review by: Laurent Martini

Schatten Auf Der Alexander Welt is the story of Alexander Welt, who escapes into a self-created reality. Radio broadcasts are his only hope of avoiding insanity and as the album booklet tells us, "He of course fails." (ho how Deutsch!) The album is thus Alexander's story punctuated by the various radio stations he listens to. The first one is by far the best with the sound of a radio being scanned through. We hear snippets of songs, "Hotel California" is one, and talk shows. The end of this broadcast has a nice touch with Twin Peaks inspired backward talking.

The music is fascinating as Bethlehem mixes every sort of style possible, synthesizers with a slow blues saxophone and hard guitars with electronic beats. Yet this is definitely one time when I am happy not to understand what is being said because, as interesting a premise as Schatten Auf Der Alexander Welt is, it sounds like a bit too complex a storyline to make into an album (yes I know Pink Floyd pulled it off with The Wall, but they are Pink Floyd.) That point aside, when taking into consideration all the other elements brought into this project, the radio broadcasts and the eclectic music, Schatten Auf Der Alexander Welt is definitely worth buying.