Tangerine Dream - My Appraisal.

[foxysounds]

Hi Dave,

You're not really comparing like with like. Tangerine Dream have done well over 50 albums - some are experimental and pushed the boundaries of synthesis at the time but are not melodic. Others are very melodic while being less experimental.

If you like Oxygene and Equinox then you clearly like a large slice of melody with your EM - in which case you have bought completely the wrong TD albums. You might be better off with any or all of the following: Underwater sunlight, Le Parc or Exit.

Some of their albums fall somewhere between these 2 extremes - consisting of long, evolving pieces where melodies emerge, evolve and fade again - perhaps into an altogether different melody or perhaps into some interesting sounds to keep you occupied until the next tune comes along. For me, these are the best of their albums and they include Tangram, Hyperborea, Logos and Livemiles.

Oh - they've done a fair few film soundtracks too but I don't go a whole bundle on those.

I have Phaedra on vinyl. It has a beautiful gatefold sleeve ... but I never play it :-)

Simon.

[aquapiranha]

My favourites are Ricochet and phaedra (sp?) I also used to like Le Parc, and oh I like Thief also.

[The Grand Wazoo]

................Now then, where did I put my copy of 'No Pussyfooting'?

[DSJR]

I have that ready to play - I did Evening Star the other day...

Artists that have been recording for decades have followers of different eras. My love affair with TD mainly spans the "Franke" years from approx 1972 - 1988, with special fondness for the Baumann era from 1972 to 1977. After 1988, the band lost it for me to a large extent, but they gained a whole new generation of fans in the nineties, who can't "get" the stuff I love so much.

I also love some of Klaus Schulze's music, the meandering "Koniunuum" being played this lunchtime.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I also love some of Klaus Schulze's music, the meandering "Koniunuum" being played this lunchtime.

This is new to me - giving it a go as I type (low-fi Spotify style).

Edit: most of the way through the album - Now, this I like!!!!! I'll be playing it again sometime when I can use the gain control with wild abandon.

I think I saw a Klaus Schulze lp in a local charity shop the other day- if it's still there tomorrow, I'll be cleansing my soul & widening my musical horizons. Thanks a lot!

[foxysounds]

My love affair with TD mainly spans the "Franke" years from approx 1972 - 1988, with special fondness for the Baumann era from 1972 to 1977. After 1988, the band lost it for me to a large extent, but they gained a whole new generation of fans in the nineties, who can't "get" the stuff I love so much.

Personally I'm not too fond of much they did before 1980 (although Stratosfear was pretty good). I agree that they lost it a bit after 1988. Optical Race was the last one I really enjoyed and even that is not as good as some of its predecessors.

My alltime favourites are Tangram, Hyperborea and Tyger. Tyger is a bit of a departure for the band because it is one of only a very small number of TD albums to feature a singer. I didn't like those tracks at first but they grew on me. The 20 minute instrumental "Alchemy of the heart" is often overlooked because it is on the Tyger album which is a shame because to my mind it was TD at their very best and probably my single favourite track by the band.

Having said all that, I recently heard Tournado (1999) and thought it was pretty good so I guess I ought to investigate some others around that time.

Simon.

[DSJR]

"Alchemy" was one of the later high-points for me as is the second part of "Song of the Whale pt2" from Underwater Sunlight.

You know, Dave-n-Sue may well prefer Phaedra 2005 to the original. I don't!!!!!!!!! I played the original again today and it still gives me goosebumps, especially as a fantasy of mine is to be able to patch, programme and play a big modular synth...

Talking of TeeDee sounds on a modular, check out "Siliconsequences" on Youtube. There used to be two versions and it's a joy to me to watch the 960 style sequencers "played" on the fly...

[Barry]

I'm not really qualified to comment since I only have JMJ's 'Oxygene' and TM's 'Phaedra', 'Zeit' and 'Green Desert'. I like them all, though I would agree that JMJ is more melodic than TM. However TM's sublime 'Pheadra' is an almost perfect soundscape and ideal listening at the end of a long night's session (make of that what you will!).

[Haselsh1]

................Now then, where did I put my copy of 'No Pussyfooting'?

OMG...!!! 'No Pussyfooting' was the most superb piece of experimental music I remember from the seventies. I loved 'Here Come The Warm Jets' as well. I think a lot of the success of this genre of music was that it had never been heard before and was truly groundbreaking. Well, it was either that or all those spliffs.

[Barry]

OMG...!!! 'No Pussyfooting' was the most superb piece of experimental music I remember from the seventies. I loved 'Here Come The Warm Jets' as well. I think a lot of the success of this genre of music was that it had never been heard before and was truly groundbreaking. Well, it was either that or all those spliffs.

In my case, it was more likely due to the consumption of 'da holy 'erbs, Man!

I still have LP copies of Eno's 'Before and After Science', 'Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy' and 'Another Green World'. Love them all.

Regards