HYPERBOREA

This is another amazing album from the Tangs, and one that I pull out quite often. Be warned though, this album is most definitely a grower; it takes many listens to sink in and it is easy to feel immediately underwhelmed. Persistence is the key.

1. No Man's Land- This is a really neat and enjoyable song, and I personally love it to death. It has an interesting feel to it which is descriptive of its title, almost a desert-like feel except twisted. I like when the almost oriental keyboard parts come in and complement the keyboards and sequencers that have already been building the atmosphere. This is awesome. 10/10

2. Hyperborea- This one again relies heavily on atmosphere, building slowly throughout like the previous track, except with a darker feel to it than the previous song. Almost reminds me of an underwater scene, except not quite in the same way as any of the songs off of Underwater Sunlight. This is another well-structured song that is perfect for relaxing. 8/10

3. Cinnamon Road- Yay! This is a happy little song that almost borders on techno. Short but sweet, literally. The sparkling keyboards and the main theme are enjoyable and well-composed. 8/10

4. Sphinx Lightning- Here it is, the monster epic. Immediately you can tell this is going to be not an upbeat track, from the spooky, minimalistic introduction. It builds similarly to the first two tracks, taking its time even longer over the course of its 19 minute length (don't give too much full attention to this one!). Believe it or not, it's actually my least favorite on here, but it still is good. It isn't a perfect Tangerine Dream song and works much more effectively when you're not concentrating solely on it (more so than their other works). There can almost be an absence of noise too much at times. Otherwise, it's a good song that has interesting darker and neutral themes to it, expressive in many interesting ways. 7/10

This is another solid addition to your prog collection by Tangerine Dream, but definitely not one of their masterpieces. It is very good, nonetheless. Acquire it if you're into TD's masterpieces and you're thirsting for more, or if you just want some progressive work that complements well while you're studying, relaxing, or doing anything really. It doesn't make a good driving album though, like other TD albums.