For me, this publication is clearly the highlight of this year. The buyer gets here basically a (nearly) complete list of all published in Europe Maxi versions (except Romeos - Tribal Mix, the there was only one US Promo) and B-sides of Alphaville the creative period from 1984 to 1989 at an affordable price , More Alphaville does not work! And it was not promised too much that remastering was implemented perfectly for my taste. The most positive thing first - the items are not like the Loudness War victim. Blank & Jones have done a great job. All tracks come incredibly clean and clear, even when a slight noise is present in the intros of some titles (Seeds, The Golden Feeling). Wonder I did not expect, and so of course stay on this release - the shots correspondingly thin - like for example on Remastered Editions of Depeche Mode, the Pet Shop Boys or Erasure. But that's why every single title retains its original naturalness and the typical charm of the 80s.
Something different than usual, we find the long version of Sounds Like A Melody here. At the very first listening, I noticed a change to, but I first thought of a mistake on my part, because I had not heard the version long. But the direct comparison with the vinyl disc confirmed my guess. Well sounds somehow incomplete on the vinyl, which was perfectly normal for over 20 years, it simply missing a few tenths at the beginning of the title. What happened? Was subsequently tinkered a new, complete early for so80s publication? Was the original release in 1984 fudged? Maybe this can anyone enlighten here.
Another subtle change to the original can be heard in The Elevator. On this CD the intro does not sound as usual. When listening through headphones in a direct comparison with the vinyl single then notice that apparently filters were used in the Remaster, which now easily distort the intro. But even that is only noticeable to the real fans, the home the title to the last detail and know them by heart.
The only new piece for me is the bonus track, the Torsten Fenslau remix of Big In Japan. Why this was not then published, it is now clear to me. More or less inconsequential he splashes with the known sample beats then, as already used in Milli Vanillis Girl You Know Its True or PM Dawn Set Adrift On Memory Bliss. Thanks anyway, that this title (even if only for completeness) has been taken into account for this publication.
On the stock selection there for me to complain only that the 88 remix of Big In Japan was not necessary here, because these were already, if not remastered, on the still available CD The Singles Collection. But one could better the 7 versions of Sounds Like A Melody and / or Jet Set can finally publish on CD.
The double-CD comes in a regular jewel case, therefore, here I would have liked a digipack, or at least a cardboard slipcase. But all this is whining at the highest level - everything is good! Thank also to B & J, for this long-overdue release!
Addendum: For the interested follow here the mixes, which have not been published on this CD:
Red Rose - Dub Mix
Sensations - Dub Mix (published only in France and Spain)
Romeos - Extended Version
Romeos - Teknopella (released only in the United States as a promo)
Romeos - Balcony Mix (in the US only as a promo published)