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Decoder

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Released on standalone CD for the first time in 33 years, this now-complete edition of the ground-breaking cult soundtrack is finally here.

A cult classic of sci-fi dystopia, "Decoder" (1984) saw Einstürzende Neubauten's members working alongside Genesis P-orridge (Throbbing Gristle / Psychic Tv) and William S. Burroughs. It's one of the strangest (and most prescient) films of the decade. The film was made in Hamburg and Berlin, and directed by Klaus Maeck 'Muscha' (who directed several punk films). 

The lead roles are played by Christiane F and FM Einheit from Neubauten, who also contributed to the film's score. Genesis P-Orridge, the kingpin of the English industrial scene, also appears as a priest of the Black Noise faith. Author William S. Burroughs portrays an insurrectionist salesman of audio equipment (and contributes spoken word to the soundtrack), and American cult actor Bill Rice plays a detective.

Soft Cell contributed their classic 'Seedy Films', while Matt Johnson from The The wrote a frenetic, deformed song for the film that is both fantastic and painful to listen to, and z's 'Compressed Metal' is sublime. Dave Ball (Sof tCell), Jon Caffery and Genesis P-Orridge composed the rest of the soundtrack. A futuristic film, and a joyous application of William S. Burroughs' "The Electronic Revolution", which proposes a seditious and rather poetic method of subverting the masses and inciting them to rise up against the forces of order.

Details
Cat. number: CSR356CD
Year: 2025

Release notes

CD in matt-laminate digipak, with 10-page foldout booklet. muzak is more than music "Released on standalone CD for the first time in 33 years, this now-complete edition of the ground-breaking cult soundtrack is finally here." © Cold Spring 2025 Licensed from Interzone Pictures.

Tracklist
1Muzak For Frogs3:24
2Three Orange Kisses From Kazan4:31
3Dream2:31
4Main Theme (Showdown)3:04
5Sex & The Married Frog3:24
6Seedy Films5:06
7Riots2:55
8Information0:47
9Muzak Decoding - Dreammachine - Pirates8:42
10Compressed Metal2:25
11Main Theme (Finale)3:43
Credits
Adam Moseley
Engineer
Felix Beyer
Engineer
Jason Stoke
Engineer
Matthew Dabell
Engineer
Stefan Kühne
Engineer
Abby Helasdottir
Graphic Design [For Cold Spring]
Jon Caffery
Mixed By, Recorded By [At Rudas Studios, Dusseldorf, 1983]
Klaus Maeck
Producer
Muscha
Producer
Dave Ball
Recorded By [At Audio International Studios, London 1983]
Genesis P-Orridge
Recorded By [At Audio International Studios, London 1983]
Alexander Von Borsig
Recorded By [At Rudas Studios, Dusseldorf, 1983]
F.M. Einheit
Recorded By [At Rudas Studios, Dusseldorf, 1983]

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