Centered around vocalist Stefan Zauner and guitarist Aron Strobel, Freiheit created an extensive discography (approximately 12 albums) in their homeland of Germany, even if they released only one English-language album in the United States (1988's Fantasy) and never broke overseas. Freiheit's sound mixed the Beatles (especially Paul McCartney) with the quirkiness of early XTC, ABBA-esque Europop frothiness, and big Jeff Lynne production. Their debut album, Umsteiger, was released in 1982; the next year's follow-up, Licht, took them in a more synth pop direction and marked an improvement in songwriting. 1984's Herzschlag Einer Stadt was a very commercial new wave record, and in spite of a slip in songwriting, it made Freiheit quite popular in their homeland. 1986's Traumziel was its proper follow-up, although the Von Anfang An compilation of non-LP singles preceded it. 1988's Fantasie was recorded in both German and English, and the single "Keeping the Dream Alive," recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, eventually found its way onto the soundtrack of Say Anything. After 1990's Purpurmond and Freiheit Live, the band released their most acclaimed album, Liebe Auf Den Ersten Blick, in 1991. A 1992 greatest-hits compilation (Ihre Grossten Hits) was followed by 1994's Energie, after which Zauner concentrated on his side project S.O.L. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide