This is the first full CD issue of the Soundtrack to the 1984 film Decoder, that is a legendary dystopian sci-fi vision of the future, directed by (Klaus Maeck) Muscha in Berlin and Hamburg where William S Burroughs Electronic Revolution is brought to life on celluloid. With the soundtrack being recorded and produced by Throbbing Gristle legend Genesis P. Orridge in collaboration with Soft Cell legend Dave Ball along with contributions from The The, William S. Burroughs, Christiane Felscherinow, FM Einheit, Einsturzende Neubaten, Jon Caffery and Alexander Von Borsig the soundtrack was recorded in London and Dusseldorf.
The soundtrack opens with Muzak For Frogs by Genesis P. Orridge and Dave Ball that has dark foreboding beats with squelchy noises and some gently infectious keyboard swirls.
Three Orange Kisses From Kazan by The The is at the more outre end of Matt Johnsons musical spectrum, this odd, unsettling song, with vocals that sound like they have been sped up and pitch shifted at will, has an odd middle eastern flavour to it.
Dream by Genesis P. Orridge and Dave Ball features Christiane F and Burroughs, Christiane F intones a witches spell, while Burroughs recites from Break Through In The Grey Room in his normal deadpan manner, ambient electronics engulf him.
Main Theme (Showdown) allows Genesis P. Orridge and Dave Ball to grind at our brains, long tonal noises are almost buried beneath the weird noises, like listening to a firework display from behind a thick wall, its muffled and disarming.
Sex & The Married Frog sounds very familiar with all sorts of sexy grunts and groans from Christiane F. over the sexy or unsexy backing created by Genesis and Dave, the piano lines and organ on this are encased in echoes and dark mutterings.
Seedy Films by Soft Cell features Marc Almonds crystal clear vocals, adding to the tawdry nature of this classic, the woodwind adds an odd dark jazzy edge to things with his conversation with his backing vocalist.
Riots by FM Einheit sounds like the bricks and bottles are being thrown and hitting the riot shields, while sounding like Wiseblood or Test Department, this sounds like an industrial dance classic.
Information features a narration by Genesis P. Orridge telling us to destroy the bands and everyone else. Muzak Decoding/Dream Machine/Pirates by FM Einheit Jon Caffrey and Alexander Borsig takes us through several moods and weird interludes, discombobulating the senses while priming the Dream Machines to make sure you see the vision they want, rather than the one your brain would usually show you, while you slowly march towards your destiny.
Compressed Metal by Einsturzende Neubaten sounds like the pounding of sheet metal into some new die cast form, full on industrial cacophony with distressing neo siren sounds. The soundtrack closes with Main Theme Finale by Genesis P. Orridge & Dave Ball with solo horn blasts gently weaving over the undertow of slow building sonic interference, with tribal drumming for the credits to roll over.
Find out more at https://coldspring.co.uk/csr356cd https://coldspring.bandcamp.com/album/decoder-csr356cd
