PHAEDRA

Tangerine Dreams output from 1974-1979 has been some of the greatest music the world has ever seen, as Phaedra is an amazing starting point for the band, or any one willing to resist the conformity of music. I remember the first time I heard this album...I thought it was complete crap, just noises and odd synth generators. Since then, the music has definatly caught on to me, and it remains one of the most compeling peices of art I have ever heard. The music here is much different than the previous four albums, as it starts to include analog sequencers, mini-moogs and much more structured space music. The classic lineup of Edgar Froese, Christoph Franke and Peter Baumann created a revolutionary electronic album that speaks in ways other albums can't. It is, truely, music that melts.

1.Phaedra - The longest electronic improvision off the album, and easily a top cut. The song may seem unstructered, but it seems to have an underlieing space theme that is continuously throughout this track. I envision space ships, galaxies, far off lands, and other trippy things when I listen to this song. It manages to be cold, moody, emotional and bleak all at the same time. Froese makes great work of the new sequencers on this track, as the new and interesting rhythms seem to pop up and flow with each other. The song evolves in a very slow fashion, but thats what makes it great. Mellotron, flute, mini-moog all combined into this track make for an amazing start for the Virgin years. (10/10)

2.Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares - The most accesible of the peices. The track reminds me of an amazing beach with tidal waves flashing huge, as Tangerine Dream create an innerpeace with this track. Froese's mellotron is huge on this track, as are audio generator effects from Baumann and Franke. The song, like the title track, thats a while to evolve and progress, but it seems to always change slightly and go in a different direction. An amazing track, pure beauty sounds like this. (10/10)

3.Movements Of A Visionary - Many people might call this a low point on the album, I would have to disagree hugely. This song is amazing in my opinion, and shows the talent that this extreme keyboard trio had. The song starts with, what seems to be humanoid sounds ran through a filter of some sorts, yet it behind the darkness, comes an entrancing rhythms section and computer generated noises. What remains is one of the most exotic of all the progressive electronic genre. The sequencer has truely connected with me for some reason, and is beautiful in ever sense of the word. Froese, Franke and Baunamm create beautiful soundscapes with moog overlays, church organ flourishes and sound effects. The song is entrancing, a true masterpiece. (10/10)

4.Sequent 'C' - Probably the least challenging of all the tracks, it's a nice way to end with Baunamm's almost tribal flute overlays. It's graceful, beautiful and melodic to carry everything to an end. (9/10)

The album is one of my favourites, along with most of their Virgin discovery. The album manages to mix with bleak, spacey sounds and beautiful, emotional sounds to create some of the most unique soundscapes in the history of music. I have to give this album 5 stars for it's consistency, beauty and pure musical talent. I recommend, if you don't have, get it...NOW.