Salvation (Alphaville album) explained

Salvation
Type:	Album
Artist:	Alphaville
Cover:	Alphaville_Salvation.jpeg
Released:	1 September 1997
Studio:	Eden, London, UK
Genre:	Synth-pop
Length:	53:51 (Original) 70:18 (US Release)
Label:	Warner / Metropolis
Producer:	Andy Richards
Prev Title:	Prostitute
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	Dreamscapes
Next Year:	1999

Salvation is the fifth album by German synth-pop band Alphaville and was released in 1997. Three tracks from the album were released as singles: "Wishful Thinking", "Flame", and "Soul Messiah". However, none of them charted on the German single charts.^[1] It is the last album at the Warner/metropolis label. It was also the last album with Bernhard Lloyd, who left the band in 2003.

Overview

Salvation hit the stores in 1997 and marked a tumultuous time for the band: Ricky Echolette had left Alphaville during the production and Marian Gold and Bernhard Lloyd struggled with the way the record label did the promotion, calling it "not very good for us".^[2] The subsequent split led Alphaville to establishing their own, concert- and online-focused communication, promotion, and distribution platform.

Even though the circumstances for Salvation were not favorable, the album became a success in spite of the troubled production. This has been credited to the band returning to their synthpop-roots and heavily infusing them with dance/techno. There is a stylistic similarity between Forever Young and Salvation.^[3]

Reviews

A departure from the experimental predecessors, Prostitute and The Breathtaking Blue, the straighter, simpler style appealed to old fans and a younger audience alike. MusicFolios review of the album said "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."^[4]

Release and promotion

Alphaville toured in support of the album, including playing their first ever tour dates in North America in July 1999, captured in a live video release, Little America (1999).^[5] The album was reissued in a remastered and expanded edition in November 2023.^[6]

Personnel

• Marian Gold

vocals, keyboards

• Bernhard Lloyd

keyboards, programming

• Andy Richards: Keyboards, Programming
• Guitars by Tim Cransfield
• Electric Guitar on "New Horizons" by Elliott Randall
• Percussion on "Monkey in the Moon" by Chris Hughes
• String Arrangements on "Wishful Thinking" and "Flame" by Anne Dudley, recorded at Angel Recording Studios, London by Steve Price
• String Arrangement on "Pandora" by John Altman, recorded at Whitfield Studios, London by Mike Ross
• Leader of the Orchestra: Gavin Wright
• Additional Rhythm Programs by Andy Gray-Ling, Paul Simm & Henry Jackman
• Backing Vocals by Carol Kenyon & Tessa Niles
• Published by BMG Ufa
• Music written by Bernhard Lloyd, Marian Gold and Rick Echolette
• Words by Marian Gold
• Produced by Andy Richards for Sarm Productions

Charts

Chart (1997)! scope="col"

Peak position
Czech Republican Albums (IFPI CR)^[7]	17

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alphaville - Songs. Chartsurfer.de. www.chartsurfer.de. 1 February 2020.
2. Web site: Montrucchio . Alessandra . Interview with Marian Gold . www.michaelowencarroll.com . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210925115103/https://www.michaelowencarroll.com/av/int006.htm . Sep 25, 2021 . en . 14 October 1997 . live.
3. Web site: Interrogating Marian Gold. www.oocities.org. 1 February 2020.
4. Web site: Alphaville: album reviews and ratings. www.musicfolio.com. 2020-02-01.
5. Web site: Alphaville Little America (1999) . 20 August 2023.
6. Web site: Alphaville News – Upcoming Release: Deluxe Editions of Prostitute and Salvation. 7 September 2023 . 20 December 2023.
7. Czech Republic. Music & Media. 27 September 1997. 15. 28 May 2022. World Radio History.