Catching Rays on Giant [Import]

OK, as an old-school Alphaville fan, and a very active one at that, I was a bit sceptical when I first heard the clips from each song before the album was released here in Germany. Even my first impressions upon listening to the album were not as positive as they might have been. That may have been clouded by my opinion that Alphaville could never make a real mainstream comeback in the sense of how everyone understands the word comeback (actually, they've never really been away and have worked on their internet project and have been constantly touring since the mid 1990s), especially in the UK, where they are only really known for Big In Japan, although if you're a fan of Jay-Z, you will have heard the classic Alphaville anthem Forever Young sampled in his track, Young Forever.

So I have been trying to avoid tenuous links to old Alphaville albums and songs and have been trying to see this album for what it really is. After a million listens I can now say...it's a damn good pop album and, if promoted well enough, could really result in a huge comeback for Alphaville in the true sense of the word!

On first listening, I didn't really hear the songs for what they are. There are some really solid, well-produced pop songs on this album. The first track - Song For No One - is a bit ridiculous but is a damn catchy tune!

Track 2, I Die For You Today (the first single from the album to be released in Germany), harkens back to the days of 80s synthpop with a 2010 twist and is a great sing-along track.

Track 3, End Of The World, in my opinion, is the weakest, although it too is very catchy and rather rockier than the others.

Track 4, The Things I Didn't Do, again in my opinion, has the most ridiculous lyric and annoying female backing vocalists but I'm sure the words mean something to songwriter and main man and vocalist Marian Gold (whose vocals are still as pure, beautiful and as recognisable as they were in the early 80s).

Track 5, Heaven On Earth, is one of those tracks that cause physical pain on listening to it because of its sheer beauty and poignant lyric as does track 6, The Deep, which could be a strong candidate for a single release.

Track 7, Call Me, is a real 80s-style track, completely catchy and an extremely strong candidate for a single release that could even make it big on the UK singles charts.

Track 8, Gravitation Breakdown, is a real rock track with added synths and one to be played loud!

Track 9, Carry Your Flag, is well known to die hard Alphaville fans as this is one of three versions that have been released since the early 2000s. It is a homage from Marian Gold to all the fans who have stuck by the band through thick and thin, through good times and bad. It's a beautiful song with a special meaning to all Alphaville fans everywhere.

Track 10, Call Me Down, is the first Alphaville track not to feature Marian Gold on lead vocals (instead this is keyboardist Martin Lister, who does an admirable job), although he features on the verses in the song. This track is reminiscent of Depeche Mode in some parts and is another strong track.

Track 11, Phantoms, is the most like "old" Alphaville and has a very strong 80s sound.

The final track, Miracle Healing, is another old favourite of die hard Alphaville fans everywhere and is here in another version.

I honestly haven't been able to turn this album off since I received it (except for to go to bed!) and that's not because I'm an Alphaville die-hard. Truly, Alphaville die-hards like me are the hardest to please. I really like this album and thoroughly enjoy listening to it. It has a mix of 60s/70s soft rock pop and 80s synthpop all blanketed in a 2010 icing. Maybe with this one, Alphaville will actually make it big in Japan!

Young and old listeners alike, give it a chance. You will be bopping along with the best of them, guaranteed! You won't regret it!

Catching Rays on Giant

It has been a long held frustration of mine that Alphaville have been less than prolific than one feels they might otherwise have been, particularly in the last ten years. One thing has never been in doubt in my mind. The members of Alphaville (past and present) have written some of the best songs ever - not just 'pop' songs but songs: PERIOD! The live version of 'Flame' from 'Stark Naked...' ranks in my 'Top Ten' all time. 'Forever young' is in my 'Top Five'.
Alphaville are one of the most underestimated bands of all time. A band who has, it has been suggested, were a one-hit wonder ('Big in Japan')... Oh! The poor slobs whose musical diet is 'The Charts!' My response to those whom I heard suggest this was: Buy the 'Forever Young' album and 'Afternoons in Utopia'... for starters. Then try 'Stark Naked...' as a live set and go for the 'Little America' DVD.
'Catching Rays on Giant' is a long-awaited release of brand new material which sees Alphaville going back to what Alphaville do best. Writing really, really good songs with fantastic keyboard riffs, intelligent lyrics (that you can actually understand thanks to Marian's clear articulation' and a 'wall-of-sound' effect that just encourages the volume to go to eleven.
1. 'Song for No One' is one of those tracks that reminds me of 'Sparks' at the Mael Brothers best. Originality and a catchy chorus that just has to be sung-a-long to.
2. ''I die for you' has one of those keyboard riffs that stays with you for days on end. Utterly engaging and a proper Volume Eleven track.
3. End of The World' builds up its themes to an excellent climax.
4. `The Things I didn't Do' starts off like an Alphaville track of old (Guess which?) but then veers off into an anthemic pulsating rhythmic force majeure with contrasting backing vocals that give excellent depth and contrast.
5. `Heaven on Earth' is a gentle ballad that allows you to come up for air after a breathless start. After a few plays, you get the catch and sing-a-long to the swaying rhythm.
6. `The Deep' has a thought provoking lyric (which for those familiar with Alphaville's Discography will not come as a surprise) It is a gentle ballad.
7. `Call Me' starts with a pulsating rhythm... and keeps going. Hard to differentiate between verse and chorus. It is one for the dance floor.
8. `Gravitation Breakdown' tests the walls of your house. With a bass that will test the most stable of properties.
9. `Carry Your Flag' is the calm before the storm. It is a gentle rolling track of multi-layered vocals with a simple theme and is easy to listen to.
10. `Call Me Down' is my favourite on the album. My own synth roots appreciate the keyboard work. It is easy to listen to and its simple message is easy to sing.
11. `Phantoms' might as well be a homage to the Roland `Fantom' keyboard. It sounds just like some of the sounds I used to get out of mine. I nice catchy tune that will keep you on board from start to finish.
12. `Miracle Healing' is Marian Gold at his best, rising above the backing music to tell us a story.
Thank you Alphaville for `Catching Rays on Giant' which has caused me to go up into my loft and get out my old Kawai K1 and Yamaha DX27 synthesisers for a little play. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Alphaville best known for "Big in Japan" is back. And its a great comeback after years of absence (at least in the arms of a large record company). But the album has been worth waiting for. This is a great album and it has the potential to attract a lot of new listeners. Its synth - but its not just retro 80s synth. This is how a synth album sounds in 2010 - without Alphaville trying to be something that they are not.
Highlights on the album are superb electronic tracks such as "song for no one", "I die for you today", "Heaven on earth", "Miracle healing", "Call me" and "Phantoms". All these songs make me feel I'm eighteen again - and thats a wonderful feeling. So its a great album - but is this the one you should buy if you don't know anything about Alphaville? No it is not. Then you should buy either "Forever young" or "Afternoons in Utopia" Alphaville's brilliant two first albums. They have it all. Great songs, great lyrics, enigmatic moods, wonderful synths, great voice. When "Catching rays on giants" does not match these albums it is to with the fact that the album have just too many songs that you forget to fast. Songs like "gravitation breakdown", "the deep", "call me down" does not live up to Alphaville's high standards. The problem in my view is a weak production. Even a song like "carry your flag" - which on their "Dreamscapes" album is such a strong song - is partly destroyed by a rather dull production.
But in the end: Lets not look at the few shortcomings of the album. Instead focus on the fact that this album IS worth buying (if you compare to most other albums these days). Still Alphaville = strong songs, exceptional strong voice, great electronic sounds and also the songs that lift the album to higher grounds. Listen to "song for no one" and you probably know what I mean. And if you agree "BUY THIS AT ONCE" and if you do not like it, well then buy "Forever young" or "afternoons in utopia" - because all people should have at least two Alphaville albums in their record collection.