In 1984, the German band Alphaville hit the world charts with the singles 'Forever Young' and 'Sounds Like A Melody' and their debut album, also titled 'Forever Young', was a massive seller. Marian Gold's soaring vocals and Bernhard Lloyd's Ultravox inspired synthpop didn't have the same success with the next few albums. Barring some early-Nineties attention for the techno version of 'Big In Japan' and the 'First Harvest' hits compilation, their 'Prostitute' album did nothing and Alphaville disappeared from the pop scene.

Marian Gold used this opportunity to release two solo albums 'United' and 'So Long Celeste'. These two CDs have acquired a huge cult following and are very rare and collectable. There are still a few copies of these two albums popping up in bargain bins in South Africa as they were pressed locally. Now there is a new Alphaville album on the shelves and 'Salvation' is a brave attempt by the band to merge their lyrical and soft-goth music with the sounds and styles of late-Nineties dance and pop.

Their songs are still stirring and swirling with the drum machine pumping out a hectic flow of beats. 'Flame' is the first single, a yearning ballad that grows to an arms-waving conclusion, 'Wishful Thinking', 'Point Of Know Return' (sic) and 'Inside Out' are more representative of the Alphaville sound. For committed Alphaville fans (and there are tons!) or those who still miss the pomp of Queen.

Stephen "Sugar" Segerman

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