What Band Sounds The Most (Closest) To Alphaville)

[~MGun]

Questioning on what their sound sounds like I was wondering who everyone thought sounded closest to Alphaville.

In band reviews I notice them being referred to Ultravox quite a bit.

[Synthpopalooza]

WIthout a doubt: a-ha ... Marion Gold's voice and Morten Harket's share some very eerie similarities, in fact their latest "Salvation" CD is what a-ha music could sound like if they tried to do EBM.

As for artists in the modern scene: NukleoN ... I think Dan Burke's vocals owe alot to Marion Gold's. I also recommend the Swedish band Daily Planet.

[~Joevirus]

Visage, Ultravox, even Howard Jones.

[~Tekkrokk]

Marion undoubtably has a lot of passion in his voice, as well as a good range. I'm not sure whether I'm going out on a limb here but I would say Ian of Echo and the Bunnymen (think "The Cutter", "Never Stop", and "Killing Moon") and Matthias of Vacuum. This is solely based on vocal ability.

[Avil]

Oh my god, what is this???
Not Ultravox, thank you.
And about Daily Planet. A friend of mine is a member of this band, and he told me that sure he got influences from Alphaville, but you do hear more influences from Erasure...

I don´t wanna compare AV with bands...because that don´t do AV any justice! They are just AV!
And they sound similar to different bands depeninding on which album/songs you are talking about.

Christina

[~MGun]

Come On AVIL........try to name at least one.
REAL LIFE, A-HA, SECESSION, WOLFSHEIM???????

[Avil]

Honestly, I don´t know!
People always ask me who they sound like, but I can never give an answer. Sure they sounded like early 80´s A-ha, in the middle of the 80´s...The latest album, maybe Provision...??
I don´t know, they aren´t a pure electronic band anymore, but still aren´t similar to e.g. DM.
don´t know...I don´t wanna compare them either.

[~MGun]

Merge - Lost In Eternity.

Somehow this song has always reminded me of Alphaville.
More of Romeos style.

[~Joevirus]

Originally posted by Avil
Oh my god, what is this???
Not Ultravox, thank you.
...They are just AV!
And they sound similar to different bands depeninding on which album/songs you are talking about.

Christina


I agree that they are just AV, but when I hear songs like Big In Japan or Victory Of Love, I put them in the same boat with Visage's Fade To Grey, Ultravox's Vienna, Howard Jones' What Is Love, etc...

[Avil]

I guess that depends on that they all were hits back in the 80´s, belonging to the same "kinda" music, what they called synthpop/new wave back then.
I mean, hearing those songs now, they aren´t very similar are they?

[~JonatanSweden]

It's hard to say which bands that sound like AV, but there are a few bands that many AV-fans like. Some of these are:
OMD, A-Ha, De/Vision, Mesh, Wolfsheim, New Order, Erasure, Duran Duran, Fancy, Pet Shop Boys, Camouflage

[~MGun]

Never heard of Fancy, can you recommend something from them.

[~JonatanSweden]

No sorry...I have never heard anything with Fancy either...I just know that some Av-fans listen to them. I have no idea what kind of music they make.

[Avil]

If I´m not mistaken Fancy is one of those one hit wonders....as far as I know..(ok, now a lot of people see AV as one hit wonders, but...) They made a song called Slice me nice.
Typical 80´s synthpop.

But I still can´t compare AV to these bands...

[~MGun]

With Erasure, Depeche Mode, and New Order, we see a lot of "wanna-be's" who try to immitate these bands and come close to sounding like them. Yet we don't see any that are trying to ape Alphaville. Why is that?

[~JonatanSweden]

You need a voice like Marian Gold's if you want to copy Alphaville...not many bands have that unfortunately. Possibly Aha.

[~MGun]

Possibly A-ha???????????

I'd hate to burst your bubblegum, but Morten Harket actually does have a greater voice than A-ha. just listen to the song Scoundrel Days. Stay On These Roads and Train Of Thought will prove this too.

Bring it on Avil, your idol has been shadowed.

[Avil]

Morten Harket having a greater voice than A-ha? LOL :D

No, seriously.
Marian Gold is unique. he got a unique voice, noone got a voice similar to it. then when it comes to however the range is bigger or whatever, that´s another question. Many singers have a big range, but the important part is however the singer can make it sound good. like Marian.he got the most perfect voice ever, live or on the albums. Morten can go to bed...;)

MGun, I wont hit you this time...:)

/Christina

[~Tekkrokk]

Morten Harket and Marian Gold cannot be compared. They both have completely different voices and singing techniques.

[~MGun]

I stand by my rioutous remark. Gold is good but Harket could go where no synth singer has gone before. Harket is unique too. Along with Heppner, that guy from TalkTalk, etc. a lot of singers are unique, but as far as quality goes, Gold is Good but Harket is Greater.

[Avil]

Noone is bigger than Bernie or smarter than gold...(anyone understood that one?)

NONONONONO!
Alphaville is the best! Marian Gold got a golden voice, blessed by something higher than us!!! (and there isn´t anything higher than AV, so I guess they blessed themselves :)

[~Hajas]

Alphaville has a unique sound like Mesh, Iris and others....

And that's why they are one of the best bands around the world, they created his own style. and this is great! :)

Freddy

[~JonatanSweden]

No way Morten Harket's voice is better than Gold's!
Morten's voice is just boring. Sorry, but he only sounds like he's trying to be gay.
Marian's voice is a message from heaven
..
hehehe

[~Hajas]

I love AV and A-ha, and I saw A-ha last week live here in Rio and was really great!

Morten vocals seams better and perfect through the times (I also saw them alive in 1991).

Marian also have a great voice, but in my opinion Morten still singing better.

Freddy

[Avil]

well I guess it´s a matter of taste.
For me, Marian´s voice is THE VOICE. the voice of God!

Hearing it can make me cry or laugh. it´s wonderful

well all vocalists are special in their own way

[~MGun]

I am interested in knowing what it is you are currently smoking right now Avil??? Because I try to see it your way and the colors just don't match. Maybe on the other side of the world everything just looks backwards. You know how when your north of the equator the toilet flushes in the opposite direction of the southern equator. Maybe your brain just functions the complete opposite of those on this side of the globe. This is just an interesting insight, I don't want you to get offended by anything.

However Morten is better. it is just a fact. though Marian is pretty good. and Alphaville is the better band.

[Avil]

I don´t need to smoke anything when I have alphaville.
I will always think that Marian got the better voice, nothing would change my mind. I´m sold.

And don´t worry, I didnt get offended or something, I´just an AV-manic, and you all know that.

Morten is good, very talanted, but not the best.

[~Hajas]

the best singer that I had a chance to hear was Wayne Hussey from The Mission, this guy sing VERY EASY.

He can turn frow low to high notes and vice-versa and until cry without lose a single note, he is fantastic.

he also written, played and done backing vocals on Dead or Alive and The Sisters of Mercy.

Freddy

[~MGun]

Wayne Hussey eh?? Never heard of him. However I am willing to allow your post to be the truce between the Morten Harket vrs. Marian (or should I say Marion) Gold war. We should all now pretend as though the dispute is settled with no hard feelings towards each other over what was said. There.

(Unless Avil still believes she's got a case)

[~jingles]

It's one of my life's ambitions to be able to understand all of the lyrics of an A-Ha song ! Still can't make out half the words to Take On Me !!!!!

[Avil]

Originally posted by jingles
It's one of my life's ambitions to be able to understand all of the lyrics of an A-Ha song ! Still can't make out half the words to Take On Me !!!!!

what do you mean with this? don´t have the lyrics for the song or what??

And MGun...hehe, I know what I think, I know what you think, and you know this aswell...we´ll just leave it..hehe...

(Marian for the people...)

[~MGun]

Let me see here...

We're talking away
I don't know what
I'm to say I'll say it anyway
Today's another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for your love, OK?

CHORUS:
Take on me, take me on
I'll be gone
In a day or two

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is OK
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

CHORUS

Oh the things that you say
Is it live or
Just to play my worries away
You're all the things I've got to remember
You're shying away
I'll be coming for you anyway

Maybe this will fulfill your ambition.

[~MGun]

PETER GODWIN, the man's music sounds like the music of Alphaville. I would say he was a copycat if he hadn't debuted two years prior to Alphaville. This all dawned on me while I was listening to Images Of Heaven, and I couldn't help thinking how similar he sounds to them. Maybe he doesn't sound exactly like Alphaville, however he sounds closer than anyone else.

[Avil]

Originally posted by MGun
PETER GODWIN, the man's music sounds like the music of Alphaville. I would say he was a copycat if he hadn't debuted two years prior to Alphaville. This all dawned on me while I was listening to Images Of Heaven, and I couldn't help thinking how similar he sounds to them. Maybe he doesn't sound exactly like Alphaville, however he sounds closer than anyone else.

Really? Haven´t heard anything with this guy! Which AV-era is he reminding of then? I mean, sounding like AV as in AIU or as in Prostitute?

[~MGun]

He sounds like Alphaville as in the first album. Sounding like songs like Sounds Like A Melody, A Victory Of Love, Fallen Angel, and (maybe even) Red Rose. It's his synthesizer that does it for him, the melodies in Images Of Heaven make the song a timeless classic. IMHO the song was the best song of 1982.

[Avil]

Images of Heaven, gotta find that song then! Which album was it available on?
Or is it only that single song?

[~MGun]

The only solo album I'm ever aware of him doing is Dance Emotions from 1982. The songs I like on there are Images Of Heaven, Emotional Disguise, and Baby's In The Mountains. I'm not sure about where to find it or its availability. However Images Of Heaven is the must song, and is available on countless compilations.

[Avil]

Well I guess I have to track it down then!
Images of heaven...will search for it and see what I can find. Anything that sounds like Alphaville must be great!

[~MGun]

No real need to get into a frantic rush, today I am thinking he sounds like Alphaville, tomorrow I may think differently. It's a great song from the 80's and it surprises me that you've never heard of it. However I do not want you getting it and becoming disappointed and mad at me for it. You more than likely will like it if you like Alphaville, Secession, The Human League, Yazz, etc. Thinking of it again, it just keeps reminding me of Alphaville, I can't put him closer to any other band, except maybe Atlantic Popes.

[~SynthezObserver]

i wonder why so many intelligent people here still misspell Hartwig's nickname?? Avil baby, maybe you should give a lesson or two??

AV style remains unique tho the gears aint being substituted for up-to-date ones. MariaAn still uses his old-fashioned piano to play the most wonderful tunes of the world. And there's no proper comparision to this band...

Avil what can ya add??

[Avil]

Alphaville is truly a unique band,and I guess you all know how much I LOVE this band. To be totally honest, I would die for this band.

And people...it´s MARIAN GOLD...not MARION...*smiles*

Would it be easier to just say Hartwig Schierbaum? ;)

Christina

[~MGun]

I realize the way you feel for them Avil. There has and never will be a band like them. I don't think there could ever be a better band. BTW maybe I missed something previously....but who is Hartwig?

[~SynthezObserver]

hey
Hartwig is a real name of Alphaville frontman also known as MariAn Gold.

there are no real names left mostly in the this syn.

[Avil]

Originally posted by MGun
BTW maybe I missed something previously....but who is Hartwig?

Well as the nice little one said before me, Hartwig is Marian´s real name.
I guess Marian Gold is a bit more flashier than Hartwig Schierbaum.

Bernhard Lloyd´s real name is Bernhard Gössling. :D

[~Trent]

Sorry to be a budinski...Just came in here for a peek and noticed this thread...I am in agreement with Avil...and I also think that one thing that Marian (Hartwig Schierbaum) has the upper hand in with his voice/technique etc. is his soul...The man pours so much into his singing that you can just feel it move you...He does have a Golden voice...as for Morten, he definately has great range and I love a-ha as well...But he just does not have that Umph that Marian has....IMHO =)

[~Visage-the-toy]

yes they both have very different singing styles and a great singers but vocally my favourite is Andy Bell... no one can top him.. he sounds exactly the same both recorded & live. He can hit the high notes (as my voice turns falsetto) but can also hit the deep, down, dirty low notes also (as my voice deepens)...