Propaganda – A Secret Wish (1985) [Reissue 2003]
Propaganda are a German synthpop group, formed in 1982. They were one of the initial roster of acts signed to Trevor Horn’s ZTT label, between 1984 and 1986, during which they released the critically acclaimed album A Secret Wish.
A Secret Wish has been reissued a number of times through the years – including as a deluxe 20th anniversary edition and as a multi-channel SACD.
With guests including David Sylvian, Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, and Steve Howe, A Secret Wish is synth-rock with an eye toward orchestrated pop as well as a bit of sampler experimentation in the grand ZTT tradition of Art of Noise. There’s a distinct lack of songwriting on the album, and though the synth-grooves are tight enough to keep it flowing for most of its length, A Secret Wish occasionally falls flat from its own weight.
Read more