STRATOSFEAR

This is Tangerine Dream at their absolute best, doing everything right and avoiding the inevitable pitfalls generally associated with this kind of music, that is, descending into improvisatory, unfocused noodling. Well, you'll find none of that here, as everything is carefully constructed and works in perfect equilibrium. I very much enjoy the inclusion of acoustic instruments along with their familiar electronic sequencing. It really adds depth and texture to what might otherwise be a simple rehash of previous albums. In addition, the guitars, pianos, harmonica and other instruments give the music a personal warmth, neatly dodging the oft repeated complaint that electronic music is robotic and inhuman. I really can't pick one track as a standout. They all flow nicely into each other, yet there is enough difference between them to avoid monotony. "3 A.M." captures the dank, sticky humidity of a Florida swamp nicely, and "Invisible Limits" is an excellent capper to the album, successfully blending TD's trademark synth passages with lovely acoustic bits. It is my opinion that this type of music is psychedelic in the best kind of way. It opens the door your imagination to run wild, but it doesn't force you through it. In fact, I think it's even better than Phaedra and a great place for beginners to start.