On The Heart Is Strange, Susanne Freytag and Claudia Brücken are reunited as Propaganda's original lineup (this time as xPropaganda), 37 years after the album
A Secret Wish3 (1985) was released. On this album, the Düsseldorf-based duo, formed in 1982, also once again join forces with producer Stephen Lipson, who also (along with the
Trevor Horn now present as an advisor) produced their old work.
The Heart Is Strange can be seen as a direct follow-up to A Secret Wish and thus deliciously revives the 80s with irresistible German synthpop and electronica. From the exciting opening track, the synths undulate over the sensual vocals of Freytag and Brücken. The sound is dark and almost dystopian, while the revival of the 80's also evokes a nostalgic feeling. The nearly ten-minute closing track is a masterclass in tension building and gently thumps along with industrial beats. The Heart Is Strange is a comeback that many artists can only dream of. (JvQ)more
