Tangerine Dream

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1971/ 2011
New remastered cd release for this classic Tangerine Dream album originally released in 1971. Booklet with restored artwork, photos and liner notes. it comes with three rare bonus tracks, one previously unreleased on cd. A newly remastered and expanded edition of Tangerine Dream's classic 1971 album 'Alpha Centauri'. Recorded at the Dierks Studio in Stommeln.
The album featured a line up of Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Steve Schroyder with guests Udo Dennebourg (flute) and Roland Pualyck (synthesiser). Released in Germany, the influence of the album was immense, with the band creating imaginative sound-scapes previously unheard on record. This esoteric reactive edition is newly re-mastered and includes three bonus tracks: 'Ozillator Planet' concert has never been released on cd and was issued as part of the 1971 double album 'Ossiach Live'. Also included are both sides of the classic 'Ultima Thule' single issued in germany in 1971. The release fully restores the original album artwork and includes a lavishly illustrated booklet with new essay.
With 3 Bonustracks. 
"Alpha Centauri" is Tangerine Dream's second album (released in 1971) and is one of important significance for the band. Between their first album "Electronic Meditation" and this one, the band's personnel had shifted with Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler departing and Chris Franke and Steve Schroyder coming in to take their place with founding member Edgar Froese being the only holdover.
With the new band members also came a new musical direction. Unlike the free-form acid rock of "Electronic Meditation", "Alpha Centauri" adopts an ethereal darker experimental approach. More importantly, the album is also Tangerine Dream's first to feature synthesizers (which are played by Franke and guest musician Roland Paulyck). The synthesizer would eventually come to the forefront of the band's sound in later years when they would create some of their most innovative and pioneering electronic work.While some parts of the album sound rather dated, "Alpha Centauri" is still way ahead of its time. The album displays Tangerine Dream's unashamedness to experiment with different sounds and the end result is undoubtedly a classic of early Space music. After this album, keyboardist Steve Schryoder left the band and was replaced by Peter Baumann. Chris Franke would trade in his drum kit for a wall of synths and keyboards. This would become Tangerine Dream's first classic line-up which would begin with "Alpha Centauri's" follow-up "Zeit".
Steve Schroyder, Edgar Froese and Chris Franke.
This is the 2002 remaster with bonus track.
The CD is packed in an extra cardboard sleeve and comes with an 8 page booklet.

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1997 / 2009    
Remastered.
Ambient Monkeys began its life as pre-concert music for Tangerine Dream's 1997 European tour, and was later released on their TDI label at the request of their fans.
The album is aptly named, as the compositions fade in and out over a constant bed of prominent sound effects (which, aside from the aforementioned monkeys, also includes surf and trains). It is also ambient in the Brian Eno sense of the word, meant to be listened to as much passively as actively. Indeed, the repetitive sounds actually discourage intense listening.
The music itself includes themes from a couple classical works, altered songs from albums such as Optical Race and Green Desert and some original pieces, most of which don't linger long enough to make much of an impression.
Because of these features, it probably served its original purpose quite well. As an album, however, it is more of a curio.

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1997
Ambient Monkeys began its life as pre-concert music for Tangerine Dream's 1997 European tour, and was later released on their TDI label at the request of their fans.
The album is aptly named, as the compositions fade in and out over a constant bed of prominent sound effects (which, aside from the aforementioned monkeys, also includes surf and trains). It is also ambient in the Brian Eno sense of the word, meant to be listened to as much passively as actively. Indeed, the repetitive sounds actually discourage intense listening.
The music itself includes themes from a couple classical works, altered songs from albums such as Optical Race and Green Desert and some original pieces, most of which don't linger long enough to make much of an impression.
Because of these features, it probably served its original purpose quite well. As an album, however, it is more of a curio.

Here the last copy!

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 2010
10 CD Set with different CDs from TD.
 

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 2000  
"Antique Dreams" is an assortment of "rare" tracks, outtakes and live tracks and, like many such collections, is worth digging through. The tracks date from 1971 to 1990, with the bulk of them from the 1981-1986 era. The best tracks are, perhaps not surprisingly, the longer tracks. "Calymba Cali" (1981; 8+ min) is the very best track, with a strong synth bass sound prevalent, a track that would fit in very nicely on the "Thief" soundtrack album. "Cool Breeze of Brighton" (1986; live; 10+ min) has more an upbeat tempo and features a long Froese guitar solo. "Edinburgh's Castle" (1982, live, 8+ min) is a more gentle track that takes its time to develop. "Sorcerer and Thief" (1981, live, 6+ min) does excatly what the title suggest: 2 segments of the main themes of the respective movies, bridged nicely into one. "Oedipus Tyrannus Overture" (1974; 4+ min) is a preview of the sound to come in "Rubycon" and another great track. "Southend Mall" (1985, 4+ min) is an outake from the "Le Parc" sessions and has the same feel to it. I found tracks 4,5 and 7 (all soundtracks to German TV shows) not particularly interesting. The strangest track of all is "Ultima Thule Part 1" (1971) which according to the liner notes was a TD single; it features louds guitars and drums and doesn't sound like TD at all (if anything, it made me think of the Dutch band "Earth & Fire" on their single "Wild and Exciting" from the same era, minus the female vocals of course.) Overall, there are enough golden nuggets in this bag that make this CD another welcome addition in the TD "Classics Collection" series.

Here the last copy!

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1999
What a Blast: Architecture in Motion is another soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. It is for a documentary film of the same name.
The film is about razing buildings and the power of explosions and implosions. Edgar Froese and Jerome Froese have created an appropriately dramatic and active soundscape to accompany the images and to create imagery. This is energetic Berlin school e-music.
For fans of that style, this is a good disc.
A detonating soundtrack for a really outstanding video series about "Architecture in motion".

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1973/ 2004
"Atem" ("breathless" in German) was the first band effort to really codify the cosmic atmospherics that the Tangs quickly perfected on their other 1970's classic releases
“Atem” was atmospherically much brighter in contrast to their previous album “Zeit”. “Atem” is also one of the favourtite electronic albums from the 70's offering one of the true masterpieces from this genre. Froese, Baumann and Franke blend tons of analog synth and keyboard work to create an outerwordly 42 Minute daydream.
Progheads beware as this was the first time TD used the Mellotron on any album. Breathe was a fitting title for this album, as it does literally carry the tonal ebbs and flows of the breathing reflex.
Originally recorded at Dierks Studio, Cologne, Germany in 1973.
Digitally remastered by Thomas Heimann-Trosien (1995 Eastgate Studios, Vienna, Austria).
All music composed and played by Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann and Chris Franke.
Edgar Froese - mellotron, guitar, organ, voice.
Peter Baumann - organ, VCS3, synthesizer, piano.
Chris Franke - organ, VCS3, synthesizer, percussion and voice.
This is the LTD Japan papersleeve version.

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1973/ 2011   
This double CD contains also the legendary concert from 1973 in Berlin which is previously unreleased.
"Atem" ("breathless" in German) was the first band effort to really codify the cosmic atmospherics that the Tangs quickly perfected on their other 1970's classic releases
“Atem” was atmospherically much brighter in contrast to their previous album “Zeit”. “Atem” is also one of the favourtite electronic albums from the 70's offering one of the true masterpieces from this genre. Froese, Baumann and Franke blend tons of analog synth and keyboard work to create an outerwordly 42 Minute daydream.
Progheads beware as this was the first time TD used the Mellotron on any album. Breathe was a fitting title for this album, as it does literally carry the tonal ebbs and flows of the breathing reflex.
Originally recorded at Dierks Studio, Cologne, Germany in 1973.
Digitally remastered by Thomas Heimann-Trosien (1995 Eastgate Studios, Vienna, Austria).
All music composed and played by Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann and Chris Franke.
Edgar Froese - mellotron, guitar, organ, voice.
Peter Baumann - organ, VCS3, synthesizer, piano.
Chris Franke - organ, VCS3, synthesizer, percussion and voice.

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1998 / 2010   
"Atlantic Bridges" is part of a 2-CD release (the other part being "Atlantic Walls") intended to showcase the best of Tangerine Dream's output from the albums "Optical Race" (1988), "Lily on the Beach" (1989), "Melrose" (1990), "Rockoon" (1992), "Turn of the Tides" (1994) and "Tyranny of Beauty" (1995). There are also bonuses in the form of one track on each album from the 1997 album "Timesquare (Dream Mixes Vol. 2)". Between them, the two compilation discs cover about a third of each of the main albums. And a pretty good third at that, with the tracks allegedly being chosen by the band members themselves. Certainly, most of the tracks included have featured prominently in Tangerine Dream's concert repertoire over the years, so one can only assume that the band do indeed rate these as amongst their better works from the period. Both discs are also crammed to capacity, with some 70+ minutes of music each.

Artist: Tangerine Dream
P: 1998 / 2010   
"Atlantic Bridges" is part of a 2-CD release (the other part being "Atlantic Walls") intended to showcase the best of Tangerine Dream's output from the albums "Optical Race" (1988), "Lily on the Beach" (1989), "Melrose" (1990), "Rockoon" (1992), "Turn of the Tides" (1994) and "Tyranny of Beauty" (1995). There are also bonuses in the form of one track on each album from the 1997 album "Timesquare (Dream Mixes Vol. 2)". Between them, the two compilation discs cover about a third of each of the main albums. And a pretty good third at that, with the tracks allegedly being chosen by the band members themselves. Certainly, most of the tracks included have featured prominently in Tangerine Dream's concert repertoire over the years, so one can only assume that the band do indeed rate these as amongst their better works from the period. Both discs are also crammed to capacity, with some 70+ minutes of music each.