Sowas Von Egal Volume 3 German Synth Wave Underground 1981 / 1986

Description

With Sowas von Egal 3, the Hamburg DJ collective Damaged Goods continues its series of compilations on Bureau B, once again focusing on the underground scenes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from the early 1980s. The selected tracks come from a period when, alongside the Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW), a number of innovative, often more abrasive bands and artists were active on the fringes of the mainstream. They blended new wave, synthwave, post-punk, and avant-garde influences, with lyrics in German – and sometimes in other languages – and released their music in very small runs on independent labels or as self-productions. As a result, many of these records are now rare and highly sought after. These tracks emerged in a cultural context strongly shaped by the rupture brought about by punk. The rejection of the overproduced, pompous rock of the 1970s paved the way for radically minimalist and experimental approaches. This was followed by various musical forms, whether described as post-punk, avant-garde, synth-pop, new wave, or power pop. At the same time, the tracks reflect a social climate oscillating between uncertainty, protest culture, and heightened nihilism, fueled by fears of militarization, environmental destruction, and global conflict. These tensions gave rise to an aesthetic of cold and dark sounds, minimalist and angular arrangements, and a strong DIY ethic. Five years after the second installment, the search for hard-to-find artists and rights holders resumed for Sowas von Egal 3. Thanks to the cohesion and support network of the scene, it was once again possible to put together a carefully curated selection made with passion.