ATEM

Atem follows in the same example as the previous Tangerine Dream release, Zeit, in its darkly ambient sound. Different, though, in that this album seems to be only slightly less dark and much more sped up, but overall this album has more variety when compared to Zeit. "Atem", the first track, starts off with a tribal-like beat and ominous mellotron at a remarkably quick pace before turning into an experimental drone. "Wahn" is thoroughly tribal, featuring both tribal percussive beats coupled with periodic bouts of tribal screaming and yelling. "Fauni Gena" is a very airy and ethereal track that includes the organic sounds of birds that call back to the mellotron playing, a method that reminds me of E. Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus.

I didn't find this album as enjoyable as Zeit, but Atem definitely does have a slightly more energetic feel with the tribal elements and sped up composition. Atem seems unique in the Tangerine Dream catalog, but anyone who enjoys Edgar Froese's Epsilon in Malaysian Pale will find much to love in this album.