It's a big thrill to have German synthpop heavyweights PROPAGANDA on the cover of the first Electronic Sound of 2026.
We've interviewed all four members of the classic line-up of the Düsseldorf group for our lead story, which follows the recent release of a jumbo boxset of the material they recorded for ZTT Records between 1983 and 1985. The focus of our feature is on the time Propaganda spent with Trevor Horn and Paul Morley's infamous imprint, where their labelmates included Frankie Goes To Hollywood and The Art Of Noise. It's a superb read and, despite their numerous disagreements and fallings-out over the years, it even offers some hope that the quartet may yet reconvene at some point.
ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER, SLEAFORD MODS and Black Box Recorder singer SARAH NIXEY are also on the menu for our first issue of the new year, as is the genius pairing of one-time This Heat drummer CHARLES HAYWARD and avant-rap insurgent MC DÄLEK. We have BARRY ADAMSON, MIKE PARADINAS, TORTOISE, RUPERT HINE and RAICA too, so there’s plenty to keep you going through the next few weeks of gloomy winter nights. Chuck another log on the fire and dig in.