Monarchie und Alltag (Monarchy and Daily Life) was the 1980 debut album of German rock band Fehlfarben, released on the Welt-rekord-label, a subsidiary of EMI. The album was not well-received initially, but developed a following over time, entering the charts seven months after its release and gradually climbing to peak at #37. The album belatedly spawned a hit single in 1982, "Ein Jahr (Es geht voran)", and certified gold in 2000, after a re-release during the post-punk revival.
The poor initi...
Monarchie und Alltag (Monarchy and Daily Life) was the 1980 debut album of German rock band Fehlfarben, released on the Welt-rekord-label, a subsidiary of EMI. The album was not well-received initially, but developed a following over time, entering the charts seven months after its release and gradually climbing to peak at #37. The album belatedly spawned a hit single in 1982, "Ein Jahr (Es geht voran)", and certified gold in 2000, after a re-release during the post-punk revival.
The poor initial reception of the album and a scheduled lengthy tour prompted the departure of vocalist and songwriter Peter Hein, who did not return to the band until following a 2000 reunion. Guitarist Thomas Schwebel took over as lead vocalist for the tour and subsequent releases.
The album is regarded as highly influential in the Neue Deutsche Welle movement of Germany and the German punk scene. It secured a position for the band and its first lead singer as prominent figures in the German punk movement.
The band was formed from two former members of foundational German punk band Charley's Girls—Peter Hein and Markus Oehlen—who had gone on to play in the influential punk group Mittagspause. The pair decided to form a post-punk band with other prominent members of the Düsseldorf punk community: Thomas Schwebel, Michael Kemner, Frank Fenstermacher and Uwe Bauer. Influenced by the ska-punk music of London, they brought their interpretation of the style to live performances in Germany and to a 7" single released on their own independent label, Welt-Rekord-Label. In summer of 1980, the band's label was purchased by EMI, who gave them studio space to record Monarchie und Alltag, which was released in October of that year.
Although many of the band's members had a hand in composing material, much of the album was penned by vocalist Peter Hein during free time at his job at Xerox. Der Spiegel credits the best compositions of the album to Hein and guitarist Thomas Schwebel, who wrote the iconic song of the German "No-Future" generation, "Paul ist tot" ("Paul is dead"), one refrain of which translates, "What I want, I cannot get. And what I can get, I don't like." The album, at the cutting edge of musical styles, pushed Fehlfarben to the forefront of the German punk movement and made Peter Hein its point figure, even though he had quit the band three days before the lengthy Monarchie und Alltag tour to dedicate himself to his job at Xerox.
In an interview years later with die tageszeitung, Hein indicated that he found the then-security of his job preferable to the stressful life of a musician on the road and that returning to work felt almost like a vacation. It was a decision that puzzled the press at the time. Questioned about his work ethic in that interview, Hein stated that he was puzzled by the "arrogance" of those who looked down on the working class.
The band continued performing with Schwebel on vocals and releasing albums after Hein's departure, but reunited with its first vocalist in 2000 after the belated receipt of a gold record for the album.
Music by F. Fenstermacher, G. Nicolaidis, M. Kemner, P. Hein, T. Schwebel, U. Bauer.
Except where otherwise noted, lyrics by F. Fenstermacher, G. Nicolaidis, M. IKemner, P. Hein, T. Schwebel and U. Bauer.
Side One:
1. "Hier und Jetzt" - 2:44
2. "Grauschleier" - 2:25
3. "Das sind Geschichten" - 3:21
4. "All That Heaven Allows" - 3:37
5. "Gottseidank nicht in England" - 2:40
6. "Militürk" - 5:22
Side Two:
1. "Apokalypse" - 3:11
2. "Ein Jahr (Es geht voran)" - 2:51
3. "Angst" - 2:16
4. "Das war vor Jahren" - 2:35
5. "Paul ist tot" - 7:56
Uwe Bauer – drums
Kurt Dahlke (aka Der Pyrolator) – synthesizer
Fehlfarben – producer
Frank Fenstermacher – saxophone
Rolf Hanekamp – recording and mixing
Peter Hein – vocals
Michael Kemner – bass guitar
Harald Lepschies – recording and mixing
Horst Luedtke – producer
George Nicolaidis – synthesizer
Thomas Schwebel – guitar
Music & Lyrics by P.Hein, T.Schwebel, M.Kemner, U.Bauer, F.Fenstermacher, G.Nicolaidis
(lyrics militürk by delgado-lopez)
Cover design by Martin Bücker, Buster Desaster
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