Customer Reviews

Tang-Go

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

 

 

"Tang-go" is a double-disc retrospective which will be useful only for casual listeners, looking to buy a short, convenient overview of TD's work from 1990 to 2000. With the exception of one or two tracks, there's nothing here you cannot find elsewhere on previous compilations ("The private music of TD", "Atlantic bridges", "Atlantic walls, and so on) or regular TD albums still in print. Compared with TD's groundbreaking '70s work, the musical range displayed on "Tang-go" is small and the creative light that once made TD great seems to be dull now. The band ventures into a melodic, easily accessible adult-alternative territory, but many songs are almost indistinguishable from each other. The dancier tracks are mostly soundscapes with a formulaic rhythm backing and can't compare with the work of contemporaries like Autechre, Aphex Twin, or The Orb. Still, there's some interesting material here. The boombastic "Mothers of rain" (off 1988's "Optical race") is very impressive, just as the atmospheric "Towards the evening star" (off "Goblin's Club"). Two tracks from 1999's remarkable "Mars Polaris" are also included, as well as a couple of numbers from TD's soundtracks like "Oasis", "Transsiberia", and "Great wall of China". As always with TD's later-era work, I think "Tang-go" works best as nice background music while driving, reading, or cooking. Overall, "Tang-go" is a good introduction to TD's work in recent years. However, if you want to have a collection covering TD's innovative "Virgin Years (1973-1983)", I think you should buy the double-disc set "Dream sequence" or the very comprehensive box set "Tangents".

Regular readers of my Tangerine Dream disc reviews will know that I don't general approve of compilation sets. I'm happy to make an exception in this case, though, as this 2-for-the-price-of-1 double album does indeed offer an excellent survey of the band's output over the final decade of the previous millennium (including a live performance of an even older gem!)

Most of the tracks are not the original versions but remixed or live editions, which genuinely offer improvements on the originals - unlike the mangled versions of earlier masterpieces offered on the likes of the "Tangents" collection. Both of the discs of "Tang-go" are generously filled and deliver a satisfying programme of material, without a single dud! Some of the track-endings are a little raggy, but the overall content is good enough for this minor niggle to be easily overlooked.

This release can be unreservedly recommended for anyone wanting a fairly comprehensive sampling of recent Tangerine Dream wares. Long term collectors may find much they would like to have here, too.

This is a very nice compilation of recent Tangerine Dream tracks between 1990 - 2000. However, it's sadly missing some tracks that I would have liked to have seen from Goblins' Club and Oasis. Too bad. But overall, a good mix of stuff for fans too lazy to burn their own mixes and a good intro for those who don't really know TD. For 2 full cd's it's a very good price too!

This is a compilation of '90-'00 TD tracks. What's noticable about the collection is that they are mainly not the original versions (as usually the case with 'best of' collections), but in most cases, the most recent versions of those tracks, including live and remixed tracks. There are also great selections from soundtrack albums and re-mastered albums, leading to a good spread and variety of types of track.

The tracks: The opening track 'Ca Va-Ca Marche-Ca Ira Encore' is great, but a-typical TD. I do love 'Flashflood' live, which is more dynamic and enjoyable than the album version, which is easily the best track on Oasis. 'Towards The Evening Star' follows this, which is also from 'Tornado Live'.'Mothers of Rain' is such a great track, which is the re-mastered version from the Atlantic Bridges re-master compilation. 'Timesquare' is here, a remix from Dreamixes 2, which is a fair remix, but a just a touch too repetative. Mobocaster & Pixel Pirates are also versions from the remix album. There's two tracks from Dream Mixes 1 (Little Blonde.. and Bride in Cold Tears). 'Meng Tian' is by far the best track from Great Wall of China soundtrack album and then there's the classic 'Beach Theme' live, from Valentine Wheels - this time, we have a guitar lead instead of a synth, like the original. 'Stoneyard' is here from 'What a Blast' (not found on the Architecture in Motion version, which in my opinion is the best soundtrack album they've done which can be played well as a stand-alone in recent years).

$13.99 for a doule CD is great, and it's worth it, even if you could make a CD-R of all you favourite tracks of you're exisiting collection. You could buy this and easily live without the most recent TD soundtracks and remix albums, yet have 90% or the best tracks from them (when considered as a whole)!

My only gripe is that live tracks fade too quickly, making the lister feel like the mastering has been rushed a tad.

Buy...

What was initially issued for promotional purposes received some minor tweaks and then released to the general public.

The 24 tracks span a number of periods for TD - the end of the "Melrose Years," the "Seattle Years" and into the "Millennium/TDI Years" - in a nice sampler for those who want to explore the vast catalog that is available.

There is a fascinating continuum within the tracks that is heard within this interesting collection.

I have many Tangerine Dream Albums, but what makes this album different from the rest is that most of the tracks have a heavier techno style beat,with creative sounds. Which makes for some pretty powerful music. I play it cranked and it just shakes the house. I've pretty much wore it out already, but still play my favorite tracks occasionally. It comes with 2 cd's and 24 tracks altogether. If you love heavy anolag synth,this is for you.