Customer Reviews

Pergamon

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album features a recording of about a half of the Tangerine Dream's performance in East Berlin on January 31st, 1980. Unfortunately, the second half of this magnificent concert was not included. However, what is included exceeds any expectations. It's an absolute masterpiece of this band, one of the memorable albums that appeal to almost everyone who has ever listened to them.

"Pergamon" compiles whatever is best in their music, namely experimentation, feeling, dynamism, nostalgia, melodies, chaos, thoughtful passages, vibrating ostinata, and the unique element, which may only be attributed to their ingeniousness. I would give everything to be present then and there, and lose myself in pure bliss of their live music.

The concert begins with a grand piano intro, played solo by Johannes Schmoelling on Steinway piano. When the melody slowly fades away, with the nostalgic fortissimo giving way to delicate pianissimo, other instruments come into play, creating one of the most touching and beautiful moments ever recorded. Pure Fantasy of Sound. Indeed, 'Quichotte I', the first movement on the album, is a perfect companion for reading books, which involve you personally. The reading experience is somewhat augmented.

The first movement features motifs from "Tangram", an album recorded a few weeks before the gig, and still in production at the time. However, in their best tradition, there is only an echo, a distant memory of the studio album, intertwined in their passion for experiment. The second movement is an over 20-minute-long passage of dynamic duo of Edgar Froese's guitar and the synthesizers. Yes, the famous ostinato is here in its perfect, crystal beauty.

It's useful to use a loop function in your player. You just can't get enough of this music. It's also their last album from the classic period, which only emphasizes its importance in the history of music. Highly recommended.

This disc is classic Tangerine Dream from their glory days (i.e. before they started sounding like just another rock band!) "Pergamon" is a remastered release of the 'Quichotte' set, recorded live at TD's concert at the Palast der Republik in East Berlin on 31st January 1980. This concert represented Johannes Schmoelling's first outing with the band (as well as the first concert of any western rock band in an Eastern Bloc venue!) and accordingly features as extended electronic piano solo from Schmoelling as its opening. It also features all the other things you'd expect from a TD concert: moody synth chords, distinctive synth and sequencer programming, and soaring Edgar Froese guitar riffs. Basically, in fact, Pergamon is a good solid example of the way Tangerine Dream gigs used to be: an interesting, continuous (and continuously developing) set, comprised of mostly improvised material played around themes from earlier TD music ('Stratosfear' prominent amongst it) and works in progress (principally 'Tangram Set 2', here). The only disappointment is that this is a straight remastering of the version that was released on black vinyl back in 1986, so retains the clumsy break for a side-change that was necessary for release of the music in that medium (as well as only 45 minutes of music--usual for the time, of course). Surely the side-break could have been dispensed with during the remastering for CD? This is particularly annoying when the cover crows about how an original artwork has been faithfully restored and a bootleg tape of the concert is in circulation to shows up how clumsy this edit is. Fans of late 70s, early 80s TD needn't hestitate to buy this, though. Great stuff!

I bought 3 TD cd's today (Alpha Centuri,Atem,Pergamon) and this by far is the best. The first track is worth the price alone, what can I say about Quichotte 1? Schmoelling begins this masterpiece with a beautiful piano solo. Even my girlfriend agreed it was beautiful (and she doesn't like TD). This piece is 23:16 long, which may seem lengthy but it's perfect, the song isn't rushed, it has time to grow and evolve into something much more complex then the piano solo that the song started with. I could use a bunch of descriptive words to describe the song but I couldn't do it justice. So I'll leave the song be. But I'll say this, if you buy it you won't disappointed

This disc is classic Tangerine Dream from their glory days (i.e. before they started sounding like just another rock band!) "Pergamon" is a remastered release of the 'Quichotte' set, recorded live at TD's concert at the Palast der Republik in East Berlin on 31st January 1980. This concert represented Johannes Schmoelling's first outing with the band (as well as the first concert of any western rock band in an Eastern Bloc venue!) and accordingly features as extended electronic piano solo from Schmoelling as its opening. It also features all the other things you'd expect from a TD concert: moody synth chords, distinctive synth and sequencer programming, and soaring Edgar Froese guitar riffs. Basically, in fact, Pergamon is a good solid example of the way Tangerine Dream gigs used to be: an interesting, continuous (and continuously developing) set, comprised of mostly improvised material played around themes from earlier TD music ('Stratosfear' prominent amongst it) and works in progress (principally 'Tangram Set 2', here).

The only disappointment is that this is a straight remastering of the version that was released on black vinyl back in 1986, so retains the clumsy break for a side-change that was necessary for release of the music in that medium (as well as only 45 minutes of music--usual for the time, of course). Surely the side-break could have been dispensed with during the remastering for CD? This is particularly annoying when the cover crows about how an original artwork has been faithfully restored and a bootleg tape of the concert is in circulation to shows up how clumsy this edit is. Fans of late 70s, early 80s TD needn't hestitate to buy this, though. Great stuff!

If you're a fan of the old days (Ricochet, Tangram, Rubicon, Poland), when the boys were churning out albums with only 2 or 3 tracks, you'll love this one. It is BY FAR my favourite album of all time, regardless of the artist. It is the first Tangerine Dream album I ever bought and it's still the first one I turn to when I want to relive my youth (hehe). I've listened to it countless times. I've progressed from album to cassette and now to CD. This album will transport you to times and places you've never dreamed of, and when you listen to it years from now, you'll find yourself remembering things you thought you'd long forgotten (when I was 16 I read this novel, and everytime I sat down to read it I played Pergamon in the background. I remember every part of that novel everytime I listen to the album. It's wierd, but that doesn't happen with any other music, and I listen and read alot!)

The recording itself is superb! Recorded at the Palast Der Republik in the old GDR (East Germany, for you youngsters who can't remember the Cold War). It is undoubtedly the best recording of a live show they have. Buy it, you won't regret it. I have over 30 Tangerine Dream Albums in my collection, and this is the one that started it all for me.

For me, the best TD live recording album. It's divided in only two parts, with a clear influence by Tangram's studio album (from 1980). Set One is calm, with a beautiful introduction and an introspective atmosphere by keyboards, is excellent! But the Set Two is a magical and incredible voyage with intensive rhythms and the best electric guitar solo by Edgar Froese: he plays with passion, distortion, until his hard solo turns into a keyboards sound after 8 minutes, in a perfectly consonance. Don't doubt: a great album by a great band, in a great live recording! Extremely recommended!

The rhythms and melodies and flowing guitar work show the trio at their absolute peak. I love this album.

I own 26 TD discs and this is the most exquisite listening experience. This classic pre-dates the fall of the Berlin wall and is pure ectasy in every regard.

Those fans of the movie Wavelength will especially appreciate this work.

this is a superb album, with the classic eighties sound van TD. Made at the hights of there succes. Part 2 trully rocks!!

Definitely Schmoelling was the best replacement for Baumann. The advent of Schmoelling improved the sound of TD in the 80's with more powerful and pulsating sequencers. This live but edited version is a clear testament that TD is alive and shredding the horns of doom.