CrumbächerEscape from the Fallen Planet (25th Anniversary Edition)
Frontline Music / KMG – 2011

Crumbächer was founded in 1983 by Stephen Crumbächer, Dawn Wisner and her brother Jimmy. The band clearly has its roots in the New Wave. Their debut album ‘Incandescent’ was released in 1985 by Broken. The band signed in 1986 with the newly formed Frontline Records. A record company that would be groundbreaking for the CCM industry. The band started working on a science fiction concept album titled “Escape From The Fallen Planet. Both the artwork and the songs on the album illustrate a Christian life in a world without God. Themes such as making choices and temptations packaged in a science fiction setting.

The album is written as a story of a Christian living in a sinful world. “Solo Flight” is an instrumental track that takes us to another planet. Unfortunately we are blown off course and become ‘Crashlanded In Another Time Zone’. A nice poppy, catchy synth track. We continue with ‘Identical Twins’. A track reminiscent of Alphaville. The song is about an inner conflict between good and evil in mankind.

“Name Droppers” is a more up-tempo song. Not the best track on the album, but certainly fits well into the story of the ‘Fallen Planet’. After this roller-coaster the story continues with “Royal Command Performance’.

Tourist Trap again is a reminiscent of Alphaville. It’s a track about temptations in this world. We leave the dark side of the planet with “Life of the Party”and “Alma Mater – Graduating Class’ and finally come to the brilliant closer ” Interstellar Satellite. Definitely the best track on the album.

It is obvious that “Escape from the Fallen Planet” is not the best album of the 80’s, but it was a whole experience. Fortunately, because of this 25th anniversary edition we can relive this experience.

Review by: Sieto Kooijker for Untombed.com