(3)

"(3)" is a compilation album of Tangerine Dream and that was released in 1992. This is a very special compilation album of Tangerine Dream. This compilation album consists on an economic package that includes their second live album "Encore" that was released in 1977, their ninth studio album "Cyclone" that was released in 1978 and their tenth studio album "Force Majeure" that was released in 1979, in only one package. So, we can say this can be a very interesting purchase for those who don't have the three albums. Besides, with it we can say that we could save in price and space.

This is a very good compilation album because these are three great albums of the band. But it's also very interesting because it includes three very special albums of Tangerine Dream if we look at them in their position in the band's career. "Encore" is the last album with Peter Baumann and represents the end of a line up and an era. "Cyclone" is a kind of a transition album, an atypical album from the band with vocals and with a unique line up. "Force Majeure" is officially an album with only Edgar Froese and Christopher Franke in the line up of them, an album before Johannes Schmoelling join the band and begin another change to the music of Tangerine Dream. It's also interesting to mention that these three albums belong to their second musical phase, a phase that became known as "The Virgin Years".

As I've already reviewed these three albums previously on Progarchives, in a more extensive way, I'm not going to do it again. So, if you are interested to know, in more detail, what I wrote about them before, I invite you to read those my three reviews. However, in here I'm going to write something about them in a more short way. So, of course, I'm not going to analyze them track by track, as I did before, but I'm only going to make a global appreciation of those albums.

"Encore": Tangerine Dream's USA live tour of 1977 resulted in this excellent "Encore". The title would unfortunately prove 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.

"Cyclone": Atypical is the best adjective that can define "Cyclone". At the time, Tangerine Dream was a renowned electronic prog group formed by Baumann, Froese and Franke. With Baumann's departure, Froese and Franke decided to innovate, bringing Joliffe to take care of wind instruments and vocals. This change was considered a heresy by many of band's followers who didn't understand the new proposal presented. Many negative reviews have been said about Steve's vocals, especially that his singing style did not match the sound presented. But to say that his voice is bad is close to exaggeration. The album's poor acceptance led the redirection of the band again, which culminated in Jolliffe's departure and the return to the electronics in the following year with their next work "Force Majeure". But, if you like prog rock with elements of electronic and psychedelic music, "Cyclone" is a nice and highly recommended album.

"Force Majeure": "Force Majeure" is one of the best albums of this great band. This is a calculated and compelling work from two experienced artists who move through the electronic music with great grace and precision. Overall, the album doesn't look as electronic as their earlier works, as the drums in particular, when used, provide a driving beat that is more familiar with rock music and when Froese reaches into the guitar, you maybe think that you are in the wrong film. But we cannot complain too much. After all, it's a good thing when a band tries to develop further. Due to its more rock oriented music, it may be suitable for people who are otherwise not into the electronics. So, it's an absolute necessity for those who might be curious about the band, or even successful experiments within the rock genre. Sections of the album would later appear in slightly altered versions on the soundtracks for the films "Thief" and "Risky Business".

Conclusion: As I mentioned above, "3" is a great compilation of Tangerine Dream that contains three great albums of the band. I also said that it's also a very interesting compilation because it has three very special albums for Tangerine Dream if we look at them in relation to its date release. So, we have the last album of the band with what is considered their best line up, Froese, Franke and Baumann, "Encore", a transition and controversial album with a unique line up, "Cyclone" and an album released before the beginning of a new era with Schmoelling, "Force Majeure". So, all this makes that "3" is an interesting compilation of them to be purchased by those who don't have these three albums yet.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)