who, for aesthetic reasons, refused to have a drummer for the first ten years. (1983, Zickzack)
Der Plan – Kennen Sie Köln?
The Düsseldorf-based electronic music group was among the first to release music on their own label. (1987, Ata Tak)
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft – Goldenes Spielzeug
Minimalist superstars from Düsseldorf, inspired by life in London. (1981, Virgin)
Sternhagel – King Kong
The only original song on Xao Seffcheque’s parody concept album Sehr gut kommt sehr gut. (1981, Schallmauer)
Conrad Schnitzler – Das Tier
The Joseph Beuys student and living sound cloud was a defining figure of the West-Berlin music scene of the Seventies. (1981, Sky Records)
Holger Hiller – Herzmuskel
Early work, created during studies at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts. (1980, Warning Records)
Santrra – Dao Dao
Singer-songwriter solo project with accordion by the later Zen nun from West-Berlin. (1985, Rebel Rec.)
Sentimentale Jugend & Einstürzende Neubauten – Wollt ihr die Totale Befriedigung
first collaboration between 16-year-old Alexander Hacke and his later band Einstürzende Neubauten. (1980, Zensor)
Die Dominas – Die Wespendomina
Singer Rosi Müller and fashion designer Claudia Skoda play with Manuel Göttsching in his studio in West-Berlin. (1981, Fabrikneu)
Die Zimmermänner – Ich werde in der Sonne immer dicker
A new wave project from Hamburg that started in school. (1981, Zickzack)
Säurekeller – Hiroshima
Protest song in the Hamburg style. (1985, Ulan Bator)
Max Müller – Sie ist aus Holland
The A-side of this 7-inch single was a hit in the West-Berlin artists’ bar Kumpelnest 3000. (1989, Die Tödliche Doris Schallplatten)
Martin Kippenberger – Yuppi Du
Dadaist humor meets Italo-pop in West-Berlin. (1984, Zickzack)
Andreas Dorau – Der lachende Papst
Yet another record by a teenager. (1981, Zickzack)
Ingrid Wiener & Chor – Vermutlich
A choir of famous artists from West-Berlin reflects on life. (1985, Exil Schallplatte)
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