PROPAGANDA

Propaganda – Vinyl

Propaganda – The Nine Lives Of Dr. Mabuse

Label: ZTT – 12 ZTAS 2
Series: Action Series – 2
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Hand Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: 27 Feb 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

Expanded Release Background:

“The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse” was Propaganda’s debut 12" single for the ZTT label, marking the group’s dramatic arrival on the mid-1980s electronic music scene. Produced by Trevor Horn at the height of his experimental studio era, the single is a dense, cinematic piece heavily influenced by German Expressionist cinema – specifically the Dr. Mabuse films by Fritz Lang.

The 12" edition became particularly sought after due to its extended, theatrical mixes and its striking “hand sleeve” variation, which visually aligned with ZTT’s art-driven marketing style. This release helped define the early ZTT aesthetic alongside Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Art of Noise, combining avant-garde electronics, orchestral sampling, spoken-word fragments, and enigmatic propaganda-themed imagery.

On dance floors and among collectors, the release gained attention for its long “Das Testaments Des Mabuse” mix, which uses layered percussion, industrial textures, and dramatic soundscapes to build a narrative arc rather than a conventional pop structure. The B-side tracks, including the group’s interpretation of Lou Reed’s “Femme Fatale,” demonstrated Propaganda’s more atmospheric, art-pop side and highlighted their evolving sound leading up to the *A Secret Wish* album.

Tracklist

A – Das Testaments Des Mabuse
Arranged By – Propaganda, Trevor Horn
Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By – Thein, Mertens, Dörper
Duration: 10:14

B1 – Femme Fatale (The Woman With The Orchid)
Producer – Propaganda, Zang Tuum Tumb
Written-By – Lou Reed
Duration: 3:20

B2 – (The Ninth Life Of...) Dr. Mabuse
Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By – Thein, Mertens, Dörper
Duration: 4:06

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