Customer Reviews

Departure From the Northern Wasteland

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Though comparisons with Tangerine Dream's work of the mid to late 1970's are inevitable when approaching this recording, Michael Hoenig's Departure from the Northern Wasteland in many respects represents the absolute pentacle of the electronic music scene then flourishing in Germany. Released in 1977, "Departure" took the burbling, sequence-driven, analog soundscapes of Tangerine Dream to new heights, introducing a fresh sense of purpose and a tighter rhythmic/compositional control to what was by then well trodden territory.

It is possible that this compositional control was helped along by newly available digital sequencing technology which made possible the storage and instant retrieval of musical phrases. (I'm not sure when Hoenig gained access to this equipment, I can find no list of equipment used on this release. However, the Oberheim DS-2 sequencer was available in 1975 and was used by the likes of Synergy, aka Larry Fast.) Whatever the case, digital sequencing was soon to play a major role in changing the electronic music scene forever. As with most technological advances, this change brought both boon and bane. Freed from the limits of sequencers offering no more than 8 to 32 notes, composers of sequence-driven music could now create musical phrases of seemingly endless length, simultaneously allowing them to make quick compositional shifts heretofore unthinkable. No longer were composers burdened with having to manually change every note by knob or slider, a physical limitation which had led to the lengthy, static compositions and repetitive bass percolation so typical of this music. Yet it was just that, the cumbersome user interface of analog sequencers, which had helped define the style. When the interface changed, so did the music.

Other phenomenon conspired to relegate so-called "Berlin School" electronic music to a sub-underground status (Yamaha's FM synthesis technology and the rise of "New Age" music being two). But one cannot help mark that Hoenig's Departure from the Northern Wasteland, poised as it was on the very edge of analog's near extinction, remained more faithful to its stylistic predecessors than did Tangerine Dream's release, two years later, of Force Majeure.

Hoenig published no other solo works in the 1970's, which is a shame, for I hold this work to be one of my prized possessions. It is a must-have for anyone interested in pre-dance electronica and offers a different look at something familiar, while turning some very new pages. If you're into this, also check out New Age of Earth by Ash Ra Temple.

Even though Michael Hoenig was only briefly a member of Tangerine Dream (and they never recorded a studio album with him), this album is an absolute necessary addition to the Tangerine Dream catalogue.

Released in 1977, this album is completely in line with TD releases like "Ricochet" and "Encore". The sequencers are all over this album, and create a throbbing atmosphere. The key track is the opener title track, a 20 min. journey that ranks among the top Tangerine Dream output of the 1975-1978 era.

For those looking to nowadays Tangerine Dream-like sounds, check out Spacecraft, which has issued some great albums in the late 90s like "Hummel" (see my review there).

An essential purchase for lovers of mid-70s period Tangerine Dream. The 20 minute title track and the 10 minute 'Hanging Garden Transfer' are sequencer masterpieces. The music is excellently crafted and the sequencer work is very cleverly structured with influences of some of the best minimalist composers. Hoenig's skill is that he takes a fairly basic sequencer rhythm, but constantly changes note accents to sustain interest. There is a sublime section towards the end of the title track where the multi-sequencer lines split apart and then gradually rejoin. Although on first listen, the music may appear improvised, it is very cleverly composed, showing a structure and maturity that was well in advance of what TD were doing at the time ('Cyclone' had just been released). Hoenig shows a very nifty jazz influence with his soloing at the climax of the superb 'Hanging Garden Transfer'.

Hoenig's all too brief stay in Tangerine Dream is at last documented with the release of the 'Bootleg Box Set Vol 1', which contains a superb BBC recording of the classic London Royal Albert Hall concert of 1975. Unforgivingly, Hoenig receives no credit nor mention on the box set, but listen carefully and you'll hear snatches of 'Departure From the Northern Wasteland'.

Michael Hoenig learnt his craft touring with Tangerine Dream while Peter Baumann took a break... and doesn't it show! That period of TD's work is my favourite; "Phaedra" and "Rubycon" I believe to be the finest ambient albums... period.

Certainly TD never really came close to duplicating these efforts and why should they? TD continued to change and evolve and become the bland monstrosity, from 1991 onwards, that we know so well today.

Hoenig took what he learnt about sequencing and applied it to this fine solo work. Not as flawless as the aforementioned TD albums, but pretty damn good nonetheless. Think of it as a mix of "Phaedra", "Encore", "Ricochet" and "Rubycon" but take away some of the majestic eeriness and you'll be pretty close to the mark!

I only recently listened to this and it was wonderful to listen to music so old that sounded so fresh! I particularly enjoy the point when the analogue sequencers, being run in tandem, quite clearly go out of time with each other... but it doesn't matter; the instruments had character, unlike the cold digital sampling of some modern-era synth music.

Well worth purchasing if, like me, you get tired of waiting for TD to put out more of their old un-released work from that period.

I remember buying a promotional ep, back when this was called "electronic" music, before the term "new age" was coined. I bought the cassette, and eventually, the cd; though it was hard to track down. Excellent compositions and musicianship. Makes me wish I'd gotten hold of the other work Xcept One; which he did for Capitol Records, and which I would like to see rereleased. He is probably now known for composing the theme to the CBS drama, "The District", but this was before then. Also, I would recommend anything by Mike Oldfield, composer of the theme to the movie "The Exorcist". Nice tonal range and interesting interplay of sound.

Here's the scoop about Michael Hoenig: In the early 1970s, he was with a group called Agitation Free. Their 1972 debut, Malesch is said to be their best album. It's supposed to be Krautrock as you expect from that time with some Middle Eastern elements thrown in. They released a couple more albums including 2nd and Last. Eventually Hoenig was asked to fill in for Peter Baumann when he was taking a break (sadly no TD's recordings exist with Hoenig). By 1977, he went solo and recorded this album, Departure From the Northern Wasteland, and it's quite obvious his brief stay with TD shows here. While some people call Departure a classic, I wouldn't go that far. It's still a worthy album, and if you like TD or Klaus Schulze, you're sure to like this. In America, the album was originally released on a very major label, Warner Bros. (I still see this on LP floating around just about every used record store out there), that version is the one with all the hot air balloons on the cover (makes me wonder if the picture was taken in New Mexico, since it is, after all, the state with the largest hot air balloon show in the country). The German version on Kukuck is the one without the balloons. It's too bad Hoenig gave us very little in the way of albums. It wouldn't be until 1987 when he gave us another album, X-Cept One (not bad, if you don't mind the digital nature of the album, much more upbeat than Departure). Aside from that, he's been mostly giving us music for movies and television (Seventh Sign, the Max Headroom TV series and Dark Skies are a couple things I know he did). Although I prefer the Tangerine Dream albums that came out in the mid 1970s over Departure From the Northern Wasteland, it's still another fine album to add to your electronic collection.

Departure... is a Berlin school, analogue, sequential masterpiece. There are four tracks: Departure... (20') is in the manner of Rubycon (TD) or Timewind (Schulze), a journey across an alien, arctic landscape. Hanging garden transfer (11') have the most stunning sequence I never have heard (what a sequence!), demolishing, rhythmic, hypnotic. The sequence work is tremendous. Voices of where (6') is a contemporary music piece, in the wave of Wahn (Atem from TD) and Sun and Moon (4') is a relaxing ending. I consider this album a pinnacle in electronic music for all time, at the same level that Schulze and TD masterpieces.

It is almost incredible what happened in Germany decades ago, this kind of music opens a whole dimenssion, deep emotional atmospheres, a must have for everybody who is in this kind of music. And many younger people looks very surprised whn they find these great music was born decades ago. All my praise for this album, I feel I get into a new world it si very intense sensation.

If you like klaus schulze, neptune towers, etc. then this cd is a must have, When I put this cd in I have to listen to the whole thing. if im going to work or going to sleep or just "relaxing". this cd will take your mind to that place where you want to be.

One of my absolute favorites from my vinyl daze. Thankfully, years later I ran across it in some weird catalog. It's every bit as beautiful as I remember and part of my vital past can now go along with me into my vital future. Technically probably out of my league here, but synthesis from those days was still a warm thing, not the icy Now. It was the kind of sound I could certainly have lived with longer than it was around. It's a wonderful piece of music. Now an artifact. I need it for the Perspective.