Carambolage ‎S/T 12"

Carambolage – Carambolage (1980, Topete Reissue)

Reissue of the 1980 debut album by German post-punk trio Carambolage, now available on vinyl via Topete Records. Originally released on David Volksmund Produktion, the label tied to Ton Steine Scherben, this genre-defying record was produced by Rio Reiser and R.P.S. Lanrue in the summer of 1980.

With early demo tapes circulating, Carambolage landed a show at the iconic Kreuzberg venue SO36, thanks to Zensor’s Burkhardt Seiler. While much of the scene was swept into Neue Deutsche Welle branding, Carambolage remained defiantly outside of it. Their self-titled LP, driven by Elfie’s autodidactic “Fantasiegriffen” guitar style and her raw “Fresenhagen sparrow” voice, backed by Angie’s quirky organ and melodic basslines, and Britta’s driving drums, refused to be boxed in.

The album is marked by its inventive, lo-fi sound, blending post-punk, NDW, krautrock, and absurdist pop. Tracks like Die Farbe war Mord reveal a playful yet pointed feminist awareness. Elfie’s direct, almost spoken delivery sticks with you — once the words are in your head, they stay there. Carambolage’s style flirted with feminine clichés, turning them into performance rather than parody, anticipating what later came to be called lipstick feminism.

A must-have reissue for fans of Malaria!, Kleenex, Mania D, and anyone interested in the feminist, DIY underground of early 1980s Germany.

Tracklist:

A1 Rampenlicht 2:19
A2 Tu Doch Nicht So 2:34
A3 City-Großmarkt 3:45
A4 Das Männlein 2:15
A5 Je T'aime 3:35
A6 Die Farbe War Mord 2:52
A7 Johnny 4:05

B1 Was Hat Das Für Einen Sinn 2:07
B2 Fußgängerzone 3:49
B3 Roxan 5:03
B4 Der Reigen 3:41
B5 22 Rue Chenoise 3:57
B6 Bretter, Bretter, Bretter 3:23