Wishful Thinking [Collector's Edition, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

This was the first Propaganda album I ever bought. I had loved the songs of the band already eventually getting this album as my first Propaganda experience. I've always been introduced in the 'remix' concept and I think the roots of it lie within this album. 8 tracks that basically disconnect the original songs and puts them back together again as a bit of a mish mash of music. First off - there are hardly any vocals on this album, so the focus is on the music, the production and with slightly twiddling of mixers, different emphasise on elements separate from the original versions. You have 80's remix dub elements colliding with different focuses on elements from the original songs. Because I wasn't familiar with the original album 'A Secret Wish' this was all I had to work on. Huge industrial arrangements with little blasts of vocals and unexpected surprises.

Abuse (1) is a great opening track (remix of Dr. Mabuse) - full of exciting and drama, that we're getting into an album that will be very different from you expect.

This collides into Machined (remix of P:Machinery) which makes the bass line the drive of the thing as it forces itself along.

Laughed (remix of Sorry For Laughing) is the dub idea, deconstructing the song as if it sounds like it is being sifted through a meat mincer, with the drums being a dominant part of the mix.

Loving (remix of The Murder Of Love) is a nice little coda that ends the first side of the album (if this was a record) which makes way for...

the crown of the collection is 'Jewelled' which I would say is the best version of the Duel/Jewel idea. It is fast, exciting and is everything it should be. A great song.

Loved (remix of The Murder Of Love) has a lovely piano opening before breaking into another dub style mix of stripping structure apart turning the song into an elaborate piece of music.

Abuse (2) (remix of Dr. Mabuse) - focuses on the last bit of the original song. And is a really nice piece of music showing how great the instrumentation on this song is.

Thought - this is an instrumental version of a song never released called 'Discipline' and is worth a listen. It fits in well with the rest of the album mood quite well.

And that's it. Worth a listen for a change. And the bonus tracks here are good.
'Strength To Dream' - this version could have fitted on this album fine. It fits the same ethos.
'P-Machinary (The Beta Wraparound) - a really good full 12" version of the song (too many vocals to fit Wishful Thinking concept but nice to have it anyway)
'The Murder Of Love - Murderous Instrumental' is not just a basic instrumental. It messes with the arrangement a little.
'Dr. Mabuse' - An alternative out take to the original with some subtle differences. Once again not fitting the Wishful Thinking ideas - but that's ok. I mean it is a great song!
'Frozen Faces - A Sense Of Rhythm' - this is an interesting one. It sounds like a mix where a lot of improvising and messing about happened over a continuous loop. This could have been on the Wishful Thinking album.
'P-Machinary - The Voiceless Beta Wraparound Edit' - stripped of vocals and the arrangement is highlighted.

So this really is a perfect companion to A Secret Wish - but in my opinion stands on it's own as well. Glad it had the nice re-issue. Great new packaging as well.

If you have - and like - A Secret Wish, but not this then give it a go. Personally for me it is the better of the two by far.

However, the following are worth considering:

1) SOUND QUALITY - not much improvement

I've had the chance to play this on a serious bit of hifi (not mine!) and there is little difference between this version and the 1990s Warner release. There very little extra bass to be heard, but the top end is clearer (not boosted, there is audible improved definition) but it's not necessarily worth the entrance price as it is not major. I wonder if this has come from the LP cutting tapes rather than the actual mix masters as the album sounds quite bass shy.

2) BONUS TRACKS - not very interesting

This seems to be common opinion. While I don't have issue with the bonus tracks following the album (although I would have preferred an additional CD with further outtakes/remixes, etc.) there is little to be excited about.

Strength to Dream - a basic version of what appeared on A Secret Wish. No strings, no thunder and rain, a sudden end instead of the grand finale of the LP version.

p:Machinery (The Beta Wraparound) - as per the reactivated 12" I guess (Beta mix + reprise as also heard on p:Polish mix.) To be honest I have very little motivation to compare to the original 12".

The Murder of Love (Murderous Instrumental) - basic track, not a straight instrumental version of the LP mix, nowhere near as good as Loved on the main album.

Dr Mabuse (Outtake) - very similar to the LP version in structure with different mix levels, some elements mixed out, and different reverb on (some of?) the vocals, it plays out to the end like the instrumental mix and then gives just a little more. Kind of interesting but nothing to blow you away - don't expect another 12" mix.

Frozen Faces (A Secret Sense of Rhythm) - for me this is pretty tedious. Pretty much a loop with no vocals.

p:Machinery (The Voiceless Beta Wraparound Edit) - why?

There is still stuff that was released that is hard to get hold of on CD - so ZTT please stop teasing bits out on compilations and get the good stuff in one place.

3) PACKAGING - Fragile and doesn't match A Secret Wish

Instead of the digipak for some reason this album has been issued in a trifold square sleeve. The CD does not sit in a tray, but has to be pulled or tipped out of a pouch. On about the forth time of taking the CD out the card sleeve tore. This was while it was being squeezed to try and get the CD out without scratching it. So it is inconsistent to the previous release and apparently easily damaged.

What happenned ZTT? This could have been a much better release. Shame.

Replacing, or rather adding to the original vinyl, which is still good and sometimes better with a crackle! That's it.