In the grey corner we have the props' superior Anglo-German synthpop with expressionist flavourings. Dr Mabuse, P-Machinery and Duel/Jewel still sound massive. Love those pretentious quotes ("texts") on the sleeve. Poppy subversives.
Lush Trevor Horn productions distinguished them both. I'd choose propaganda because A Secret Wish still sounds fantastic today, while Frankie has dated.
― dr x o'skeleton, Tuesday, 7 March 2006 10:13 (eighteen years ago) link
as much as i love the excess of Frankie's golden period, nothing they made comes close to the full versions of Dr Mabuse.
the Propaganda comp that ZTT released a couple of years ago proves that their drama pop is still very very much worthy of my love.
― mark e (mark e), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 11:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― danny invincible (michael w.), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 11:27 (eighteen years ago) link
― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 12:04 (eighteen years ago) link
Another vote for the Props.
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 12:17 (eighteen years ago) link
― retrokid, Tuesday, 7 March 2006 12:19 (eighteen years ago) link
FGTH for pure schooldays nostalgia but the Props for sheer... For sheer.
― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 12:33 (eighteen years ago) link
― And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine (Bimble...), Tuesday, 7 March 2006 23:22 (eighteen years ago) link
Propaganda, without a doubt.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Sunday, 1 March 2015 19:58 (nine years ago) link
am I crazy or was there a version of the 'Duel' video that featured comic book style captions popping up on screen throughout? I'm sure this used to be on youtube, for the last few years there only seems to be a caption-free version
― soref, Sunday, 1 March 2015 20:22 (nine years ago) link
Agreed. I just picked up the 25th anniversary 2cd edition of "A Secret Wish" which has all sorts of different versions, great stuff.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 1 March 2015 20:23 (nine years ago) link
The first side of A Secret Wish is incredible, especially 'Dream Within A Dream' and 'Jewel/Duel'... the second half isn't too shabby either, but side A... fuck!
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Sunday, 1 March 2015 20:32 (nine years ago) link
pretty sure the DVD that came with the special edition of the outside world comp from a few years ago has that video on it.
― mark e, Sunday, 1 March 2015 22:06 (nine years ago) link
Frankie's 1-2-3 punch of singles is unbeatable
― tayto fan (Michael B), Sunday, 1 March 2015 22:12 (nine years ago) link
i remember the duel video with the captions.
― sleepingsignal, Sunday, 1 March 2015 22:45 (nine years ago) link
TS: Mandy Smith's cover of 'Duel' vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor's cover of 'Duel' vs 'How Did I End Up With U' by Dolly Rockers
― soref, Sunday, 1 March 2015 22:57 (nine years ago) link
Frankie's 1-2-3 punch of singles is unbeatable― tayto fan (Michael B), Sunday, March 1, 2015 10:12 PM (55 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― tayto fan (Michael B), Sunday, March 1, 2015 10:12 PM (55 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Frankie's singles were better, but Propaganda beat Frankie on the album. Welcome To The Pleasuredome is absolutely riddled with filler.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Sunday, 1 March 2015 23:10 (nine years ago) link
Oh my god, I never heard those covers before. Mandy Smith's just sucks the life out of it whereas Sophie's is rather respectful (and I like her voice).
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 2 March 2015 04:34 (nine years ago) link