Let's Talk About Tangerine Dream (with "Raum" Review)

A brief history of German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream, including essential albums and a review of their latest album, "Raum".
00:00 - Intro
01:38 - Exit
02:23 - Intro, pt. 2
03:04 - Phaedra
04:46 - Rubycon
05:26 - Stratosfear
06:37 - Ricochet
06:47 - Force Majeure
07:12 - Tangram
09:19 - Logos
10:20 - Exit, Pt. 2
11:19 - White Eagle & Hyperborea
12:07 - Firestarter
12:28 - Poland
12:54 - Risky Business & Le Parc
14:59 - Underwater Sunlight
15:34 - Tyger & Optical Race
16:32 - Lily On the Beach & Melrose
17:43 - The 90's
18:26 - Jeanne D'Arc
19:16 - Edgar Allan Poe's The Island of the Fay
19:28 - Mala Kunia
20:34 - Quantum Key
21:11 - Quantum Gate
22:33 - The Sessions
24:35 - Raum
26:08 - Conclusion A brief history of German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream, including essential albums and a review of their latest album, "Raum".

[@Plexpara]

I abolute Love Tangerine Dream. Their music give ....me a special feeling like no other music. Hard to explain. And i cant really find a other band like this. Even the solo stuff from the Members of Tangerine Dream is not exactly the same as Tangerine Dream. Also like their wide genre-range. Pop, Space, Jungle music etc. No matter what tehy do it got Quality

[@Tangobob1]

The excerpt from Logos you are looking for is called "Logos - The velvet Part" 😉

[@johna3607]

To this day, I listen to them more than anybody else. Daily.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Nice! I'm not quite that frequent, but I would say TD is probably my most listened to artist. In fact, I'm watching the DVD of Canyon Dreams as I type this!

[@johna3607]

@@jacobprestidge5487 Check out the d v d of luminous visions.

[@daveuk1324]

Thank you for posting this excellent summary. I have been a fan of TD since 1976 when I was 13. I have seen them 4 times over the years at different periods. The first time was at the Apollo in Manchester, UK probably around 1978. They had a magnificent laser show - unheard of back then. There was no speaking, no focus on the band. All you could see was a black stage with pulsating synth lights and sine waves on oscilloscopes. Mind blowing for a 70s teen and I still dream about it. Last time I saw them was at the Royal Albert Hall in London with my son. Actually his first gig. TD is such an underrated band producing some of the most beautiful and influential music from any group. I agree that Quantum Gate and Raum are brilliant reconnections with their best. Let's hope for more great music yet to come. Edgar RIP.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

I'm so jealous of people who got to see TD live back in the 70s and 80s! Thanks for sharing!

[@darklorddisco]

Excellent overview! There's gems from every era of TD. My "favorite" album of theirs changes all the time. Can't say that for many artists!

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Indeed - it's an incredible discography!

[@NewAgeGigolo]

Coming from a fan who began listening to, and collecting, TD since I was 12 years old in 1982(!) (and even named our daughter 'PHAEDRA').....you did an OUTSTANDING job in summarizing this band's discography and musical legacy. I must admit that I am too 'close' to this music to have been able to have succeeded where you did. That is stepping back and reanalyzing this music from the vantage-point of a new listener...and hopefully fan! Welcome to our unique club! P.S. Did you finally see them in concert as they recently gave their first American tour in almost 20 YEARS?!

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for welcoming me to the club - I'm so happy to have discovered this incredible music! I WAS finally able to see them in San Diego during this recent tour where Steve Roach was a guest musician for the Sessions portion of the show. It was an incredible night!

[@bosmeck]

If I can drop my two cents in here, this album/soundtrack Miracle Mile (1988) was a shocker for me. This soundtrack by TD is simply amazing for two reasons, the first being it fits the movie perfect. Furthermore, the movie itself is also brilliant and often gets well overlooked and today, is now becoming a cult classic movie. The second reason is the subtle experimentation in the tracks. For example, the track "Running out of time" plays with bass and it's amazing, deep and directional notes are well controlled and will leave you breathless. I say breathless mainly because the bass is that deep (almost organ deep) you start to worry about your speakers.(grin) This entire album/soundtrack is top draw and would easily finish in my top ten albums of TD. I recommend getting the CD for this soundtrack mainly because its full resolution for the best experience. Your review of the band was a pleasure to watch, well done.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

I recently got Miracle Mile on cd myself. While I wasn't a huge fan of the movie personally, I did like the soundtrack, especially the track you mentioned, "Running Out of Time". It felt a little like an updated "Love On a Real Train", in my opinion. Thanks so much for the comment!

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@jacobprestidge5487 A little side note. I met Paul Haslinger some years ago and he was proud of their work on this soundtrack. He noted at the time a lot of filmmakers wanted TD to re-create Love on a Real Train, and the band recoiled. But what they did in response was create some similar sounding, but original tracks. Bonding by Candlelight from Three O'Clock High is in this vein. Perhaps Purposes of Brevity from L' affaire Wallraff as well. My personal favorite track from Miracle Mile is After the Call.

[@STEPNEYHECKLER-hv3mv]

I bought Tangram in 1980. I also saw them live at Brighton Pavilion in 1986.

[@Tangobob1]

Well done , and in general I agree with most of how you see it. But by the way , Vangelis surely won't produce any Music anymore because he is dead. And , sorry to say " Phaedra" is the more musical Album compared to Tomitas " Bermuda Triangel " ? Even Edgar confirmed that all Music on " Phaedra" was more or less happened coincedently , while Isao was absoulutely knowing what he was doing. Anyway. If you don't own it already I really would recomend you the Book " Force Majeure the Autobiographie of Edgar Froese " where you - among other great Storys - finde out that it was Edgar and his Family getting David Bowie rid of his Heroin addiction. Best Wishes , you did a great job.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks so much! I don't have the Force Majeure book - I'll have to check it out!

[@riskydigitsta1794]

I’d be lying if I hadn’t watched this video before haha. I keep coming back to this video man. Great discussion, of one of my fav groups. I saw you put this video in a playlist. Did you have intention to do more of these videos? Well you should! Quality stuff bud.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks so much! We'll see what the future holds...

[@frontdesk9662]

Well done, Jacob. As someone who already knows all this history and has all these albums (and many many more) you've done a great job of condensing the story for the uninitiated.

[@wyndsrfr16]

Thanks so much!

[@dirklyssens8936]

Splendid review of TD. Huuuge TD fan for more than 40 years now. Have seen them 3 times now live. Always a great concert. Love TD. RIP Edgar. Greetings Dirk Belgium.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment. I'm very excited to see TD live for the first time this September in San Diego!

[@dirklyssens8936]

@@jacobprestidge5487 you won't regret it. Especially Phaedra. This was mindblowing. Greetings Dirk Belgium

[@christiane.g.4142]

The creative brilllance of Edgar Froese cannot be overstated! Such an exquisitely-gifted German composer! I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY, mr. Froese! I could always see the portrait you were trying to paint with your music! Your solo album "Aqua" really spoke to me! One day, i will sojourn to Berlin and weep at your memorial.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Edgar was one of a kind for sure. His music touched so many of us.

[@1-JBL]

A great overview. I'm one of those guys who likes the Sessions discs -- they take the sound to some places the 70s band never did -- but I agree with you on RAUM, it's very good stuff. To me, a solid masterpiece.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Glad you're enjoying Raum and the Sessions!

[@jeanlot]

Thanks for your story telling about a band that i love. I agree with u, Thorsten Q and co. with Quantum Gate an Raum did and incredible work, modern and nostalgic at the same time . Edgar will be proud

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment. I agree that Edgar would be proud. Quantum Gate and Raum are so good!

[@bogdan1186]

It was a "very short" but GREAT introduction to Tangerine Dream's music. Now it remains to discover all the secrets alone. Super

[@tangerine825]

TD Brilliant Electronic Music Band ! Poland Loves Tangerine Dream ! Thanks Jacob ;-)

[@janpieternieman5295]

I love le parc miracle Mile Thief and underwater sunlight. I love le parc, I think its a genius album. Thats because my love for Roland synths i think.

[@robertforman3494]

Ok, just looked through the comments and would like to add a couple of things for you to check out if you haven’t yet. I’m a fan since I saw them live in 1977 with the Laserium show. Just so amazing. But my favorite TD period was with Johannes Schmoelling. He has a number of solo albums you should check out. My favorites are Wuivend Reit and White Out, but they are all interesting. You should also check out some of the live stuff available through the fan Tangerine Tree project. In particular the really great full 1980 concert in East Berlin and the concerts from their 1980 tour of which the one in Belgium and the one at the Preston Guild Hall are my favorites. Also, there are some really good recordings of their 1986 European tour. Whatever era of TD, seeing them in live performance was something really special. I consider the show they did in 1980 at the Warfield theater in San Francisco my all time favorite concert, and I’ve seen so many including the original Pink Floyd The Wall show. That was spectacular but those three guys playing in the dark with only some netting and dry ice smoke beat anything else I’ve ever seen.

[@Jorenanthony]

Good job. I learned a bit, and agreed a lot in terms of opinion. For example, my fav period is the Johannes period, same as you. The other interesting thing about TD is/was the Tangerine Tree bootleg collection which was organized by fans. In the opening track (35 minutes) of Nottingham ‘76 (the first TT release) one can hear the classic lineup at their absolute in-concert peak. Simply a perfect (once in a lifetime moment) kind of performance with unwavering tension, wonderful passages and interesting layers. You get to hear the crowd go berserk as soon as they finish.

[@stanstan2782]

Hello Jacob . Thanks for your wonderful TD review . I completely agree with your opinion about Quantum Gate . I love this album. Especially the first track. I also enjoy Raum. Thanks for discussing about Exit . I will definitely check it out next .

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Hi Stan. Thanks for the comment. I hope you enjoy Exit!

[@FSRubyc]

I'll add the Dream mixes albums, on which Edgar and his son collaborate, revisitng old themes and give them cool rithems taken from disco music.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Good call! I have the first one, but I'll have to look into acquiring the others as well.

[@ricardomessina3800]

A great Tangerine Dream primer! The perfect introduction for anyone interested in this band... Thank you Jacob!

[@barriniho]

Dream Sequence is the best album to start with, if you're new to Tangerine Dream IMO.

[@PROPHETVberlinschule]

An excellent review, Jacob. I think Force Majeure is one of their finest creations, followed by Poland. When Johannes left they turned more towards New Age music and I stopped following them when Chris departed, until Thorsten joined the band and this coincided with the release of some excellent albums. They have now rediscovered much of that older TD vibe and the various Sessions recordings are outstanding, as is the new album, RAUM. Long may they continue😎🙂

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks so much for the comment! I've checked out numerous of TD's albums initially through your channel. I completely agree - Thorsten's joining really invigorated the music, and I've become really excited again to hear what fresh new sounds and innovations each new release holds.

[@shaft9000]

Force Majeure ftw!... my sentimental favorite of all the studio records, and one of the penultimate instrumental space-rock sounds ever put on record. Their last record that's loaded with Mellotron - before that Synclavier arrived. [ see my KZbin channel for a redux of _Thru Metamorphic Rocks'_ 2nd half, performed in realtime on my modcan :]

[@Zbranek001]

Excellent review.. 💫. They were just here in Austin Texas for SXSW.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

I saw that. I'm in California, and was so sad to be unable to get to Austin to see them! Hopefully they'll visit the U.S. again soon.

[@davidbutler8096]

@@jacobprestidge5487 Couple of shows in CA later this year. It's going to be a nerdfest...LOL I'll always cherish the afternoon I ran into Edgar and his lovely wife before the show in Napa. Good times.

[@paulbusfield5774]

Excellent run down of TD music! Brilliant thanks 👍

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks!

[@williamsiyanko4631]

I love Tangerine Dream. I have all there Cd 💿 s

[@mntbighker]

Pergamon is one of the all time best TD albums. I'm shocked it's missing here. Optical Race was my first intro to TD, and the concert was the best engineered I've seen (even in a bad venue). The warm up act was Andy Summers solo on a midi guitar. Linda Spa's Saxophone at the Rockoon concert was spectacular, and I think the sax addition is maybe the only thing elevating the new age era. I was also very pleasantly surprised by Raum. Raum is really the first sign for me that TD can continue after Edgar. Listen to Pergamon IMMEDIATELY. Parts of are to me almost bottled joy. The first album to recommend to anyone is the double album Dream Sequence. It's the early TD combo plate. I like to say that the guys who started TD were the masters of tension build, hold, and release. Mostly Edgar really. It's not something you can accomplish with a 3 minute track. I don't honestly think Jerome has that gift, but he has plenty to offer thankfully.

[@andrewgarley1400]

Exit is my Fav too. I am working on Kiew Mission at the moment...

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Nice!

[@sammay600]

I think I have heard every release by them at least once. I like all of it.

[@maxpaape5412]

Great condensed review on a great band. I saw them twice in the 80s. They opened for Frank Zappa at the Warner theater really good

[@jacobprestidge5487]

I'm jealous! 80s TD is my favorite TD. With that said, I just saw them about a month ago in San Diego and it was a great show as well.

[@dfo132]

You should find Paul Haslinger’s first 3 solo albums after leaving TD: Future Primitive (1994), World Without Rules (1996), and Score (1999). Terrific techno/jazzy/world music fusion. Much more exciting than anything TD did in the 90s.

[@Tangobob1]

Except for "Melrose" and "Lilly otb", I agree.

[@patrickcarlson4020]

Well done retrospective. I would suggest adding a mention of Green Desert and “Too Hot for My Chinchilla “

[@patrickcarlson4020]

Green Desert kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaq8k5ytadaDf8U&feature=share

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the suggestions - I do have Green Desert, but for some reason that album doesn't do a whole lot for me. "Too Hot for My Chinchilla" is a fun track for sure!

[@rickramos3358]

Great TD overview! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@jayarbe60]

I'm curious as to why you missed 'Cyclone'. It was something of a curious experiment with vocals and drums. Some good music and some very bizarre lyrics.

[@nicholasburgess7035]

Fab review. They are such a complex band, quite difficult to categorise/pigeon hole but you did a great job. I think we have similar tastes for their styles over the years ie Choronzon was my first exposure then I soaked up their back catalogue. Have seen them live a few times in the UK and have a ticket for Manchester in November - can't wait.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment! I'll be seeing them live for the first time in San Diego in September. I can't wait either!

[@darklorddisco]

Would love to hear your thoughts on TD's recent collab with Blood Incantation

[@jacobprestidge5487]

I hadn't heard about this. Will check it out on my drive home. Thanks for the heads up!

[@janpieternieman5295]

The best review I have ever heard man ! 🎉

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thank you so much!

[@chrisknowlton9460]

Great rundown of their history. Pretty inclusive and concise although I was surprised you skipped over the 1986 Legend soundtrack which has some of the most haunting tracks in their discography.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment, Chris. I honestly haven't really listened to the Legend soundtrack yet, though I would really like to, as it is definitely from my favorite era.

[@colinthomson7518]

Great Band, Logos is a classic and Brilliant Album. Live Miles is also a really Good Album.

[@shaft9000]

Just about every album up through Melrose (and a few peppered about afterwards) have something going for it. More often than not each record has a unique sound and implements ongoing advances in instrumentation, sequencing and/or new recording+mixing tech. Beware of the 90s inward - once Schmoelling left it became more of Edgar's pet ex-hippy project featuring an aesthetically awkward live "band" and a lot of redundant material that's lacking most of the innovation, chemistry and sound design of their first 2 decades.

[@colinthomson7518]

​@@shaft9000 I know they are just some of my favourite ones. so many good albums they have produced. they did a good job on the gta 5 game soundtrack.

[@chrish4181]

Thank you so much Jacob for this rather wonderful synopsis of the main TD discography! I never expected a TD album to ever connect with me again.....but it happened with Raum and i give it 8.5 out of 10 and is now my 3rd fave TD album, just behind Rubycon and with Force Majure as the magnificent favourite because it tickled my electronic and prog rock tastes in a way that will never be repeated. Back to Raum my stand outs are the first 2 tracks which give TD a fresh modern glint but you can't mistake who it is by and finaly the 14 minute title track closer, it's quite epic in my opinion....give it a try, you might be VERY surprised like i was, oh and i have to mention Quantum Gate from 2017 being excellent as well, Jabob was spot on saying how good that album is and it's still growing on me😂

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for this comment! The closing title track on Raum is indeed epic and the perfect closer to a great album! While my top 3 would be slightly different, I certainly can't argue with your choices as Rubycon and Force Majeure are some of my favorites as well.

[@stephenhowes8937]

Thank you, that was a very nice presentation. I first discovered them in November 1981 after hearing the closing track from thief's "Confrontation" Some have said the track sounds like Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" but going from that to Rubicon was a very drastic change. Then Phaedra to Stratosfear to Ricochet, then Tangram was a much more synth heavy big enormous bass heavy sound than anything previous. Cyclone was musically ideal, especially Madrigal Meridian, but Steve's lyrics were 0:01 embarrassingly bad on the first two tracks. Are you sure that one with the goblin on the cover is not good?

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment - I actually kind of like the music on Goblin's Club, I just really hate the cover art.

[@AndyKing1963]

Confrontation isn't by TD. Michael Mann asked them to copy Comfortably Numb after he couldn't get the rights to the original. TD said they couldn't/wouldn't copy it, so instead he asked the composer Craig Safan to do a version like it, using session players (TD having returned to Berlin by then). Superb track

[@eniregnat]

Now I have to give a try to Raum. :)

[@RiquezaEmGotas]

Exit is an amazing album, but the other albums released during the 80s are also good with a few exceptions. To me, the trio, Froese, Franke and Schmoelling is the best lineup of TD.

[@wyndsrfr16]

I couldn't agree more!

[@AlvaroVega75]

and if you like Vangelis try Jean michel Jarre another synth hero from the 70's, he played a concert in Houston for the whole city in 1986

[@wyndsrfr16]

Love JMJ - Oxygene 3 is my personal favorite!

[@joeldf6859]

Great review - just came across this. I agree with much of your assessment of Tangerine Dream's extensive catalog. I'd also almost say that TD's fandom created the condition that has since been coined as "toxic fandom". Almost. I know that TD fans weren't the only fans that at times would turn almost violently vocal of the slightest change in style - but they did seem to be the most obnoxious about it. I do have my favorite eras, but I can appreciate all of the stuff they've done and find a few gems even in the eras I don't follow much of. My favorite period is from the mid 70s (starting with "Ricochet") into the early 90s. (ending with "220 Volt Live"). My favorite albums are "Exit", "Hyperborea", "Le Parc" (actually love this album - bought the original vinyl and CD back in '85), and 'Underwater Sunlight". They did start losing me with "Optical Race" (although, I cherish the CD with the die-cut insert cover), and agree that the followups through "Rockoon" do get weaker. Until "220 Volt Live" which I listened to a lot. I still bought follow-up albums for the next few years - but the change to the more "easy listening" style finally got to be too much for me to stay with. I have '95's "Tyranny of Beauty" but I like maybe one track from it. I do have '99's "Great Wall of China". Then I discovered their "Dream Mixes" series (Jerome's projects), and loved "DM 4" when it came out in 2003. Then I backed up and got "Dream Mixes 3". Then I found "Booster" in 2007 which compiled some of those Cupdisc sets into a double CD (I made my own single disc version of my favorite tracks). I wasn't buying much music at this time, but still found a few things along the way. I did start following closer with "Mala Kunia" feeling, like you, that they had returned to more of what I like. I'm now back into TD pretty strong again as well with the new line-up. There are still some "fans" who don't appreciate the new guys at all (even calling them a "cover band"), but they forget that all along, TD is about evolution. Edgar's cosmic address may have changed, but I do think his spirit is still with them.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment. It sounds like we followed pretty similar paths with TD's catalog though the Dream Mixes are a hole in my collection, as I only have the first one. I should check out that series as it's been recommended by others as well, and I do enjoy the one I have. Maybe I'll start with what seems to be your favorite, "DM 4". Thanks again!

[@shaft9000]

I'm guessing that you're a piano player ;o) My brother is and he favors the Schmoelling years, too. Regarding their instruments, and one in particular that you should be aware of their extensive use of: The rise in melodic emphasis around '76 coincides with their adding more and more synthesizers. The prior albums are much heavier in use of ~Mellotron~ Up until Stratosfear and for a few albums after - all of those woodwinds, brass, choirs, creaky strings, clangorous fx 'wails' and spookier sounds are coming out of the 'Tron. It isn't a synthesizer, It's basically a tape- based, fully polyphonic sample-playback instrument that loads huge frames of tape strips for each key, with an individual motor per key as well as a tape head. The physical limit of 8 seconds of tape per "note" can be doubled by kicking the 'Tron into 1/2 speed. TD were also instrumental in direct R&D funding for the PPG and Projekt Elektronic synthesizer companies, for most of the years as all of this was happening. Their influences on other genres and with synth designers is vast, to put it mildly - and still ongoing today. Vangelis had his toes in several idioms in addition to film, and his _Opera Sauvage, Spiral and Soil Festivities_ albums are superb examples of his 'most electronic' works (and the supremacy of the CS-80), but as far as 1970s electronic rock music is concerned, only JM Jarre came remotely close to TD's degrees of influence, next to Klaus Schulze. By '76 along comes (a re-invented) Kraftwerk, Throbbing Gristle and Moroder. Then Numan and Human League etc. on into the 80s.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for this info - you're spot on to highlight the importance of the mellotron in TD's early work. I also love Opera Sauvage, Spiral and Soil Festivities by Vangelis, as well as The City, and Oceanic. For Jarre, my favorite is actually the Oxygene 3 album.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Been a fan for about 40 years now. Really nice review. My thought on the Sessions is they are absolutely fantastic...for live performance. I think it's fantastic the band incorporates long-form improvisation into every live performance, even if there is a sameness to it.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Hi Phil. I agree with you conceptually. I really like the idea. For me, the execution is hit or miss. There are some that I really like - Sessions III for example - but when I went to see TD live in San Diego a few months ago, if I'm being honest, I found myself getting bored during the over 40-minute session (which also featured Steve Roach, who I really like as well).

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@jacobprestidge5487 Good post. I have listened to maybe a third of the Tangerine Trees recordings. Also maybe a sixth or tenth of the Tangerine Leaves, and Grafts as well, perhaps more. To me those are an expansive mine with various shafts of pure gold. But they too were hit and miss all those years ago. I don't think it's possible the current TD is going to ever have quite the same magic Froese, Franke and Baumann had. That was lightning in a bottle from another time. But I definitely like what the current TD is doing, and trying. I fully applaud it. If I met Thorsten and could one thing to him, it would be to keep the Sessions going. Agree on your assessment, btw.

[@crominion6045]

I first heard TD in 1976 (Ricochet) at 6 years old. I was fascinated by the sound but it also sort of scared me as a little kid. 😄 I revisited the album in 1980 and was totally hooked. They’ve been my favorite band ever since. My preferred lineup was Froese, Franke and Schmoelling, though by the time I first saw them in concert in 86 Johannes had been replaced by Paul Haslinger, who was also excellent.

[@kelvinfoote9897]

Just being a little pedantic here but you describe Love On A Real Train as a song. Of course, it's a track of a piece as it has no vocals. Otherwise, a fine summary of TD.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

That's a good clarification. Thanks.

[@AndyKing1963]

famously Stevie Nick's tried to write some lyrics over TD's track, but the collaboration never happened

[@user-pk8rl7mm5u]

Check out Poland

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the recommendation - I actually do talk about Poland right around the 12:30 mark.

[@edofjville]

Pretty concise summary of TD and your personal favorites and takes! The fanbase divide between 70s purists, 80s lovers, and modern day can be a bit obnoxious at times, but comes with the territory for bands like TD that have been around for 50+ years with multiple line-up changes and varying music style shifts. I suppose I'm one of the odd ones in that I actually like material from all of their eras and incarnations, though of course, I have my preferred periods with the Froese/Franke/Baumann, Schmoelling, and current Thorsten Quaeschening/ Hoshiko Yamane/ Paul Fricke line-up. Have been a fan for 21 years since I was 13. Favorite albums are Zeit, Phaedra, Rubycon, Stratosfear, Force Majuere, Tangram, Le Parc, Underwater Sunlight, Mars Polaris, and Raum. As far as live albums go, Encore from 1977, Logos 1982, Poland 1984, Valentine Wheels and Tournado from 1997 all speak to me sound-wise. I'm excited to finally be able to see TD perform live for my first time in Miami on September 8th! One last thing: I also highly recommend checking out former bandmate Ulrich Schnauss' solo albums and a few other artists like Boards of Canada and BT for other electronic music adventures. And in 2019, former TD members Peter Baumann and Paul Haslinger formed a studio project called Neuland with one album released so far, which I also recommend.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

We seem to have a lot in common, including our favorite eras and some of our favorite albums. I would trade you Valentine Wheels and Tournado for Live Miles, but of course, that's just my taste. I bought Ulrich Schnauss' "A Strangely Isolated Place" album just a few months ago and have been really enjoying it. I'm thinking I'd like to check out "Goodbye" next, not least because I really like the cover art. I'm also going to be seeing TD live for the first time on this same tour, though mine will be a little later in September in San Diego. Thanks so much for the comment! Though fans generally do have their own favorite eras and albums, and some can even be a little obnoxious about it, for me it's a real joy connecting with other Tangerine Dream fans! Oh - I do have the Neuland album as well, and am hoping they'll release another sometime.

[@edofjville]

@jacobprestidge5487 I have Ulrich's Goodbye and Far Away Trains Passing By albums and both are fantastic! You'll love Goodbye in particular. And yes, I'd hope to see a 2nd Neuland album sometime. I need to start collecting Klaus Schulze's works as well at some point and finish up Boards of Canada's catalog. I've heard a lot of good about Live Miles and I should probably nab a copy along with Pergamon as far as live TD sets I don't yet have. Also, I've heard from Thorsten himself through a few KZbin interviews that TD's next new album may already be on the horizon for late 2024 possibly.

[@sammay600]

Great overview. Slight correction though. Edgars son is named Jerome. Not Jeremy.

[@sammay600]

Also if you like Oasis you probably will really like Canyon Dreams! Recorded in 1986 and released on CD in 1991.

[@wyndsrfr16]

@@sammay600 Thanks for the heads up! And I do enjoy Canyon Dreams though for me it lacks a bit of the percussive energy of Oasis. I have both the dvds as well, which are also fun in their own way.

[@chrisknowlton9460]

Maybe its pronounced Jeremy even though looks like Je-ROAM? I don't actually know.

[@riskydigitsta1794]

@@chrisknowlton9460 with German spelling rules Jerome being pronounced similar to Jeremy would make sense

[@masaengineering1766]

Great review! I kept hoping you’d say “oh yeah I forgot to talk about Encore”… which is I think their most accessible “long form” album. Though like you, I think the FFS era is peak TD. My top three would be the live epics: Encore, Logos, Poland…. Even better - upgrade the one vinyl disk Logos to the full “Croydon” recording from the same tour, available with a little patience and searching from the Tangerine Tree archive of live recordings).

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment! I do own Encore, but have really only listened to it two or three times. I'll definitely revisit it. I also forgot to mention Live Miles, which I would personally include with the Live Epics you mentioned.

[@CameraObscure]

I was at that concert. Also at 1978 concert at same venues seen them live over 10 times from 1978-1987.

[@toltech1624]

wheres Zeit and Encore?

[@jacobprestidge5487]

It's funny - when I posted this video to the TD fan page I'm a member of on facebook, I commented that I was mainly posting the video so people could say "Hey, you forgot about (insert favorite album here)!". Regarding Zeit, I attempted a listen once, but just didn't really like it. A little too dark and droney for my taste. Encore is one that I do own on cd, but have really only listened to 2 or 3 times. I need to go back and listen again, though my initial reaction was that it was essentially very similar, but somewhat inferior to Ricochet. Of course, the varying preferences and rankings among their many fans is part of what's fun to me about being a TD fan myself. Thanks for the comment!

[@toltech1624]

@@jacobprestidge5487 yeah but Cold Water Canyon off Encore is a classico

[@shaft9000]

Zeit is simultaneously their most singularly polarizing and possibly most brilliant album, conceptually and in execution. It took me a long time to get into, it bored me to tears when I bought it @age 17 in like 1987, the first double CD of anyone I'd ever bought because it was in a used bin for like 8 bucks - but it is indeed one of their very best. _No other record (sorry Eno) inhabits a room like Zeit can. It's almost alive, as though an ancient one has been chilling under your house for eons, and has just now woken up and is having a chat (to/with ?)._

[@AndyKing1963]

TD all did drugs well up to the mid 1970's - certain guest members were still using them as late as 1978

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Good to know!

[@neilloughran4437]

Back in the 80s I used to look forward to every Tangerine Dream album... every LP seemed to progress the whole notion of electronic music.. I was blindly collecting everything up untll Melrose/Rockoon but by then I think they had dropped off my radar as I was not even listening to them... even Optical Race didn't keep my attention, Destination Berlin had some lovely tracks as did Miracle Mile, Near Dark, etc. B On the other hand I loved Underwater Sunlight and Tyger... Alchemy of the Heart is just killer... They'll always have a special place in my heart and I think the modern era Tangerine Dream is so much better than the 90s and 2000s...

[@jacobprestidge5487]

I may have to pick up Destination Berlin. I've heard a few of the tracks, but don't own the album yet. Thanks for the comment!

[@davidbutler8096]

Exit?...LOL Where have you been? At least you pronounced Moog correctly. Tangram was the big changeover...Johannes brought ALL the best to TD. I had over 200 CD's...including all the bootlegs. '80 to '86...get them all. Logos is great...but nowhere near LIVE...I was there. Interesting fact...the cover of that album is NOT The Dominion...That photo was taken at The Sheffield 2 nights before...Ask me how I know. Le Parc was a letdown except for the last tune...Yellowstone. Underwater Sunlight should have included Dolphin Smile...one of their best sequencer driven tunes. That album and maybe a few others after was the beginning of the end for TD. Linda Spa and her sax killed TD. My opinion... Nice video...good research.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks David. Sounds like you have a great collection of both albums and memories with TD. I'm definitely jealous!

[@nickwillder]

I would like to suggest my acquaintance Mark Shreeve's band/recording vehicle, "Redshift". The first self-titled album is Rubicon for a new age. Whereas Froese moves to digital, Shreeve works with and explores the sequenced Modular Moog analog synth as if to say there's far more to explore here. Redshift's "Turning Towards Us" album is a force of nature which, for me, is a modern pinnacle of 70s TD analog style

[@wyndsrfr16]

Thanks for the comment, Nick - I love Redshift!

[@nickwillder]

@@wyndsrfr16 Excellent. Although it's a slight pity that I haven't brought you something new to hear. So let's have a rummage in my record box for something you might not have heard... how about 'Traces of the Past' by Stephen Parsick?

[@jacobprestidge5487]

@@nickwillder Mission accomplished, Nick - I haven't heard this before, but I'll definitely check it out! Thanks so much!

[@nickwillder]

@@wyndsrfr16 Hi. I only just discovered that Mark Shreeve died this summer. I was just surfing and went to look up what he was doing now, always eager for a new album, I met Mark a few times and interviewed him for Radio Derby after Redshift's inaugural concert performance. I'm very sad to learn this.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

@@nickwillder Oh wow. I didn't know this either. How sad. Thanks for the update, Nick. Very cool that you got to meet and interview him, though!

[@antelopefreeway214]

I would have guessed Raum was a word that meant bland or shallow. I found that TD changed and evolved every decade or so, with the early 70s to mid 80s producing most of my favorite stuff. The band expanded in the 90s and 00s to include more instruments and inclusion of broader musical types and influences with some wonderful results. After Edgar passed I was curious about the new sound, and was blessedly pleased with the Quantum material. However, as hard as I've tried to like it, when I listen to Raum the phrase that comes to mind is "the emperor has no clothes". The record just sounds unfinished in that it lacks the layers of texture that you can sink your teeth into. It has no exciting moments when I can pause and say-- "ooh, listen, I love this part". To me the album is as bland as it gets. The Sessions? A half-step up.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the comment - I genuinely love hearing people's differing opinions on TD's music. What I have found with Raum over time is that when I'm in the mood for it, I find it engrossing. It's really perfect for a late night drive on an empty highway, especially after a good rain. But I'm not always in the mood for it. That specific barrier to entry is a little higher with Raum than, say, Quantum Gate, or Exit, for example, which I find myself listening to more often.

[@compfox]

Raum in German has different meanings so as: space (Weltraum), but also it stands for room, chamber an the settlement area around a city.

[@CameraObscure]

Highly reccomend Peter Baumans Romance 76 LP its awesome.

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't checked that one out, but I definitely need to.

[@CameraObscure]

@@jacobprestidge5487 It is probably a very rare album but good luck tracking it down. For me Richochet,Force Major,White Eagle, Logos are milestone albums. Though I very much enjoyed TD's continual evolution and always trying something new and do like and enjoy Rubycon,pheadra even Zeit for its Ambient landscapes and sound textures. So Ill list my Favourites that I think are timeless classics.Richochet has to be No1 especially side 2. White eagle (Mojave Plain especially) Logos. Then equally liked no favourites here are Force Major, Underwater Sunlight, HyperBorea, Poland. Those I Listed I belive represent TD at their best. I will also add Edgar Froses solo Albums and all good but his most amazing work was Epsilon in Malaysian Pale a masterpiece. I have seen them live 10 times first concert was in 1978 my favourite Concerts where when they performed white eagle (pre-Release) and the Logos tour which I happened to attend one of the best shows they put on in Croydon which was where i was living between1965-1988. Not sure if you know this but Edgars wife Monique Frose did most of their Album artwork from Zeit through to Force Majure and usually had an image tucked away of Jerome frose usually very small but was present if you looked carefully. My Final word will be I cannont consider any group that does not Include Edgar Frose in it as the real Tangerine Dream. So the group with that name may be trying to carry on the Name and the Musical concepts soundscapes etc but they really should rename themselves marking the transition after Edgars Passing. Sorry for long comment. I am 61 years old now was playing with synthesisers since i was 16 ( 1977-78) and always saw groups such as Td being being the equivilant of any Classical composers as well as being pioneers. I enjoy Classical,Jazz,Prog,Blues basically all good music EXCEPT RAP cant stand it followed closeley by Country & Western 😐. You did a decent break down considering the extensive catalougue and genere making aspecvt of TD after all they kind of created Ambient and are seen by many in the EDM scene as the godfathers of that Genere. Oh I owned all their first releases on the original german labels before Virgin signed them up so that is Electronic Meditations,Green Desert ,Atem & Zeit. Peace

[@dfo132]

@@CameraObscure Agree with you about the greatness of Mojave Plan. One of my favorite TD tracks ever.

[@christiane.g.4142]

And of course, i cannot forget Edgar's pal Christophe Franke. And the wonderful contributions of Johannes Schmoelling, Konrad Schnitzler, Paul Haslinger and especially Klause Schulz! Klaus Schulz who was such a weird, ethereal influence on Tangerine Dream! Yeah... Klaus!

[@jacobprestidge5487]

All great musicians in their own right, and with some great albums as well!

[@eniregnat]

If you Iike Quantum Gate I suggest you check Ulrich's albums. I feel track (identity proven matrix) 5 was made by Ulrich (99%).

[@jacobprestidge5487]

Thanks for the recommendation! I did recently purchase A Strangely Isolated Place, which I really enjoy.