DER KOMMISSAR

"Der Kommissar" has all the appearance of a bona fide studio release, but it is in fact a compilation drawing tracks from three ATF albums, "Laser love", "80-F" and "Batteries not included". Because it contains what are considered to be the best tracks from these three albums, it sold well, becoming the band's most successful album. There are two slightly different versions of the album, depending which side of the Atlantic you are on (in North America it was simply called "ATF"), and there is also a much larger CD box set with a similar title. Unfortunately, the collection does not include anything from the band's first album, which constituted their only genuine link with prog.

This album takes its title from the final single released by the band, a cover of a song by Falco which was a hit for both bands. While all of the songs except the title track appeared on the three albums mentioned, some of the versions here are re-recordings or alternative versions from the same sessions. Given that the recording of the first album (of the three mentioned above) alone involved 5 different producers, and that the second was remade after rejection by the record label, this leaves some scope for variations.

Thus, what we have here is a collection of 13 new wave and punk pop style tracks which at the time were credibly contemporary, indeed since they predate much of the similar type of music released in the 1980's, they could be regarded as progressive with a definite small p.

In an obvious but understandable marketing ploy, the non-album single "Der Kommissar" is placed right up front on the album. The song reflects the new wave of the late 70's early 80's purveyed by bands such as Talking Heads, and the melodic punk of other bands like the Boomtown Rats. Thereafter, the tracks from the three albums are mixed together to form a more satisfactory set. Only three tracks from "Laser love" are included, but they do include the appealing instrumental "Joy" and another hit song" One rule for you". "80-F" on the other hand donates no fewer than 5 songs.

To be clear, this album appears on this site due to the band recording one album which contained prog tenets. There is no direct relationship between the two albums in musical terms though. Those seeking prog need not detain themselves here.

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