ONE MODEL NATION

ONE MODEL NATION - THE BAND.

Germany, 1977. The Economic Miracle is at hand. An entire generation that has grown up with the shame of World War II embraces Western culture as Capitalism begins to take root. Underneath the veneer of the financial prosperity, the country is still shattered from the devastation of war. A radical segment of the youth fight back against a repressed nation. Their only figurehead of this violent, well dressed revolution is a band soon to be forever lost in time; One Model Nation.

Courtney Taylor and I spent many days and nights both in Los Angeles and Portland creating a fantasy band in our heads. Inspired by Kraftwerk, CAN, David Bowie, Tangerine Dream, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Klaus Nomi, Jobriath, and other esoteric Glam and Kraut Rockers, we got together for three sleepless nights and, along with Jon Fell and Elliott Barnes, created the techno/industrial pop group One Model Nation.

The music took three days, the story took 10 years to finally get to where it is today, a graphic novel and debut album. Our inspiration was Courtney's vision of creating a band that we could slip into and disappear off into a long forgotten era that inspired so much of todays music.

Donovan Leitch

OMN ARCHIVAL MATERIAL

This is the artwork for the One Model Nation recording of "East Berlin" - Famed artist Uzi Schell was commissioned by the band to create this anonymous image. At the time, the band were suspected of acts of violence against Germany. This explains the conscious choice of leaving their faces blank. (Click to enlarge.)

Here's a piece that uses their music. It's clearly some kind of art student anti-communist propaganda, so I'm pretty sure the band had nothing to do with it. It's pretty amazing anyway. And this song is so cool...

Here is an early 1970s Volkswagen ad that used an OMN track.