V.A. - Sowas von egal 2 (German Synth Wave Underground 1981-84) (LP)

Hello again! Two years have passed since we proudly released our first “Sowas von egal” compilation. We had a lot of fun putting it together and the feedback we received was so positive that we soon decided to follow up with a second instalment. With the musical movement or genre known as NDW celebrating its 40th anniversary, what better time than now to launch an ambitious successor to the first sampler! The beating heart of this endeavour is once again invigorated by the synchronous passions of bespoke Hamburg label Bureau B and our Damaged Goods nights where we present rare, obscure synth & wave discs from the early 1980s which absolutely deserve to heard. It was clear from the outset that “Sowas von egal 2” would need to scale similar heights of excellence as its predecessor, featuring carefully selected, sought-after, danceable tunes. We began by compiling a pool of potential tracks, a creative process of lively discussion in the spirit of “open-mindedness” which culminated in a list of priority targets. The research and detective work which followed was characterized by rich encounters with musicians, friends and acquaintances who displayed a deeply touching willingness to help us, enthusiastically offering advice, ideas and valuable contacts. We had to revise our target list several times over – some artists simply could not be found, a few had actually passed away. There were also some who were determined not to revisit their own musical history and asked us to leave out their songs. Some tracks we have included are so rare that they do not even appear on Youtube. We are delighted to have picked up the rights to release them. It’s fair to say that “Sowas von egal 2” includes more staple tracks from our party sets than part 1. In contrast to the first volume, most of the acts here were only active in the early 1980s and have not released any records since then. The tape artists were particularly invested in the DIY ethic – as is often apparent in their sound aesthetics and the unbridled energy which has lost none of its intensity today. Their art was seldom – if ever – tempered by commercial considerations or sales strategies. We returned to Biljana Tomic for the artwork. The photograph on the cover beautifully captures the paradoxical tensions which pervaded the atmosphere of the early Eighties: new beginnings, renewal, protest and self-empowerment on one side, frustration, hedonism, future anxiety and destructive rage on the other. The DIY spirit ingrained in the music and attitude of the bands and artists gathered here is also brought into focus, whilst simultaneously establishing a connection to our home town. We see the last ruins and rubble of the City Hof in the centre of Hamburg, a Brutalist-style complex which was the subject of heated debates before it was finally demolished this year. A special thank you goes to Franck Herges of “Was Soll Das? Schallplatten” who supported us with contacts and material, as did Jörg Steinmeyer from the Kernkrach label, to whom we are also grateful. Last but not least, a mention for Tom Morgenstern who again (literally and figuratively) mastered the seemingly impossible task of crafting a homogenous record from so many diverse and disparate sources. May we offer our heartfelt thanks! A year in the making: “Sowas von egal 2” is a worthy successor to part 1! We hope you enjoy listening. Your Damaged Goods DJ team, April 2020