SHY PEOPLE (OST)

This is another movie soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. Globally, it does not very much sound like an experimental film music: the tracks are rather down to earth and have resemblances with the ones on the Livemiles and the Tyger albums.

The first track on side 1 could fit well on the Tyger album: the same kind of female vocals and the keyboards sound exactly like on that album. The track 2 consists in floating keyboards streams that seem to go nowhere. The track 3 is a more accessible rock song, with its fast beat, its winner's style keyboards, its male vocals and its flashy electric guitar. The track 4 sounds like the floating keyboards on the Near Dark album: there are just floating keyboards.

The first track on side 2 is a catchy song, with a warm Chaka Khan-esque lead vocals; the keyboards are quite varied and delightful: this song is probably the best one on this record, reminding me Eurhythmics' "Sweet dreams". The next track is absolutely pure and beautiful: a perfect combination of a flashy electric guitar and fresh & dreamy keyboards, through a fast beat. Then there are cold floating keyboards expressly made for the film itself; it seems there is a huge choir through it. The last track is very melodic and has a mix of the Livemiles and the Tyger albums.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Edgar Froese has always said that the only Pink Floyd's song that he really likes and has influenced his music is "A Saucerful of Secrets". So why making a clone of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" for the first two minutes of the opening track? I can like and buy Pink Floyd clones, but not from a big band owner of a distinctive sound like Tangerine Dream.

The female mute vocals which come later have a touch of newage but luckily this is what allows the composer to change route and make something that's not so bad, even if songs with vocals are not what TD make better. She's not a bad singer but she sounds very 80s, a sort of low-pitched Bonnie Tyler. Since now on it's a nice fairlighted pop-song but nothing more. Better than a clone anyway.

"Joe's Palace" is clearly a thing written to comment a movie. It doesn't go anywhere because it hasn't to go anywhere. Not too bad.

If somebody tells me that "The Harbor" has been written and performed by Peter Bardens I may believe it. Listen to the 80s albums of the former Camel like Seen One Earth or Speed of Light. The rhythm is the same of "Drafted" on Camel's "Nude" and the sounds are the same of Barden's mentioned albums.

Things go better with "Nightfall". A standard TD piece of keyboards, just too short. They do their best when things like this are extended over 20 minutes.

"Dancing On A White Moon" is an 80s pop song on which the vocalist sounds quite bad. One of the worst things ever released by TD. If I want something of this kind I can buy....well i DON'T WANT thing of this kind.

"Civilized Illusions" is not too bad, instead. I still see a connection with Pete Bardens, and even though Bardens solo albums are not masterpieces they don't disturb, at least this is not the previous song.

"Swamp Voices" returns to the natural territories of TD. This track reminds me of Lucia Hwong's "Tibetan Suite" before going spacey. It's a pity that this track is so short. A very good one after the shock caused by the white moon before.

Luckily also "Transparent Days" is of this kind. Here the voices and the minor chords setup an environment similar to the "Heaven and Hell" of Vangelis. Too good for a soundtrack.

The album is closed by an instrumental version of "Shy People" with the Pink Floyd's intro cut down. Without vocals it's quite good.

The lesson from this album is that TD must play TD even when they want to earn some money. Because of some few good tracks I can't say that this is a poor album even if it contains some of the poorest things of TD's discography, but surely I can't call it "good".

2 stars