STRATOSFEAR

Although recorded in between two excellent live albums (Ricochet, and Encore), this studio album is the first disappointing release from Tangerine Dream, and unfortunately set the pattern for a series of lesser-quality albums that would follow in the late 70s and 1980s. It is on this album they start using patterned drum sequences, and standard chord progressions on some of the tunes. The title track is the worst offender. Unlike on their previous, hypnotic compositions, the repetitive rhythms here are dull, and the chord progressions are simplistic and second-rate. While the other tracks are better, instead of hypnotic they border on simply boring. The best track, and the only one that stands up to repeated listening, is the short "The Big Sleep in Search of Hands", which features a flute lead and soft piano, and a classy slow synth lead. It is telling here that the best and only lasting tune involves mainly standard instruments, instead of TD's signature synths, but such was the problem that would be faced by Tangerine Dream going forward - by the 1980s their electronic music would become too straight and uninventive to be worth listening to. While Stratosfear is still better than any of their 1980s output, it pales in comparison to Rubycon, Phaedra or Ricochet. I give this 5.4 out of 10, which is in the high 2 PA stars.

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