Customer Reviews

Live Miles

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Released for public sale in late 1988, the concert album "Livemiles" is an account of two concert tours. I can't say that these are performances themselves, for reasons to be outlined in short order. In summer of 1986, the band successfully toured Americas, promoting their newest album, "Underwater Sunlight". All concerts were recorded, as is the band's custom. However, this album sleeve notes claim that the first of two tracks, 'The Albuquerque Concert' is the actual performance that took place in New Mexico. Those present at the gig beg to differ, for what finally appeared on the album is in fact a combination of the concert, other performances, and synthesizer passages added in studio. The second half of the album, 'The Berlin Concert', recorded in the vicinity of the Berlin Wall on the 1st of August, 1987, is doctored in a similar way. Thus one cannot claim that this is a live performance. Instead, what we get is a concert fruitcake augmented with various nuts added later to spice the actual gig - Edgar Froese mastered the album in late 1987 and prepared it for release the next year. This may be a disappointment for the purist, especially compared to the old days of the 70s, when the band was proud to experiment onstage, recording and then releasing whatever was performed. In a sense, Livemiles is located halfway down between these spontaneous gigs of old, and the computerized performances that were to become the standard in 1988 and later, when the band simply replayed the studio tracks on stage, just like any other ordinary rock band. "Livemiles" may not satisfy, yes, but only in the perspective of what happened later.

This said, the fruitcake sounds quite good. Each of two "concerts" on this album is a long, almost half-an-hour suite consisting of melodies taken from studio albums, with nice intermezzi inbetween. One might recognize 'Dolphin Dance' from "Underwater Sunlight" on the first side, and 'London' from "Tyger" on the second side. The latter mercifully does not involve vocals which haunted us on the studio release of 1987, and instead rescues the last third of the studio track, completely instrumental, which fits nicely into the overall tone of the performance. Indeed, it's a small game we love to play - which tune bits were taken from where - are we able to recognize and pinpoint them? It's not as hard as it used to be, but it's still fun.

Musically, it's a very good album, signifying beyond doubt that the band still had the nerve. Livemiles is also the important for two other reasons. First, it's the only concert album released between the grand "Poland" of 1983 and "220 Volt Live" of 1993, where the latter is just another item in the endless repetition of the same, recorded by the Froese family - the miserable remains of what remained of Tangerine Dream. Second, and more important, it's the swan song of the crucial member, the nucleus of the band - Christopher Franke - who left the band the day following the performance in Berlin, on the 2nd of August, 1987. As such, "Livemiles" is the grand finale of the cinematic era of 1986-1987, and the last album of Tangerine Dream as we knew it.

"Livemiles" presents two live 30-minute sets from Tangerine Dream concerts in 1986 and 1987. The first track, subtitled `The Albuquerque Concert' was recorded during the band's US tour in summer '86, while the second (`The West Berlin Concert') is taken from the concert that Tangerine Dream gave during the 750th Anniversary of the city of Berlin (still divided then, of course) on 1st August '87. This latter concert was, in fact, Chris Franke's last ever appearance with the group-he quit the band the next day-so this is something of a landmark recording in the history of Tangerine Dream, marking an end of their so-called Blue Years (and their releases on the Jive-Electro label).

The two sets played here are typical of Tangerine Dream in their heyday: large-scale works perfectly constructed and exquisitely executed, with superb use of power percussion programming, complex sequencer pulses, delightful sampler and synthesiser voicings and some lovely, mellifluous melodies weaving through it all. Everything blends to utter perfection, the tempos are constantly varied and there is not a single dull moment from start to finish. These must have been fabulous concerts to be at and this disc is a `must have' for all TD fans.

Incidentally, about half of this album is included (in a slightly different version) on the 5 CD collection "The Dream Roots Collection". That isn't enough, so even if you have that collection, you should have this disc too!

"Livemiles" presents two live 30-minute sets from Tangerine Dream concerts in 1986 and 1987. The first track, subtitled 'The Albuquerque Concert' was recorded during the band's US tour in summer '86, while the second ('The Berlin Concert') is taken from the concert that Tangerine Dream gave during the 750th Anniversary of the city of Berlin (still divided then, of course) on 1st August '87. This latter concert was, in fact, Chris Franke's last ever appearance with the group--he quit the band the next day--so this is something of a landmark recording in the history of Tangerine Dream, marking an end of their so-called Blue Years (and their releases on the Jive-Electro label).

The two sets played here are typical of Tangerine Dream in their heyday: large-scale works perfectly constructed and exquisitely executed, with superb use of power percussion programming, complex sequencer pulses, delightful sampler and synthesiser voicings and some lovely, mellifluous melodies weaving through it all. Everything blends to utter perfection, the tempos are constantly varied and there is not a single dull moment from start to finish. These must have been fabulous concerts to be at and this disc is a 'must have' for all TD fans.

Incidentally, about half of this album is included (in a slightly different version) on the 5 CD collection "Dream Roots Collection". That isn't enough, so even if you have that collection, you should have this disc too!

"Livemiles" presents two live 30-minute sets from Tangerine Dream concerts in 1986 and 1987. The first track, subtitled 'The Albuquerque Concert' was recorded during the band's US tour in summer '86, while the second ('The Berlin Concert') is taken from the concert that Tangerine Dream gave during the 750th Anniversary of the city of Berlin (still divided then, of course) on 1st August '87. This latter concert was, in fact, Chris Franke's last ever appearance with the group--he quit the band the next day--so this is something of a landmark recording in the history of Tangerine Dream, marking an end of their so-called Blue Years (and their releases on the Jive-Electro label).

The two sets played here are typical of Tangerine Dream in their heyday: large-scale works perfectly constructed and exquisitely executed, with superb use of power percussion programming, complex sequencer pulses, delightful sampler and synthesiser voicings and some lovely, mellifluous melodies weaving through it all. Everything blends to utter perfection, the tempos are constantly varied and there is not a single dull moment from start to finish. These must have been fabulous concerts to be at and this disc is a 'must have' for all TD fans.

Incidentally, about half of this album is included (in a slightly different version) on the 5 CD collection "Dream Roots Collection". That isn't enough, so even if you have that collection, you should have this disc too!

"Livemiles" presents two live 30-minute sets from Tangerine Dream concerts in 1986 and 1987. The first track, subtitled 'The Albuquerque Concert' was recorded during the band's US tour in summer '86, while the second ('The Berlin Concert') is taken from the concert that Tangerine Dream gave during the 750th Anniversary of the city of Berlin (still divided then, of course) on 1st August '87. This latter concert was, in fact, Chris Franke's last ever appearance with the group--he quit the band the next day--so this is something of a landmark recording in the history of Tangerine Dream, marking an end of their so-called Blue Years (and their releases on the Jive-Electro label).

The two sets played here are typical of Tangerine Dream in their heyday: large-scale works perfectly constructed and exquisitely executed, with superb use of power percussion programming, complex sequencer pulses, delightful sampler and synthesiser voicings and some lovely, mellifluous melodies weaving through it all. Everything blends to utter perfection, the tempos are constantly varied and there is not a single dull moment from start to finish. These must have been fabulous concerts to be at and this disc is a 'must have' for all TD fans.

Incidentally, about half of this album is included (in a slightly different version) on the 5 CD collection "Dream Roots Collection". That isn't enough, so even if you have that collection, you should have this disc too!

My second favourite TD disc (after 220 volt live). As with 220 Volt Live, purists have criticized this disc because it contains snippets of pieces from various concerts that have been put together. No matter. I think that it has been put together very well (the bridge into the last part of the Albuquerque segment still makes my skin tingle) and it has been mixed extremely well: it sounds awesome on my car system!

From albuquerque to Berlin, this album carries u from slow ambient synthesizers to floydish soaring cords. Beautiful transitions without a break, only two cuts. Live Miles, Part One (The Albuquerque Concert)is really a studio production (see "Voices in the Net" website)..nonetheless, a very good album for a smooth listening experience, wether driving in your car or sitting on your living room couch, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Although there are only two pieces of music listed...Live Miles concert from Albuquerque, New Mexico and Live Miles concert from Berlin you do receive nearly an hour of pure Tangerine Dream. In each piece they do not stay long with any one theme but constantly shift, move and morph into variations and what at times seem to be elements totally unrelated. But, it all gets pulled together into very listenable music that to my ears is highly enjoyable. There are at times odd rhythms and melodies but the innovation of the music is never boring or mundane.

Released in April 1988, the album allegedly captures the trio - Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, Paul Haslinger - during a June 8, 1986, concert in Albuquerque, New Mexico (29:52) and an August 1987 performance in West Berlin (27:13).

None of the music from the Albuquerque recording came from that show and was probably recorded sometime in early 1988, well after Franke had left the group (the West Berlin date was his final show). Being the final material for the Jive-Electro label, it is hard to gauge whether the incorrect dating was necessary or it was a mistake in labeling.

The soundscape is somber and reflective. This is a setting that firmly places TD on a path to the "New Age" period of the early years in the next decade.

"Livemiles" presents two live 30-minute sets from Tangerine Dream concerts in 1986 and 1987. The first track, subtitled 'The Albuquerque Concert' was recorded during the band's US tour in summer '86, while the second ('The Berlin Concert') is taken from the concert that Tangerine Dream gave during the 750th Anniversary of the city of Berlin (still divided then, of course) on 1st August '87. This latter concert was, in fact, Chris Franke's last ever appearance with the group--he quit the band the next day--so this is something of a landmark recording in the history of Tangerine Dream, marking an end of their so-called Blue Years (and their releases on the Jive-Electro label).

The two sets played here are typical of Tangerine Dream in their heyday: large-scale works perfectly constructed and exquisitely executed, with superb use of power percussion programming, complex sequencer pulses, delightful sampler and synthesiser voicings and some lovely, mellifluous melodies weaving through it all. Everything blends to utter perfection, the tempos are constantly varied and there is not a single dull moment from start to finish. These must have been fabulous concerts to be at and this disc is a 'must have' for all TD fans.

Incidentally, about half of this album is included (in a slightly different version) on the 5 CD collection "Dream Roots Collection". That isn't enough, so even if you have that collection, you should have this disc too!