X-PERIENCE LOST IN PARADISE ALBUM MAJOR RELEASE: NOVEMBER, 2006 REVIEW: JANUARY 10, 2007

Doomed to spend eternity in the vast pool of oblivion, German synthpop trio X-perience, fronted by redhead Claudia Uhle (also in Angelzoom), popped back into the spotlight with the dreamy "Return to Paradise" single this October. My last encounter with the band was their debut "Magic Fields" from 1996, which did spawn several big hits in Germany, but as they lacked distribution elsewhere the band never really took off internationally.

Two more albums have seen completion in the ten years passed since their first born, both of which failed to maintain the momentum created through "Magic Fields". "Lost in Paradise", the brand new album (the first in over six years), seems to have resurrected an interest in X-perience, as its sales have initially blossomed. Not much is new sound wise, but the song writing has received a significant face lift.

"Personal Heaven" sees an unexpected collaboration with former Ultravox vocalist Midge Ure with a very happy ending. A strong track written by Ure, in fact it might be his best since the Ultravox days (his solo albums were very fragmented in quality) where his vocals sound ever so potent. They contrast well with Uhle's high pitch singing too (she has a three octave range), creating variety on a similar sounding album. Similar, but overall pretty good as a pop album, "Lost in Paradise" delivers catchieness and a unique voice in the ever flowing stream from the big German music machine.

NIKLAS FORSBERG