Customer Reviews

Atlantic Bridges

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"Atlantic Bridges" is part of a 2-CD release (the other part being "Atlantic Walls") intended to showcase the best of Tangerine Dream's output from the albums "Optical Race" (1988), "Lily on the Beach" (1989), "Melrose" (1990), "Rockoon" (1992), "Turn of the Tides" (1994) and "Tyranny of Beauty" (1995). There are also bonuses in the form of one track on each album from the 1997 album "Timesquare (Dream Mixes Vol. 2)". Between them, the two compilation discs cover about a third of each of the main albums. And a pretty good third at that, with the tracks allegedly being chosen by the band members themselves. Certainly, most of the tracks included have featured prominently in Tangerine Dream's concert repertoire over the years, so one can only assume that the band do indeed rate these as amongst their better works from the period. Both discs are also crammed to capacity, with some 70+ minutes of music each.

Music from the six principal source albums is spread fairly evenly over the 2 CD's, although "Atlantic Bridges" concentrates more on "Optical Race" and "Lily on the Beach", while the main exposure of "Melrose" and "Tyranny of Beauty" is left to "Atlantic Walls". "Turn of the Tides" is well represented on both discs, while "Rockoon" receives only minimal coverage (which is probably as it should be!)

"Atlantic Bridges" presents its material in more or less chronological order, so when played right through, the disc gives an interesting overview of the gradual changes in Tangerine Dream's style over almost 10 years. In many ways, it is a little scary how little that style has changed, although the later tracks are undoubtedly more modern-sounding than the earlier ones, with a general increase in weightiness to the music as the disc progresses. In addition to being a good overview, the CD forms an excellent 'best-of' release for the period it covers and this disc, taken together with its companion, would be a fine purchase for anyone not wanting to buy all of the discs to get at the best. (Though you'll still need to buy "Miracle Mile" separately!)

Don't bother buying, though, if you already have some of the discs featured, or think you'll end up by buying them anyway for more of the same. It's also not worth buying them as samplers to decide which of the others you'd like, as there is no great variation between them (but, if in doubt, avoid "Rockoon"). There is no new material at all on either of these discs, so if you're a glutton for Tangerine Dream's music, you might as well just buy the originals and leave these for the dippers.

I have to echo the warnings. When Tangerine Dream came out with this two CD set - it really made me drop off the wagon of buying every TD Dream album I could get my hands on (and I have over 50 of them counting solo works). I have never been able to understand the TD catalog since these CDs came out. Buyer beware if you already have a complete collection. It's okay if you want to have a sample of their stuff however.

I have enjoyed Tangerine Dream music for over 25 years. This compilation is a good one, though I prefer TYRANNY OF BEAUTY and a few other compilations over this one. I have been disappointed with some of the redundancy in their collections. Sometimes the redundancies have different names so that you do not always know you are getting the same tracks when you are reading the track listings and trying to decide if there is enough new material to make it worthwhile to buy. I would like to see more original music come out. All in all, it is an okay CD for people who do not have many Tangerine Dream CDs. I play it often when I am doing bodywork sessions on clients. It is both relaxing enough to make the sessions peaceful and lively enough to give some energy and vitality. The saxaphone adds a nice moody emotional dimension to the rhythms and textures of Tangerine Dream electronica.

This is my second Tangerine Dream record/compilation.
Booklet: not very much information, but appearance is very fine.
There are a lot of very fine rewiews on Amazon pages in regard to
Tangerine Dream's records, so I just satisfy to say: Fine music.
But it may be mentioned, Tangerine Dream's booklet/cover art is
very elegant!