![Din [A] Tod](https://idieyoudie.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/575611_10150826554819919_162410840_n.jpg "Din [A] Tod")
Hey, kids! Fresh back from a road trip to Seattle we’re ready to talk about records by And One and Din [A] Tod, do a bit of crate digging, and turn an eye to what’s happening in Toronto. There’s also a little bit of local show scouting and overall (if vague) excitement over a whole bunch of upcoming projects and releases on this, the latest episode of your snooty roommate’s favourite music podcast, We Have A Technical. Rate and subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher, download directly or stream from the widget below!
We Have a Technical 64: Tell 'Em Steve-Dave
So I go to check out Din [A] Tod on Spotify. I am not disappointed.
Hungry for more, I click on “Artist Radio Based on DIN A Tod”.
First song? Military Fashion Show.
GOD DAMN IT. You can’t make that stuff up. Cripes, I am not yet ready to turn DJing over to algorithms.
Maybe ID:UD should make some Spotify playlists, show the robot overlords how it’s done.
I’m a bit late… but as the resident german listener, let me try to explain the name “Din [A] Tod”.
DIN is the “Deutsche Institut für Normierung” – the german institution responsible for industrial norms, basically our national ISO. Although (contrary to popular believe) most germans go through there daily live without caring much about industrial norms, there is one exception: Paper formats, coverd by DIN 476. The paper formats have entered everyday language, DIN A4 being a standard letter format, DIN A6 being the size of the postcard. This is something every child learns in elementary school.
So for a german, it is obvious that this is what the name is a referring to. And I love that. It is very much in the tradition of the german early 80s first wave punk: Taking something very german, very banal and ordinary and giving it a macabre twist. But doing it in an innocent tongue-in-cheek way that is almost cute… not like in the 90s, when everything had to be suuuuper serious.
In fact, when I first heard the name Din [A] Tod I immediately assumed it was an obscure german 80s band I hadn’t heard before, because the name fits so well into this period. Was quite surprised when I heard their music and learned that they are a contemporary act. Great name, great band!
Amazing! Thanks for the explanation Martin! Out of curiosity, what other german bands had names that followed that convention?