What was your *last* memory of Alphaville? Breathtaking Blue? If so, this disc will leave you overjoyed. Everything that made them one of the finest synth groups of the 80s - the ambiguous but passionate lyrics, the soaring melodies, the romance tinged with sorrow, the unbridled sense of fun - it's all here! They haven't aged - they've been reborn. Songs such as Guardian Angel, Pandora's Lullaby, Inside Out, and Point of Know Return will delight you. They not only compare favorably to the best Alphaville classics, like Forever Young, Big In Japan, or Dance With Me; they actually surpass them. There are a few vocal rough spots and awkward moments here - but overall, the vast majority of the songs are glorious. Long live Alphaville!

Finding "Flame" on this album is an excellent surprise, like the first time I heard Depeche Mode's "Somebody to love", but "Flame" puts DM to shame. It will make you wish they did more songs in this style.

Speaking of wishes, both versions of this album's "Wishful Thinking" are fast-tempo masterpieces.

The other song that has two versions on this album is "Monkey on the Moon", and gladly so since both are excellent. This song in many ways reminds me of Corsten's Remix of Apoptygmia Berzerk's "Kathy's Song", truly excellent!

Gotta admit: I was one of those who gave up on Alphaville, at least in the short term, after their third album, _The Breathtaking Blue_, failed so thoroughly to live up to the expectations raised by their first two releases.

Yet all is forgiven with this one, which came almost out of nowhere to remind us that heart and soul can still be found within the embattled synthpop genre. (As far as I can tell, from the original '80s crowd, only Pet Shop Boys remain to contest the throne -- Erasure having given it up years ago.)

Sure, there are skippable songs. Sure, there's a bit too much "thump, thump, thump" for even this admitted admirer of Chicane. Sure, the lyrics to "Monkey in the Moon" make no sense whatsoever -- but it's well-poised to make anyone who's ever loved a Roxy Music song weep tears of joy nonetheless. Meanwhile, "Dangerous Places" is a flat-out brilliant venture into dance-industrial territory that I never would have expected from this particular band.

And did I mention that Marion Gold is one of the great vocalists of our time? No? Well, he is.

This album is great and beyond words. The synths are sparkling, original and clean on this album - OK, all except for a lack of taste on the song "Control". Flame, Soul Messiah, Monkey in the Moon - all are such great songs that they are some of the best writen in the late 90's. As a keyboard programmer myself, this is all very original and good programming - not casio presets as suggested by a previous review can be found. I wouldn't be a good person if I didn't encourage you to acquire this album immediately. A MUST HAVE.

This is Alphaville's best album yet.....................It blow me away when I first heard it. The first song that I heard was "Flame" since I heard a bid of it at work and I knew I had to buy right away. "Flame" took my breath away. The song mesmerizes me every time I hear it. I have even found myself crying to it at times. Marian Gold's voice has never sounded better and the passion behind his voice as it blends with Bernhard Lloyd's musical genius is just magnificent. The album starts out slow with "Inside Out" that opens the doorway to heaven. From there, things get heated up and powerful and dark techno-based sounds along with Marian's mesmerizing voice will flourish around you with songs like "Monkey In The Moon", "Guardian Angel", "Wishful Thinking". From here things change a little as "Flame" kicks in. This is the best Alphaville song ever made. It is just perfect in every way and form. It will make you cry and leave you breathless wanting more. Have no fear cause the next song will deliver with "Point Of No Return". "Control" is very hard-edged. "Dangerous Places" and "Spirit Of The Age" are more industrial sounding and great. Now we get to "Soul Messiah" that all I can say is... WOW. Things slow down again with "New Horizon" and you start to catch your breath. "Pandora's Lullaby" is like the music you hear from a fantastic Disney movie. Things are still very calm and "Life is King" ensures just that, but from here on things turn around again and the hard based techno sounds reinvent themselves in a more powerful format than before with "Wishful Thinking Physical" which is more a remix and another version of "Monkey In The Moon.

You may now relax cause the album is over and the door to heaven is shut again. I hope you enjoyed the ride.........Get this album if you dont have it and are reading my review.