Senza Decoro: Liebe + Anarchia In Switzerland/1980–1990 STRUT
8/10
HOW did the post-punk explosion play out in Switzerland? Not a question that’s necessarily troubled many rock historians – everyone’s heard of Yello, at least – but one that piqued the interest of the Swiss-Turkish, Berlin-based DJ and producer Mehmet, Aslan manages to present a vivid portrait of a haphazard scene fuelled not only by the rise of DIY synth and experimental music but also the chaotic energy of a political youth uprising that led to rioting in Zurich, Lausanne, Basel and other cities in the name of art and social equality. In May 1980, for example, a street battle in Zurich between young demonstrators and police, known as the Opernhauskrawalle – Opera House riots – is widely considered to mark the rebirth of the country’s alternative youth movement and a spirit of genuine reinvention – hence the “anarchy” in the title.
