Comments for Alphaville, The Breathtaking Blue

For a Million and Heaven or Hell are my favorites. But all and all this is also a very good album.

Alphaville`s third album, "The Breathtaking Blue", is adeparture from "Afternoons In Utopia", just as "Utopia" wasa departure from "Forever Young". Alphaville has taken ajazzy turn on "Blue", featuring mellow jazz arrangements onno less than three songs ("She Fades Away", "Heaven OrHell", "Anyway"). Also featured is the hauntingly beautiful"For A Million" (arguably the album`s strongest track), thegoofy rocker "Ariana", and the band`s first instrumental,"Patricia`s Park", an experiment in classical Japaneseflamenco music. (Yes, that really is the best way todescribe the song.) Despite the radical change in stylefrom their previous two albums, "Blue" still bears theAlphaville trademarks: Cryptic lyrics, finely craftedmelodies, breathtaking harmonies (pardon the pun), and thesense of unity that pervades the album despite the disparatemoods of the different songs. Lyrics are as enigmaticas ever-- if you thought "Lassie Come Home" was bizarre,wait until you hear "Middle Of The Riddle". Every song onthe album is a strong one-- there`s no filler here,although "Ariana" probably comes close. Those whose onlyother exposure to Alphaville is "Forever Young" willprobably be quite surprised by "The Breathtaking Blue",andtechno-purists should probably avoid this album entirely.But those who enjoyed Alphaville`s change of style from"Forever Young" to "Utopia" will definitely want this album.In my opinion, it`s a must have.