THE SEVEN LETTERS FROM TIBET

My second TD album listening from '90s onwards. "Goblin's Club" I find quite enjoyable and Jerome's drumming is excellent in many tracks. So I hoped to enjoy this too. Edgar and Jerome Froese are the only musicians in this release, both playing keyboards only. One thing is clear, this is closest to New Age TD has ever gone. And sadly, there's not much to add. Relaxating, harmonic, serene, tranquil, etc etc... I've heard dozens of New Age albums that aren't any worse than this. That actually sound exactly the same. Also, I have heard many New Age albums that are more interesting and original than this one. What a waste of talents. I do expect more from Tangerine Dream (who are apparently running dry somehow. No wonder, with so many decades and dozens of albums behind).

First TD album from the naughties. The father and son duo are again on the command (as usual by now).

The good news (as far as I'm concerned) is that the dance beats are totally alien to this album. While listening to the opening song ("The Red Blood Connection") one could almost think that this is a lost piece from the eighties! Ambient, melodic, peaceful and very quiet.

The bad news is that this album sounds too much of the same really, and that after "The Golden Heart", one has the impression of a never ending and repeated song. Still, this album has its good moments like the long (according the new TD standards of course) "The Blue Pearl". There again, some moments of brilliance can be experienced and are welcome at this time of the listening. The highlight by all means.

What's left is pleasant music but somewhat airport or supermarket oriented. Except the short and closing "Purple of all Curtains" which conveys again a very nice and enjoyable feeling.

I am quite conservative in my rating. There are some dedicated and true TD parts which are excellent, but other ones are quite basic and shouldn't be featured on a "Tangerine Dream" album.

Three stars.

While TANGERINE DREAM's previous album "Mars Polaris" was dynamic and spacey, "Seven Letters from Tibet" displays a musical landscape then new for the band. There are hardly no rythms, few melodies and no pulsating sequences. No rock, guitars or upbeats either, as opposed to what they were proposing during the past decade. Just 7 ambient, smooth songs, or "letters", as the album title suggests. However, the quality is here, the inspiration impulse of "Mars Polaris" has not fallen back.

You may have noticed the track-list represents rainbow colors. The overall is an ideal soundtrack for relaxation, as it is very slow, atmospheric and intimate. Sometimes it includes asian sonorities and themes, sometimes the atmosphere is more mystical, like in "The Indigo Clouds", which have reminiscences of POPOL VUH. Another good point, the sound is more modern.

The least interesting tune is unfortunately also the longest, "The Blue Pearl". Its final part is a reworking of a track released earlier, "Lhasa" from the "Quinoa" re-release, which was also the weakest moment of this EP.

A promising entrance in the 21th century for the duo, "Seven Letters from Tibet" is an unexpected pleasant surprise. Pretty, soft, relaxing music, in a quite different style from the other TANGERINE DREAM compositions, check it out.