Tangerine Dream album by album

  

Tangerine Dream were part of what was termed Krautrock in the early Seventies, and some folks still use this vague term. There is often little to connect the bands that were classed as Krautrock, other than that they were formed or based in Germany, and there was an "experimental" edge to them - or at least, something "underground" or not mainstream pop or rock. Of all the Krautrock bands, Tangerine Dream were perhaps the closest to modern or avant garde classical music - there was something sculptural about the music, something composed, thoughtful, and musical. They incorporated various sounds in their music, and could be compared to Pink Floyd and Eno.  

[Work in progress - just starting....] 

Wikipedia: 

Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup of the group was its mid-1970s trio of Froese, Christopher Franke, and Peter Baumann. In 1979, Johannes Schmoelling replaced Baumann until his own departure in 1985. This lineup was notable for composing many movie soundtracks. Since Froese's death in 2015, the group has been under the leadership of Thorsten Quaeschning. Quaeschning is Froese's chosen successor and is currently the longest-serving band member, having joined in 2005. Quaeschning is currently joined by violinist Hoshiko Yamane who joined in 2011 and Paul Frick who joined in 2020. Prior to this Quaeschning and Yamane performed with Ulrich Schnauss from 2014 to 2020. Schnauss only played two shows with Froese in November 2014 before Froese's passing.

Tangerine Dream are considered a pioneering act in electronica.^[3] Their work with the electronic music Ohr label produced albums that had a pivotal role in the development of the German musical scene known as kosmische Musik ("cosmic music"). Their "Virgin Years", so called because of their association with Virgin Records, produced albums that further explored synthesizers and sequencers, including the UK top 20 albums Phaedra (1974) and Rubycon (1975). The group also had a successful career composing film soundtracks, creating over 60 scores.

From the late 1990s into the 2000s, Tangerine Dream continued to explore other styles of instrumental music as well as electronica. Their recorded output has been prolific, including over one hundred albums. Among other scoring projects, they helped create the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto V. Their mid-1970s work has been profoundly influential in the development of electronic music styles such as new-age and electronic dance music.

On 29 September 2017, the band released an all-new music studio album entitled Quantum Gate. In December 2019, they released Recurring Dreams, a compilation of new recordings of some of the band's classic compositions. On 26 November 2021, the band released an EP entitled Probe 6–8 (including three tracks: "Raum", "Para Guy" and "Continuum"), whose concept was developed further on their following album Raum, their latest studio album to date which was released on 25 February 2022.

AllMusic: 

Tangerine Dream are unquestionably one of the most influential electronic groups of all time. Their music has made an immeasurable impact on ambient, new age, techno, trance, and progressive rock, as well as modern film score composition. Founded as a psychedelic rock group in 1967 by Edgar Froese, the group was initially associated with the Krautrock scene through early abstract albums like 1970's Electronic Meditation and 1972's Zeit. They pioneered the use of sequencers with classic albums like 1974's Phaedra and 1975's Rubycon, which proved to be commercially successful. They became prolific film composers, most notably scoring the 1983 blockbuster Risky Business. Subsequent albums such as 1985's Le Parc and 1988's Optical Race incorporated digital instrumentation, as well as shorter, more pop-oriented compositions than their earlier epics. During the '90s, albums such as 1995's Tyranny of Beauty moved closer to the forms of dance music that Tangerine Dream had heavily influenced. During the 21st century, TD gradually drifted back toward the sequencer-driven sound they had pioneered during the '70s. Froese passed away in 2015, but a trio lineup (including notable electronic musician Ulrich Schnauss) continued to record and perform, remaining true to Froese's vision with the 2017 full-length Quantum Gate. Following the addition of Paul Frick as a full-time member, TD released the album Raum in 2022.

Recordings

   

Electronic Meditation (1970) 

Released	June 1970
Recorded	October 1969
Genre	Krautrock
Length	36:37
Label	Ohr
Producer	Tangerine Dream

All tracks are written by Edgar Froese, Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Genesis"	5:57
2.	"Journey Through a Burning Brain"	12:26

Side B

No.	Title	Length
3.	"Cold Smoke"	10:38
4.	"Ashes to Ashes"	4:06
5.	"Resurrection"	3:27

• Edgar Froese – six- and twelve-string guitar, organ, piano, sound effects, tapes
• Conrad Schnitzler – cello, violin, addiator
• Klaus Schulze – drums, percussion, metal sticks

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 


  

Alpha Centauri (1971) 

Released	March 1971
Recorded	January 1971
Studio	Dierks Studio
Genre	Krautrock
Length	39:48
Label	Ohr
Producer	Tangerine Dream

All tracks are written by Edgar Froese

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sunrise in the Third System"	4:21
2.	"Fly and Collision of Comas Sola"	13:23

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Alpha Centauri"	22:04

• Edgar Froese – guitar, organ, bass, composer
• Christopher Franke – drums, percussion, flute, zither, piano, VCS3
• Steve Schroyder – organ, voice, echo machines, iron stick
• Udo Dennebourg – flute, voice
• Roland Paulick – synthesizer

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
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Zeit (1972)

 

Released	August 1972
Recorded	May 1972
Studio	Dierks Studio
Genre	Krautrock[1] electronic music space music[2]
Length	74:29
Label	Ohr
Producer	Tangerine Dream

All titles written by Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke and Peter Baumann

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Birth of Liquid Plejades"	19:54

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Nebulous Dawn"	17:56

Side C

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Origin of Supernatural Probabilities"	19:34

Side D

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Zeit"	16:58
Total length:		74:22

• Edgar Froese – audio generators, gliss guitar
• Christopher Franke – keyboards, cymbals, VCS3 analog synthesizer
• Peter Baumann – organ, vibraphone, VCS3 analog synthesizer

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 

Atem (1973)

 

Released	March 1973
Recorded	December 1972 – January 1973
Studio	Dierks Studio
Genre	Krautrock
Length	41:28
Label	Ohr
Producer	Tangerine Dream

All tracks are written by Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke and Peter Baumann

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Atem"	20:27

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fauni-Gena"	10:47
2.	"Circulation of Events"	5:52
3.	"Wahn"	4:29

• Edgar Froese – mellotron, organ, guitar, voice
• Peter Baumann – organ, piano, VCS3
• Christopher Franke – VCS3, drums, percussion, organ, voice

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
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Green Desert (1986)

Released in 1986, but recorded in August 1973. This is the recording that persuaded Virgin to sign them. 

Phaedra (1974)

Released	20 February 1974
Recorded	November – December 1973
Studio	The Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, England
Genre	Krautrock
Length	37:33
Label	Virgin
Producer	Edgar Froese

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Phaedra"	Froese, Franke, Baumann	17:39

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares"	Froese	9:55
2.	"Movements of a Visionary"	Froese, Franke, Baumann	7:56
3.	"Sequent C'"	Baumann	2:13

• Edgar Froese – mellotron, guitar, bass, VCS 3 synthesizer, organ, cover painting
• Christopher Franke – moog synthesizer, VCS 3 synthesizer
• Peter Baumann – organ, electric piano, VCS 3 synthesizer, recorder

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 

  

Rubycon (1975)

Released	21 March 1975
Recorded	January 1975, The Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell
Genre	Krautrock
Length	34:53
Label	Virgin
Producer	Tangerine Dream

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rubycon, Part I"	17:18
2.	"Rubycon, Part II"	17:35

• Edgar Froese - mellotron, guitar and VCS 3 synthesizer on "Rubycon, Part One" ; organ, mellotron, guitar, gong and VCS 3 synththesizer on "Rubycon, Part Two"
• Christopher Franke - double Moog synthesizer, Synthi A, organ, modified Elka organ and prepared piano on "Rubycon, Part One" ; double Moog synthesizer, gong, Synthi A, and organ on "Rubycon, Part Two"
• Peter Baumann - organ, EMS Synthi A, electric piano (Fender Rhodes) and prepared piano on "Rubycon, Part One" ; electric piano (Fender Rhodes), organ, EMS Synthi A, voice and ARP 2600 on "Rubycon, Part Two"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 

  

Ricochet (1975) 

Released	December 1975
Recorded	October 1975, The Manor Studio, England 23 October 1975, live at Fairfield Halls, Croydon, London
Genre	Krautrock
Length	38:15
Label	Virgin
Producer	Tangerine Dream

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ricochet, Part One"	17:02

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ricochet, Part Two"	21:13

• Peter Baumann – keyboards, organ, synthesizers, mellotron, flute
• Chris Franke – keyboards, sequencer, synthesizer, drums
• Edgar Froese – keyboards, synthesizer, piano, mellotron, guitar

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 

  

Stratosfear  (1976) 

Released	October 1976
Recorded	August 1976 at the Audio Studios, Berlin, Germany.
Genre	Electronic music  ambient
Length	35:39
Label	Virgin
Producer	Tangerine Dream

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stratosfear"	10:04
2.	"The Big Sleep in Search of Hades"	4:45

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"3 AM at the Border of the Marsh from Okefenokee"	8:10
2.	"Invisible Limits"	11:40

• Christopher Franke – Moog synthesizer, organ, percussion, loop mellotron, harpsichord
• Edgar Froese – mellotron, Moog synthesizer, twelve and six-string guitar, grand piano, bass guitar, mouth organ
• Peter Baumann – Moog synthesizer, Projekt Elektronik rhythm computer, Fender Rhodes, mellotron

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 

    

Sorcerer (1977)

Released	July 1977
Recorded	May - October, 1976
Venue	Berlin
Studio	Victoria Studios
Genre	Electronic music, progressive rock, space music[1]
Length	43.52
Label	MCA

All tracks are written by Edgar Froese, Christoph Franke, Peter Baumann

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Main Title"	5:28
2.	"Search"	2:54
3.	"The Call"	1:57
4.	"Creation"	5:00
5.	"Vengeance"	5:32
6.	"The Journey"	2:00

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Grind"	3:01
2.	"Rain Forest"	2:30
3.	"Abyss"	7:04
4.	"The Mountain Road"	1:53
5.	"Impressions Of Sorcerer"	2:55
6.	"Betrayal (Sorcerer Theme)"	3:38

• Edgar Froese – Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitars, Twin Keyboard Mellotron Mark V, Steinway Grand Piano, Oberheim Polyphonic Synthesizer, ARP Omni string synthesizer, PPG Synthesizer, Modified Moog synthesizer.
• Christopher Franke – Moog modular synthesizer, Projekt Elektronik sequencer, Computerstudio Digital Sequencer, Mellotron, ARP Pro Soloist synthesizer, Elka String Synthesizer, Oberheim sequencer.
• Peter Baumann – Projekt Elektronik Modular Synthesizer, Projekt Elektronik Sequencer, Fender Rhodes Piano, ARP Pro Soloist synthesizer, Mellotron.

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 
Score: 

Encore (1977) 

Released	October 1977
Recorded	March 29, - April 26, 1977
Venue	Various venues during North American tour
Genre	Krautrock
Length	71:49
Label	Virgin
Producer	Tangerine Dream

All tracks are written by Chris Franke, Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Cherokee Lane"	16:19

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Monolight"	19:54

Side three

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Coldwater Canyon"	18:06

Side four

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desert Dream"	17:30

Single: "Encore" & "Hobo March" 

• Edgar Froese – electric guitar, Steinway Grand Piano, ARP Omni, Mellotron V, Moog modular synthesizer, Oberheim Four Voice, Palm Products GmbH 1020, Projekt Elektronik sequencer, producer, engineer, mastering
• Christopher Franke – ARP Pro Soloist, Elka Rhapsody 610 string machine, Mellotron M400, Moog modular synthesizer, Oberheim OB-1, electronic percussion, Projekt Elektronik sequencer, Computerstudio digital sequencer, Oberheim sequencer, producer, engineer, sequencing, mastering
• Peter Baumann – Fender Rhodes electric piano, ARP Pro Soloist, ELKA Rhapsody 610 string machine, EMS Vocoder, Mellotron M400, Projekt Elektronik Modular Synthesizer, Projekt Elektronik sequencer, producer, engineer, mastering, mixing

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Discography 

1. Electronic Meditation (1970)
2. Alpha Centauri (1971)
3. Zeit (1972)
4. Atem (1973)
5. Phaedra (1974)
6. Rubycon (1975)
7. Stratosfear (1976)
8. Cyclone (1978)
9. Force Majeure (1979)
10. Tangram (1980)
11. Exit (1981)
12. White Eagle (1982)
13. Hyperborea (1983)
14. Le Parc (1985)
15. Green Desert (1986, recorded in 1973)
16. Underwater Sunlight (1986)
17. Tyger (1987)
18. Optical Race (1988)
19. Lily on the Beach (1989)
20. Melrose (1990)
21. Rockoon (1992)
22. Quinoa (1992, revised 1998)
23. Turn of the Tides (1994)
24. Tyranny of Beauty (1995)
25. The Dream Mixes (1995)
26. Tangerine Ambience (1996)
27. Goblins' Club (1996)
28. Tangerine Ambience Vol II (1997)
29. TimeSquare – Dream Mixes II (1997)
30. Ambient Monkeys (1997)

Summary 

[Note: Aspects which go toward final score are given a rough percentage figure of how much that aspect may have influenced the overall score. However, some bands may well exceed that percentage, particularly if their main focus is in that area.]

Voice/Musicianship (15%)

Image/Star quality (5%)

Lyrics/Music (20%)

Impact/Influence (10%)

Popularity (5%)

Emotional appeal (5%)

Authenticity (15%)

Art (5%)

Classic albums/songs (5%)

Originality/Innovation (5%)

Legacy (10%)

Total: 100

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