ENCORE (LIVE 1977)

Tangerine Dream is a German progressive band led by Edgar Froese, the only remnant member of the group's original formation, until his dead, and together with Kraftwerk, they were the great exponent of what is called the Progressive Electronic Music. With a career spanning over fifty years and dozens of albums released, Tangerine Dream is one of the most influential bands in and out of the progressive rock, with many artists and bands clearly inspired by their sound.

The band's career is divided into several phases. The first one, also called "The Pink Years", started in 1970 and ended in 1973. It marks a sonority clearly inspired by Pink Floyd, phase Syd Barrett, with several keyboard and sound effects interventions and close to the German progressive scene called Krautrock. Highlight for "Alpha Centauri" of 1971, "Zeit" of 1972, (a double disc with a bold proposal of an "electronic space symphony") and "Atem" of 1973, which even included tribal elements in some of its tracks. The second phase, also called "The Virgin Years", between 1974 and 1983, is considered by many to be Tangerine Dream's golden phase. It marks a turn in the sound of the band, which even though betting on long suites, marks a greater sonic independence, in which the band acquired their own identity and a greater and better use of keyboards, synthesizers and sound effects in some tracks, a slightly more accessible proposal, even if still quite experimental. Highlight for the albums "Phaedra" of 1974, "Rubycon" and "Ricochet", both of 1975, "Stratosfear" of 1976, "Encore" of 1977 and "Force Majeure" of 1979. "Encore" is the subject of this my review.

During the 70's, Tangerine Dream's live concerts were quite unique. Because of the delicacy of the analog equipments, the German trio improvised every evening a new show. Certainly, many lines got closer, but Tangerine Dream espoused on the spot the main lines of long concerts where the sequential fury supported the ferocity of synths, keyboards and Mellotron, as well as the rather rock approach Froese's guitar. And, "Encore" is surely one of the best examples of that.

"Encore" is the second live album of Tangerine Dream. This time, is a double live album that was recorded during the band's North American tour, of March-April 1977. But, unlike "Ricochet", which though is technically a live album had basically no audience presence, on "Encore" the audience makes their presence known at certain points, lending the recording proper live ambience. I think this album probably will hold its greatest appeal for those who picked it out of its chronological context with the other 70's albums. If you did track the band's output chronologically, chances are that by the time you reach "Encore", you may find it the grand summary of this great line up and of this style of music.

"Encore" is supposed to be the definitive Tangerine Dream's album among many fans. It was the last album featuring Peter Baumann. During the tour, he informed Froese and Franke that his private obligations no longer allowed him a full-time collaboration with the band and he left in 1977 for good and started working as a solo artist and a producer.

"Cherokee Lane" is probably the most conservative of the four tracks in terms of duplicating previous work. The Mellotrons are all over the place, creating that hauntingly beautiful and mystical mood that none other than Tangerine Dream at their best could do. "Monolight" provides a greater departure. It begins with a classical grand piano gradually given auxiliary support by some other keys. After that, the track is classically styled and represents the most thoroughly composed moment on the album, weaving through major and minor keys with the main melody played on Moog. "Coldwater Canyon" is Froese's track title. It's an intense, upbeat and a rocking track that features Froese in top form on guitar. He releases his guitar work in a pure improvisation, such as a rock star. It's a cutting edge track which distances itself from the band's repertory, although keyboards pads, sequences and hatched percussions didn't lie about their origins. The last track "Desert Dream" encloses the album in a purely atmospheric style, shifting from dark, experimental passages to beautiful and ethereal parts with tons of Mellotrons and an Eastern feel that fits the title of the track. It ends recalling the steams of "Invisible Limits" of "Stratosfear". This is a nice swan song for a legendary line up.

Conclusion: Tangerine Dream's USA live tour of 1977 resulted in this excellent "Encore". The title would unfortunately proved to be very fitting, as it was the last album to feature Baumann and the last where the classic band's sound still was fully intact. "Encore" reflects the unique magic of Tangerine Dream's concerts in that era. Every evening was a different happening which delighted the fans. It was pure improvisations on sound effects and surprising laser plays that gave unique moments, engraved in our contemplative memoirs. The set is uniquely Tangerine Dream, however, with similarities to other prog rock bands of that era. "Encore" was an enormously worthy way to end their classic years, consisting of four side long tracks that blend new ideas and material with older themes. "Encore" was Tangerine Dream's last masterpiece and is one of the strongest proofs of the genius that the band possessed from 1972 to 1977.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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