CYCLONE

"Cyclone" is the most underrated TANGERINE DREAM albums from the 70s. After the departure of Peter Baumann in 1977, the band included new musicians and wanted to create something different with new instruments. Drums are present, however, the biggest novelty is undoubtly the inclusion of real vocals. One may like or not the punk-ish voice of Steve Joliffe, but, in fact, the result here is simply one of their most progressive albums. With "Force Majeure", "Cyclone" offers unique astounding symphonic-electro-space-rock sound and music.

The change can be heard from the first single seconds of the record. The overture track, "Bent Cold Sidewalk", has a melody with a soft flavor of PINK FLOYD. Futuristic and trippy, the song is kind of melancholic. Then arrives the sequenced synthetizer, a trademark of the tangerian sound, but this time accompanied with flute and clarinet. Very spacey and mysterious, this passage will take you into an electronic maze! The song finishes delicately with its debut theme. "Rising Runner Missed By Endless Sender" is maybe the strangest moment here from the german band. Catchy and fast, this fun electro song rocks! The only regret is Joliffe's strange sounds covering the music near the end.

Then comes the longest and most progressive piece, the highlight of the album, "Madrigal Meridian". Entirely instrumental this time, it opens with a vaporous atmosphere and bizarre sparkles of sounds. Then the melody lifts off from Earth, supported by hypnotic waves of synthetizers and a pounding rythm. A true trip to space between the stars. The main theme lasts hardly 10 minutes with various spacey improvisations, to suddenly change into a powerful amazing space rock with an middle-oriental touch, in the vein of GONG's "You" and HAWKWIND's "Magnu". The music then calms down and finishes softly. Long, epic and surprising and, including numerous intruments, "Medrigal Meridian" is an unique classic from TANGERINE DREAM.

Less electronic, more symphonic and rock oriented than their former releases, "Cyclone" was a daring album for the band, but nonetheless one of their most original and adventurous albums. There are true great passages in here you won't find anywhere. Another interesting fact; this disc one of the few "classic" TANGERINE DREAM record not to feature a track whose name is the album title.

Recommended to electronic and space rock lovers.

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