The United States Of America – S.T.
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Can bassist Holger Czukay aims for the charts with this simple, but addictive single from his 1984 avant-pop album Der Osten Ist Rot (The East is Red). Much like the accompanying music video, “The Photo Song” is madcap, mindless fun featuring whistling and a 4/4 drum beat that even a toddler can play along to. Holger’s vocals are wonderfully charming though and there’s a sincerity to when he sings “I don’t know, I’m smiling,” despite the track’s obvious playfulness. Side B takes a much more serious and dark turn with “Biomutanten,” a collaboration with legendary producer Conny Plank. Featuring cavernous echo, demon vocal processing, and mad scientist horror fx, the track is the perfect yang to the A-side’s yin. Play it loud and in the dark!
Recommended – Full Listen
A The Photo Song
B Biomutanten
Producer – Holger Czukay