Applying for a job that I had an interview for a while ago. What's the etiquette?

[MrsMuddle]

I'm just packing up to go away for the weekend, so I won't be back to this till Sunday or Monday, but TIA for responding.

I had an interview for a job in Oct / Nov, and I didn't get it, but I did get a very positive knockback letter - calibre of candidates was very high, someone else had more experience blah blah blah.

An identical post in the same place is now being advertised, and I'd like to apply again. Do I just start from scratch, or do I mention in the covering letter that I have had an interview in the past, or do I phone up and ask them if it's worthwhile applying again?

Advice, please, wise MNers.

Could you not call them and see whether they are planning on recalling previous applicants and save yourself some work?

It was actually last September - doesn't time fly! - that I had the interview. I presume they'd have destroyed the applications by now. I think I'll need to start from scratch.