Mars Polaris [Import]

Tangerine Dream | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 27, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 27, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Tangerine Dream Intl
• ASIN: B00000JKE0
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,123 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Comet's Figure Head

2. Rim of Schiaparelli

3. Pilots of the Ether Belt

4. Deep Space Cruiser

5. Outland [The Colony]

6. Spiral Star Date

7. Mars Mission Encounter

8. Astrophobia

9. Tharsis Maneuver

10. Dies Martis [Transmercury]

Editorial Reviews

The 'en route' soundtrack, from Germany's new age/ electronic gurus, for NASA's 'Mars Polaris' expedition, launched in January 1999 from Cape Canaveral & due to reach Mars in December 1999. 10 tracks. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Puts the "space" into "space rock"..., September 8, 2001

By 

greencalx (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mars Polaris (Audio CD)

This was, strangely enough, my first Tangerine Dream album, and as a result I was instantly hooked on to them, resulting in purchases of many of their albums (all of them from TD's early years, even though Mars Polaris is from 1999).

Tangerine Dream beautifully orchestrates the many different moods and whims of space travel in Mars Polaris. Beginning with a great bath of synthesizers and witty but uncomplicated melodies, they do not forsake the importance of keeping music interesting.

While Tangerine Dream has exhibited their classic style from their early years -- toothy saw leads, crunchy and melodic electric guitars, and most importantly a sense of eccentricity -- they definately show signs of improved craftsmanship. The theme is science fiction, and it sounds like science fiction. Their tracks stray a little too long sometimes, but they -never- seem annoying or repetitious.

The best tracks, in my opinion, are especially 1) the adventurous "Comet's Figure Head", with it's ambient noodlings, dreamy synthesizers, a moody but noninvasive guitar, 2) "Deep Space Cruiser", which might as well be the theme to an exploration-theme sci-fi film -- the early-TD type guitar is especially juicy, 3) "Outland (The Colony)", a very experimental, chiptuney, fast-paced track, and 4) "Astrophobia", which begins like a slow horror film but becomes a modern-inspired opus (some parts sound like Aphex Twin's percussion or Nobuo Uematsu's beautiful videogame orchestration).

Recommended for, well, Tangerine Dream fans, science fiction nuts, space enthusiasts, electronic music fanatics, NASA scientists, and--why not--ordinary people. A very brave and unique album, indeed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word............................Amazing, August 31, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Tallahassee, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mars Polaris (Audio CD)

Once again the father and son duo that now makes up Tangerine Dream has brought we the faithful another sonic departure from day to day reality. The track layouts flow perfectly from one to the next, with the first track being a full ten minutes long. (Not that this is anything new, as all long time TD fans know) The music is based around the mars lander project and is blended to evoke the feeling that man has proven that you can achieve anything if the mind is open. The style of the music is not from any specific area of their long careers, but a highlight of all styles to bring their work into the next century, even though they were always years ahead. Basically, for old fans, or even someone entirely new to Tangerine Dream, this is one hell of a way to get started. Enjoy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mars Polaris.......WOW!!!!!, August 16, 1999

By 

M. Langham "Metal Fiend" (P-land, Maine United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mars Polaris (Audio CD)

Being a long-time fan of T.D. I have heard them change and morph and progress throughout their career. Edgar and Jerome Froese have come up with one of the best efforts of the band's catalog. There are a lot of sounds and textures that have not been on any T.D. release throughout time and some familiar ones as well. The tracks are very interesting and leave me wanting more!!! There are some cuts that sound like the early 80's style and some that, unbelievably, don't sound like anything that the band has ever released!!!! Which is saying a lot about their creativity because they have released some 65 + albums in the 30 years of their existance. When Edgar's son joined the group, I was very aprehensive with his known tastes firmly entrenched in Heavy Metal. He is a big fan of Van Halen and Joe Satriani. But his influence has been great for the band and I hope it continues for a long time. Mars Polaris is a must for the long time T.D. fan and probably a good document to start with if you are new to them.