Iron Curtain Radio, Tapetopia, and Aufnahme+Wiedergabe present the first installment of the three-part "United States Of Melancholia" compilation series, focusing on post-punk in the GDR (1982–1990). Curated and compiled by Alexander Pehlemann, Henryk Gericke, and Maik Reichenbach, and featuring illustrations by Igor Tatschke (AG Mauerstein), this release comes as a double LP in a gatefold sleeve with color-printed inner sleeves. The 2020 release *Too Much Future*—a history of the GDR underground—was a genuine success. Its 45 tracks, featuring very few well-known names, vividly demonstrated the diversity, originality, and coolness of the music produced by the—almost invariably illegal—bands and projects that emerged and dissolved between the 1980s and the end of the GDR. Editors, commentators, and curators Henryk Gericke and Maik Reichenbach are once again joined by Alexander Pehlemann; with the "United States Of Melancholia" series—planned as three double LPs—they delve deeper into the scene, focusing on specific subgenres. Under the "post-punk" umbrella, this release presents 22 obscure, never-before-officially-released tape recordings from acts such as Rosa Extra, Sendeschluss, Rosengarten, Zerstörte Umwelt, Kein Plan, Mahlsdorfer Wohnstubenorchester, and many more. The series' artwork (1987–1989) features illustrations by Igor Tatschke (AG Mauerstein). The project was supported by Frank Ebert, the Berlin Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship. Featuring Kulturwille, Rosa Extra, Kein Plan, Sendeschluss, Rosengarten, Grabnoct, Death Joy, FO32 Extra Hart Arbeitendes Rastermaterial Für Kontakt, POp Project, Das Problem, and others. 22 songs.
