Customer Reviews

Booster

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I should say upfront that I am a Tangerine Dream of the old days, the Virgin releases era really (1973-1983), and I lost interest in the band pretty much in the late 1980s. Couldn't stand the band's eventual drift into new age, mixes, and whatever else. But when I read about this album, I was intrigued, and so on a whim really, sound unheard, I purchased this from Amazon recently. I must add that I'm into another phase of being into electronic music from watching the excellent "Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution" DVD, which explores the German music scene in the 70s, including of course Kraftwerk, but also Klaus Schulze, Cluster, Harmonia, and Tangerine Dream, among others.

"Booster" (2 CDs, 16 tracks, 114 min.) is a curious mix. I was immediately skeptical when I read the liner notes, which tell us "Some titles have been exclusively compiled 2007 from various Tangerine Dream releases", and then that only a couple of tracks (3 in fact) are unreleased. After a tentative opener "One Night In Space" though, I am very charmed by the 14+ min. "Hyper Sphinx", which reminds me of latter 80s Tangerine Dream, nicely done. The re-recording of classic tracks "Logos" and "Tangram" are worthless, as they only want to make you want to listen to the original tracks. But there are several other highlights, none better than the 14+ min set closer "Bells of Acra", which I really like.

It is surely not a coincidence that I liked the 2 longest tracks on here by far. That said, this is not the return of the Tangerine Dream of old, but it surely is the best new music I've heard from Edgar Froese in, well, forever. Is it 'essential' to have? no, but it's decent enough.

Touted as a return to the band's early, analog-driven improvisations, circa Phaedra and Rubycon, this 2-disc set promises a lot. Originally known for stretching the capabilities of early synthesizers, the '70s Tangerine Dream, led by keyboardist / guitarist Edgar Froese, constructed a trademark sound of free-form washes of audio smears, frantically beeping sequences, symphonic electronics, and subterranean motor rhythms. Subsequent decades found the band stuffing its catalog with blander, poppier, Yanni baloney. So does Booster really redeem the band? Maybe. Several tracks, such as the Floydish "The Greek Mirror" or the 14-minute episodic "Hyper Sphinx," do recall the throbbing oscillations that made Phaedra a theme song, to this day, of WXPN's long-running space-music show Stars' End. But several tracks trip over their drum machine laces and major-key feet, falling into sun-drenched flowerbeds rather than an orbit around the dark side of Neptune. Phaedra *****, Rubycon ****, and Ricochet **** remain the untouched trio of Dream classics, supplemented by Froese's first two solo discs, Aqua **** and the rare Epsilon in Malaysian Pale *****. Booster is a rooster for the rest.

I've been a fan of TD since thier early days (Zeit, Rubycon) and this is the first time I have seen TD go back to thier early style as well as have some of the newer style of music. I still prefer their long pieces like Tangram and Pheadra, but this is a good mix of their music and its all new.

No matter how many times TD records a song, it's always different. The electronic improvements make these whole new sounds. I have just about everything they recorded, and I think this one is quite good.

Tangerine Dream, a band lost in time, then found by a small audience, gradually increasing their listening base to appeal to the mainstream, and then finally becoming a dated remnant of the drum machine 80's era.
They have gone back to recapture some of the "sounds" of their past. By "sounds" I mean exactly that. They have re-created some their original sounds that were used on earlier recordings and included these vintage sounds on some of these new recordings.
PLEASE GUYS, GET RID OF THE STUPID DRUM MACHINE!!!!!!! QUIT RUINING YOUR MUSIC!!!!!
Sorry about that, but you purists know what i'm talking about here. Edgar, you too, you know what i'm talking about buddy. There's just no way to really do it without the analogue modular equipment from the 70's and 80's. Thats where you need to start Edgar. You have to get that equipment back at all costs or else you will never be able to get your sound back. If I want to play rockabilly music, I can't do it with a digital amp and a see-through plastic guitar, I have to get the real stuff. I have to go out and find an old Gibson hollow body and an old tube amp. Yeah it costs money, but thats the only way.
The modular systems with the analogue sequencers and arpeggiators define the sound that Tangerine Dream created in the 70's and early 80's (and late 60's).
Thousands and thousands of pounds of gear, that nobody wants to carry around anymore or deal with. A complex system of wiring voltage controlled oscillators and sequencing notes in a way so unique that Tangerine Dream invented a style of music by using these systems. A beautiful unique sound that can only be achieved with such equipment. IT CAN'T BE FAKED EDGAR!!!! WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODULAR AND DIGITAL!!! DIGITAL=FAKE, MODULAR=AUTHENTICITY.
Stop fooling people, and find your modular systems, they are out there, they can be rebuilt.
I have to say that some of the sounds on this release sound legit to an extent. That is to say, I don't believe they are using a modular setup but they have found some old analogue synths, like the Oberheim Matrix 12 and some sort of old ARP thing. Trust me, I can tell the difference between an ARP 2600 computer plug-in and the real thing, its not that hard.
It sounds like a start towards something better, but in reality I believe that one day in the not too distant future another band will appear out of the blue, a younger band that mysteriously finds Hyperborea hidden beneath the surface of the melting seas of Antartica, still sealed in shrinkwrap, and playable on an antique Techniques turntable, powered by -----. And they will call themselves "White Eagle", not knowing exactly why but liking the name nonetheless, and they will take stage names as their obsessions with the ancient forefathers of modern music haunt their 50th century invisible optic high school brainwave education. "Phaedra", "Rubyicon", and "Atem" have searched the barren wasteland for tools to create the modules they so desire and need to fulfill the void that has existed for thousands of years. What was once a dry burnt brown desert will now become a beautiful Green Desert once again, and modular analogue music will drift through the Stratosphere and Ricochet like a Cyclone through Alpha Centauri and as the analogue waves are heard through the optics, a standing ovation is seen and heard, and the band takes the stage once again for their final Encore.
Thank you and goodnight to all...

This album is truly inspiring and captures the best of Tangerine Dream.
Since the early eighties, the sound and style of Tangerine Dream experienced a major transformation and not a positive one for me.
With Booster, I can enjoy the best from the old and new Tangerine Dream in an innovative album.
As an amateur astronomer, I always bring inspiring space music when observing in the field. This album is a must in every trip.

Okay, so this is not all new material, but it's probably one of their best releases in awhile. I've been listening to TD for 30+ years and Phaedra, Rubycon or Force Majeure this is not, but it's one of their best since Underwater Sunlight in my opinion.

Tangerine Dream through all of its iterations and personnel changes remains my favorite instrumental, synthesizer-based band out there. This album is no letdown -- it delivers catchy riffs, as well as, mellow tunes. Though termed a Tangerine Dream effort, Booster (2008) is a solo production by the multi-skilled Edgar Froese, and he manages to pull off the stunt exceptionally well with full-sounding, multi-instrument tracks. Hats off to Edgar Froese for continuing his pioneering efforts!

In my opinion, Booster is one of the best Tangerine Dream albums in my large collection of their stuff over the years. And, to make Booster even more enticing, it's a double-CD available for the cost of the average single CD.

A double CD of new Tangerine music (well, mostly new) that harks back to the classic 70s era that produced "Ricochet'' Tangram'' and "Rubycon''? what's not to like? If you liked the "old'' TD from the 70s, then you'll love "Booster''!

Virtually every song of this very good and diverse genre TD 2 CD set was performed by Edgar Froese. He's essentially the only remaining member of Tangerine Dream for the past two years. Edgar's the patriarch of electronic music. On "Booster" he uses his boundless keyboard, synth and guitar musical skills to deliver several masterful soundscapes. He has the muli-talented virtuosity and autonomy to lead Tangerine Dream all by himself. He has mastered every niche of their sound.