ABWÄRTS- s/t 7″EP (Zickzack, Germany, 1980)
I’ve been doing a lot of reading about ‘68 and terrorism in Germany in the 1970s lately. It’s not a new theme to me: When I was ten years old, one of the games we played in the backyards of the shit place where I grew up, was called “hijacking”. A couple of children sat on a see-saw which was an aeroplane. A couple of others played the hijackers. They had to control the ones on the see-saw, holding waterpistols. Others were the heroes and had the bigger guns: they impersonated the german special unit «GSG 9» which had to attack the hijackers and free the passengers. The hijacking of the «Landshut» full of passengers was the model for this play. The passengers were kidnapped in 1977 and after endless days freed by the «GSG 9». We kids idolated them with their arms and helmets. Of course, our idolatry was a projection of the intense media coverage of the events. When I was older, my views changed and the terrorists became the good guys (they tried to force the release of the inmates of the notorious «Stammheim» jail, where the core and first generation of the «RAF», the «Red Army Fraction», was being hold), the cops the bad guys.
A few years ago, when my flirt with left radicalism (and the endless lookout for “heroes” whatsoever) was over, I learned that the terrorists (four of the five were shot during the storming of the plane) had poured alcoholic beverages over the terrified passengers so they’d burn better when the bombs would detonate. One journalist recently suggested that this event was the birth of a new form of terrorism, a new scale of violence (pouring alcohol over helpless people so they’d burn better), which culminated in the mass murderers of September 11th.
Back to the books: One of them was Gerd Koenens much acclaimed «Das rote Jahrzehnt» («The red decade»; I don’t know if it’s been translated already). It’s a phantastic read! The author describes the years between ‘68 and ‘78 as one bizarre narcisstic trip of thousands, decorated with ideology and violence. Hamburgs ABWÄRTS (“Downwards”) were obviously influenced by the “red 70s”. Paranoia, cultural pessimism and obscurantism seem to blend in into one claustrophobic hell on this EP. Too bad I don’t have the lyrics to “Computer-Staat” translated. [Check the comments for a translation!] “Paranoia you can dance to” was the title of a compilation LP once and it could be the motto here. Never has Punk-alarmism sounded so good! But the fave of mine here on would be “Japan”. What a song! Also, Brecht/Weill’s “Moon over Alabama” is highly noticeable.
For the german speaking folks, ABWÄRTS will hardly be a novelty. If you’ve not been familiar with them, I would suggest you keep your eyes open for a discography. I think I’ve seen one (a double CD) somewhen plus some ABWÄRTS has been posted on blogs recently. This here is the bands first vinyl release, but everything that followed is great too.
Computer-Staat.mp3
Japan.mp3
Moon over Alabama.mp3
Wir warten.mp3
Nach Haus.mp3
sleeper wrote:
creepy fuckin krauts! weird but quite good.
dude you should seriously write book one day.
Posted on 09-Oct-07 at 12:04 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
I am, I am!
Fanxx
Posted on 09-Oct-07 at 12:08 pm | Permalink
bobo wrote:
Computer State
Monday it’s knocking on your door
Arafat stands right before you
Tuesday it is test alarm
Paranoia in the tram
Wednesday the war is very cold
Breshnev’s lurking in the swimming baths
Thursday you already know it
1000 secret agents in the sewers
Friday belongs to the mafia
The radio gets started from florida
Saturday night, mental asylum
The KGB in the german forest
Sunday everything is dead
Because the world war is menacing from near Mallorca
Stalingrad, Stalingrad, germany desaster state
We live in the computer state
Posted on 09-Oct-07 at 1:41 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Marvellous, Bobo! Thanks much!!
Posted on 09-Oct-07 at 1:52 pm | Permalink
adamski wrote:
Hey, Erich! Some great writing as usual. I love it when blogs put some thought & context behind their posts.
And I’d agree about the left radicalism bit. Some of the crap I used to come out with to people makes me cringe now, but that’s youth & naivete for you! I still hold my basic beliefs, but I think I am more realistic now that I’m in my late 30’s & have a job, rent/bills to pay.
Keep up the great work. I look forward to continuing reading your writing for years to come.
Posted on 10-Oct-07 at 9:49 am | Permalink
Pogel wrote:
Wow you sure played strange games as a kid. Love the musak.
Posted on 10-Oct-07 at 3:24 pm | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
Hi, how’s the exams going? Funny, I think you had this thingy posted before (3 tracks) but was the text the same? Ill check later. I’m an Abwärts fan since the 1st time I heard them. It’s a shame that there’s no discography available (methinks). I guess the double CD you’re mentioning is “Breaking news – 40 Hits von Anfang bis heute” but it doesn’t have but 5 songs from their Amok-Koma album (their masterpiece, isn’t it?).
In this blog:
http://not-rock-on.blogspot.com/
the “Roboter in der Nacht” 45 can be found, as well as a 1988 EP and a live 1982 gig (not very good sounding). The Abwärts site has some downloadable files too.
Yes, Frank Z continued with that terror theme, check their 2004’s “Terror beat”.
Maschinenland, wann bist du denn wohl abgebrannt…
Posted on 10-Oct-07 at 9:14 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Yep, Fernando – you are right. I’ve posted this before, but funny, when I checked it couple days ago, I couldn’t find it anymore.
4 more days and the exams are over. It’s been getting a fucking drag, I tell you.
Posted on 10-Oct-07 at 10:54 pm | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
I love Abwarts, shame I never heard them when I was younger then I would have liked them even more. Alas, better late than never. Well, how about adding a little sneaky link to http:www.punksishippies.com on the site now Erich? Huh?
Posted on 12-Oct-07 at 10:06 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Luvely, Slobo – link added. Do you have me old fanzine Megawimp? Might be something for your nifty Zine Blog!
Posted on 13-Oct-07 at 1:25 am | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
Cheers! No, I don’t. In fact, that was supposed to be my second request!
Posted on 13-Oct-07 at 5:28 pm | Permalink
Jörg wrote:
Thanks for mentioning my blog!
Posted on 16-Oct-07 at 2:33 pm | Permalink
anon. wrote:
Whatever. You stole this from over here:
http://bluetvset.blogspot.com/2007/07/abwrts-computerstat-7-1980.html
Posted on 18-Oct-07 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Anon: I’ve probably bought this 7″ when you were still in your diapers.
Posted on 19-Oct-07 at 12:26 am | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
Hey, Martin from Brotbeutel has posted interesting rare Abwärts stuff and links, check here
http://brotbeutel.blogspot.com/2008/02/der-westen-ist-einsam.html#c8781645876792598983
Bussi
Posted on 25-Feb-08 at 6:51 pm | Permalink