ATEM

Surreal would be the best way to describe the music and like good Avante Garde Jazz this music creates an atmosphere and Avante Garde and ambient is the structure of these electronic compositions. The songs are all credited to the band which comprised of Edgar Froese, Christopher Frank and Peter Baumann. Christopher Frank handles all the drums and percussion but all the band play organ at some point throughout with Edgar Froese on the Mellotron ,Guitar. Peter Baumann and Christopher Frank play the old Putney VCS3 synth as well.Voices ( vocals) are only on the last track from this album.

Atem the first track to commence the album is the longest with a running time of just over 20 minutes and basically is a slow build up with same main sequence over a layer of synth which is really only the first 1/3 of the track which then drops off and ambient would be the best way to descibe the remainder of the composition. I will admit that trying to describe the tracks on this album seems ludricous as you really need to hear them for yourself.

With sounds throughout like birds, water, insects wind etc over synths and organs you have a true soundscape and yet this album to me seems dark at the same time. It is not suprising that Edgar Froese is constantly doing soundtracks as his compositions are so vivid yet you still hear this album without even trying to listen to it.

Edgar Froese is a pioneer in elecronic and ambient music and this is the last album that Tangerine Dream would record on the Ohr Label. Coming from Germany the band has that distinct slant on progressive music with what seems to be only created in Europe. The album to follow Phaedra will be regarded as their best by many and will cement the bands position in Electronic music forever.

Great album and something really different for 1973.