Lieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig (ZickZack Sommerhits 81)

Released in 1981 on the influential Hamburg-based label Zickzack, Lieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig served as a definitive document of the Neue Deutsche Welle underground scene. The compilation was curated by label founder Alfred Hilsberg, who sought to capture the raw, experimental spirit of the era's post-punk and synth-pop artists. It acts as a sonic time capsule, gathering tracks from acts that were defining the avant-garde landscape of West Germany at the time.

The album's aesthetic, reflected in its utilitarian and striking cover art, aligned with the DIY ethos prevalent in the German independent music community of the early 1980s. By providing a platform for unconventional bands, Zickzack helped transition these artists from local club circuits to a broader national consciousness. The compilation remains widely respected by music historians for its role in preserving the non-commercial, authentic output of a period that would eventually be overshadowed by the more mainstream developments of the Neue Deutsche Welle.