Search - Alan Vega :: Saturn Strip/Just a Million Dreams

Saturn Strip is a timeless classic

Pieter | Johannesburg | 10/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ric Ocasek of The Cars produced Saturn Strip and contributed keyboards and guitar, whilst Alain Jourgensen (later of Ministry) also played keyboards. The songs are quite spectacular, highly memorable and melodious with hooks aplenty. Saturn Drive with its burbling texture opens the album and is followed by the hypnotic, dreamy Video Babe with its perfect blend of guitars and synth. American Dreamer is just keyboards and drums but quite an atmospheric number with its insistent lilting dance beat and Vega's evocative vocals, replete with yelps and kissing sounds. The uptempo Kid Congo is another catchy pop song, whilst Goodbye Darling is equally uptempo but with more of a rock feel. Other great tracks include the slow synth-torch number Je T'adore, and Angel. This wonderful 5-star album concludes with a cover of Hot Chocolate's Every 1's a Winner. Saturn Strip ranks up there in the highest pantheon of synthpop with the best of The Eurythmics, Human League and Kraftwerk. Just a Million Dreams is unfortunately not great. The songs are neither tuneful nor particularly memorable. They're not irredeemably weak, but there is a lack of spontaneity. The lyrics lack the poetic quality of the songs on Saturn Strip and good melodies are scarce. This combination therefore includes the very best and the not so good sides of synth pioneer Alan Vega. I also recommend Vega's work in the Suicide duo (with Martin Rev) and Collision Drive, his other brilliant solo album.

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