STRATOSFEAR

Another impressive ambient electronic offerring from Tangerine Dream. I was not a fan in the late 70s or 80s and have only come to enjoy this genre after revisitng it in the 90s. In the circumstances, I do not have any sentimental memories of discovering the music in my youth.

Side One Stratosfear unfortunately has more of the upbeat sections I particularly dislike. If this appeals to you then you may well consider this the best track.

Big Sleep is a short mellow sombre track (think backing music for the computer game Diablo and you won't be far wrong)

Side Two The constant tick/tock (heartbeat or water dripping or is it someone stepping quietly but steadily through the dark) throughout much of 3am. It makes the overall sound more accessible and proves particularaly effective when the overlays become slightly more siniser. It's a bit like the feel of Sibelius' Nightride to Sunrise.

Invisible Limits is my favourite track apart from a cheesey up beat section followed by the an even cheesier brief section of TD does Mike Oldfield. However, normal order is restored as gloriously eerie ambience returns. A synth piano and flute provide a quietly optimistic finale.

This a good album but if you can only squeeze a couple of TDs into your collection I would recommend rubycon and phaedra.