This Time by Akina Stevens And The Winners: A Retro Punch to the Ears
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—This Time isn’t your run-of-the-mill pop-rock snooze fest. Released in 1989 under CBS, this album smacks you across the face with its blend of synth-pop slickness and rock grit. It’s like someone took a neon-lit arcade machine, dumped it into a grungy Berlin club, and hit play. Germany? Europe? Yeah, that Euro flair is all over this record, but don’t expect some pretentious art piece. This sucker hits hard.
First up, “This Time (Midnight Mix).” Holy crap, where do I even start? This track grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The synths are sharp enough to cut glass, layered over punchy drums that scream late-night drives through empty city streets. You can practically smell the leather jacket vibe here. Jürgen Fritz’s mix on this one? Pure fire. He didn’t just tweak levels—he weaponized them. If you’re looking for something to crank while staring out a rain-soaked window feeling sorry for yourself, this is IT. No joke, it’s stuck in my head like gum on a shoe.
Then there’s “Dust In The Wind.” Wait… nope, wrong band. But seriously, their version of whatever they were going for still bangs. Okay fine, maybe not as iconic as Kansas’, but damn if it ain’t got soul. Akina’s vocals are raw, almost unhinged at points, like she’s daring you to feel every ounce of emotion she’s throwing down. Producer Thomas Hen deserves props for letting her go full throttle instead of smoothing out the edges. Feels real. Feels messy. Feels human.
Now, about those extra versions of “This Time”—the Extended Version drags a bit, honestly. Like, we get it, you love synthesizers. But when it works, it REALLY works. That intro alone could wake the dead. Or at least annoy your neighbors at 3 AM. Worth it though.
Here’s the kicker: listening to This Time feels like stepping into a time capsule from an alternate universe where MTV never died and everyone wore neon leg warmers unironically. Sure, it’s rough around the edges, but that’s what makes it stick. It’s not perfect—it’s alive.
So yeah, give this bad boy a spin if you want music that punches back. Just don’t blame me if you end up daydreaming about shoulder pads and big hair. Oh, and hey—if anyone knows why Dust wasn’t actually in the wind during recording, hit me up. I need answers.
