#197: PROHASKA - “cordoba achtundneunzig”
“cordoba achtundneunzig” (recorded in march 1998 at ekh studio) is certainly one of the best hardcore records from austria. PROHASKA have blended the north-core style of LOXIRAN with the sound of KONSTRUKT and created their very own mixture.
“cordoba achtundneunzig” is not only musically very appealing. the whole concept behind the record is completely coherent: from the record packaging to the enclosed booklet (actually a small fanzine with guest contributions) to the content in the booklet and the songs, the record is a complete work of art.
PROHASKA use soccer metaphors for the entire content, which they themselves subsume under the heading “soccer symbolism”. based on the soccer match between austria and germany at the 1978 world cup in córdoba, argentina, they stylize a battle between small (austria) and large (germany) in order to criticize germany's fantasies of great power that were rampant in the 1990s (after reunification with the GDR). of course, they do not fall into any nationalistic thoughts that “normal austria” associates with the surprising 3:2 victory over germany back then.
as samples between the songs, PROHASKA use edi finger's original radio commentaries from the live broadcast from córdoba in june 1978, which have long since become part of austrian media history.
from “prominentenanstoss” to “cordoba 1978”, the six songs on the 7” released in 1998 by paracelsius (alex haase) and the charon collective have still not lost their charm in 2025.
it probably goes without saying that PROHASKA were also an incredibly great live band. if you get the chance: get this record or have a listen on youtube.