Nina Hagen - Angstlos (1983)

"Angstlos" is the fourth (second solo) studio album from the artist Nina Hagen, released in 1983, with an English version in 1984, "Fearless". It was released on CBS Records, and features a song co-written with Flea and Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were signed to EMI/Capitol a year later. "Angstloss/Fearless" is a good adjective for German chanteuse Nina Hagen, whose bizarre, chirpy vocal style, penchant for colorful costumes, and devotion to both avant-garde sonics and catchy pop predated Bjork by more than a decade. This 1983 album was an even stranger venture for her than usual, in that she teamed up with disco master-producer Giorgio Moroder, perhaps in search of a hit, or just new juxtapositions for her angular approach to singing.  The disco-funk backing bubbles along agreeably, while Hagen sings about flying saucers, universal love, and the dangers of drugs. Stand-out tracks include "What it Is," a proto-rap extolling the virtues of healthy living, and "Springtime In Paris," whose punky urgency sounds the most like vintage Hagen.  This is probably the most fun, danceable & peculiar masterpieces of the early 80s. Brought to the attention in a most suitably bizzare way, the drag queens my fair city loved to dress up as Nina Hagen and lip-synch to New York, New York. Every song on this album will captivate your imagination and wonder how the hell she even thought up this stuff as she sings in an entire parade of of vocal styles. Although at points a bit silly, there is not one bad song to be found here & is a good place to start when first discovering this talented lady. There is even a tidbit of very early Red Hot Chili Peppers lending a hand on 'What It Is' or 'Was Ist Is' found on the German language version of album.

Track listing

01.  "New York / N.Y."  (Nina Hagen, Steve Schiff, Karl Rucker)  - 4:59

02.  "Was Es Ist"  (Hagen, Michael Balzary, Anthony Kiedis)  - 4:19

03.  "Lorelei"  (Hagen, Rucker, Juliana Grigorova)   2:35

04.  "Zarah (Ich weiss es wird einmal ein Wunder geschehen)"  (Hagen, Balz, Jary)  - 5:02

05.  "Frühling In Paris"  (Hagen, Schiff)  - 3:35

06.  "I Love Paul"  (Hagen, Rucker)  - 3:50

07.  "My Sensation"  (Hagen, Schiff)  - 4:03

08.  "News Flash"  (Hagen, Schiff, Michael Dorian)  - 3:58

09.  "The Change " (Hagen, Rucker)  - 4:40

Released 1983

Recorded at:  Hollywood, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Musicland West; Oasis; Soundfactory; Sunset sound; The Valley.

Label:  CBS Records

Genre:  Punk, Rock, Disco

Length:  37:01

Producer:  Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey

Personnel

Nina Hagen - vocals

Richie Zito - guitar

Steve Schiff - guitar, keyboards, arrangements

Karl Rucker - bass, keyboards

Arthur Barrows - keyboards

Phil Scannel - keyboards

John Gilson - drum programming

Gary Herbik - saxophone

Carmen Twillie, Clydine Jackson, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters - background vocals