POLANSKI Y EL ARDOR "Ataque Preventivo De La URSS EP" 7" SNAP!!


Info

Emerging during the second wave of bands from the Madrid "New Wave" scene, POLANSKI Y EL ARDOR were clever enough to craft two of the most widely chanted choruses in 1980s Spanish pop: "¿Qué harías tú / en un ataque preventivo de la URSS...?" (What would you do / in a preemptive attack by the USSR...?) and "Y no usa laca / y no tiene caspa / porque está calva / calva, calva..." (And she uses no hairspray / and has no dandruff / because she is bald / bald, bald...).

They cultivated a strong (dark) image and an appealing, film-inspired name—structured with one noun subordinate to another, much like the biggest bands. While their lyrics were often dismissed as absurd, they actually featured skillful wordplay that hinted at a cultural depth unusual for groups of their post-punk ilk.

The band's lyrics, tinged with a distinct sense of humorous irony, frequently referenced newspaper headlines, film synopses, and—above all—the literary aesthetic of Cold War Europe, which was so characteristic of that era.

POLANSKI Y EL ARDOR formed in Madrid in 1981 as a quartet comprising two guitars, bass, and drums, later expanding their lineup with the addition of a saxophonist. A series of personnel changes soon followed, leading to the creation of a new group, Sector B, while the original band reverted to a quartet. The group's core members were Víctor Vázquez (guitar and vocals), Sebastián Durán (bass and vocals), and Pejo (drums). They were usually supported by a saxophonist—most frequently Carlos Álvarez, though Justo Bagüeste (also a member of V Congreso) played wind instruments for them as well. Other musicians who passed through Polanski included Ramón Guzmán, Enrique Siera, Poch, Solrac, Jose Manuel Kentucky, Txeles Albizu, Carlos Torero, and, of course, the group's driving force and a key figure in its history: their manager, Juan C. González "Rocky."

The band's initial lineup (led at the time by guitarist Manuel Muñoz) soon attracted the interest of Spansuls, a new punk label founded by fanzine creator Sardinita (*La Luna de Madrid*). They handed him a demo tape containing early versions of their most famous live tracks: "Ataque preventivo de la URSS!", "Y no usa laca," and "Chantaje emocional." This record was released in December 1982, preceding the LP they recorded for Ariola after winning first place in the second Madrid-Region Rock Contest, organized by the Madrid Provincial Council in 1982.

This reissue on Snap!! Records includes the three songs from that original release—featuring the original artwork—available on 7-inch vinyl for the first time.

TRACKLIST
1.Ataque Preventivo De La URSS 02:36
2.Y No Usa Laca 02:26
3.Chantaje Emocional 03:45