There are other threads to this effect, but I'm interested in debating the period between Tangerine Dream's long sequencer pieces from the Phaedra and when they eventually became New Age-y digital boys after they left Virgin -- arguably their most influential and their first without Peter Baumann.
Like the Phaedra/Rubycon/Stratosfear trilogy does with one another, these sound very much cut from the same cloth: deeply analog, heavily supported by Chris Franke's sequencers, with lots of Edgar Froese soloing on weedy PWM patches, but often shorter and more overtly melodic than the era immediately preceding it.
Upon closer inspection, however, these records have their differences. Cyclone has vocals. Tangram has side-long pieces, but is much more regimented than the earlier works. The music that became part of Risky Business (this was when they started getting deeply involved in film work) owes a particular debt to Steve Reich. And of course, the sound becomes increasingly crispy as wavetable technology (a la the PPG) with digital oscillators became more available.
Which is the best?
1978 Cyclone 1979 Force Majeure 1980 Tangram 1981 Thief 1981 Exit 1982 White Eagle 1982 Logos Live 1983 Hyperborea
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 03:12 (seventeen years ago)
Seeing as its the only one of these I own, I'm kind of fond of Exit.
Choronzon and Network are pretty choice, Tangerine Dream aping Kraftwerk or Moroder convincingly.
Course I like electro to start with.
― Siah Alan, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 05:00 (seventeen years ago)
I've always liked Force Majeure, but I can't claim to be familiar with all of those records.
― ian, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 05:02 (seventeen years ago)
I have yet to hear any of these, although I own Phaedra and Stratosfear.
See, THIS is what I want to hear. Really, I just want to hear TD with drum machines.
― Z S, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 05:09 (seventeen years ago)
Oops, that Network 23.
Both off the aforementioned Exit. And yes they have drums.
― Siah Alan, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 06:16 (seventeen years ago)
1979 Force Majeure - but only because it was recorded a few years earlier.
― nonightsweats, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 07:42 (seventeen years ago)
For me, this is a pick between "White Eagle", which has an amazing title track, and "Tangram" with its two synth suites. I guess "White Eagle".
And as opposed to most people her, I see this particular era as their artistic peak.
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 08:06 (seventeen years ago)
Tangram is a bit of a return to the earlier 'space' sound of Tangerine Dream. Exit is also quite good, but there are a couple of moments on the Thief soundtrack that are really great.
Tangerine Dream was a very consistent group for quite a while. I think if you end up liking a couple of their records, you are going to find a bunch more to your liking.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 11:25 (seventeen years ago)
I'd probably pick "Hyperborea" for both sentimental reasons (it was my first TD album, Xmas 83) and also because I think it's a great album. Also, where on earth did they get that great synthesised sitar sound? It's all over the album, and all over the "Dalek I Love You" album from around the same time, never heard it again.
I then worked backwards a bit and from this bunch had all of them except "Logos" and "White eagle". "Tangram" is wonderful, two lovely flowing pieces of music. "Thief" has moments of greatness. "Force Majeure" reminds me of late 70s Radiophonic Workshop music for the likes of "The Boy in Space", and has Iggy Pop's drummer. "Cyclone" though is dreadful. But of all of these, the one I keep coming back to and playing most is still "Hyperborea". However, I'd much rather hear "Ricochet" or "Phaedra" over most of these.
― Rob M v2, Thursday, 8 May 2008 07:55 (seventeen years ago)
A few additional thoughts:
Logos is pretty good. Very pad heavy and the softest drums of all time.
Force Majeure is great...in a lot of ways, the perfect mix of their early space rock tendencies and their mid-period sequencer stuff.
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 9 May 2008 00:23 (seventeen years ago)
i love this period of TD.Those last 3 Virgin era albums sound very relevant now, the sequenced loops and sinister overtones of White Eagle just work so well.So the question is, are the HD Remasters worthy of a few quid - is the sound noticably beefed up ?
― mark e, Friday, 3 October 2008 08:27 (seventeen years ago)
No idea, as I've never heard anything but the remasters. But the remasters sound great.
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 3 October 2008 08:36 (seventeen years ago)
Force Majeure is a terrific album
― Pfunkboy Formerly Known As... (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 3 October 2008 08:59 (seventeen years ago)
well, today i found a most of these for £3 @ fopp ..bonus points for making Logos one 45 minute track.
― mark e, Friday, 3 October 2008 12:22 (seventeen years ago)
ok re the remastering :
logos sounds so much more in yer face than my 1982 vinyl copy thats for sure.in fact, i'm beginning to wonder if the band overdubbed/re-recorded a few parts - especially in the final section of the track. ok, i realise this is highly unlikely, but the sounds are a lot more vibrant and sparkly with some of the noises making me jump out of my chair as they feel out of character from the rest of the mix.
oh - and just how great is no mans land from hyperborea.
― mark e, Friday, 3 October 2008 14:11 (seventeen years ago)
I made a mistake not including Poland in this thread -- it's from 1984, but really, really good. The enervating opening, in particular, is super strong...
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 30 January 2009 22:25 (seventeen years ago)
Never liked "Tangram" much, but it's sounding better than usual this evening - it does seem to lurch from greatness to crapness willy nilly, some of it is really good though. Froese's useless guitar playing is as intrusive as ever.
― Bridge Over Thorley Waters (Tom D.), Friday, 27 March 2020 19:38 (five years ago)