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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Virgin years revisited (and vandalised), October 2, 2000
This review is from: Tangents 1973-1983 (Audio CD)
I can't decide whether Edgar Froese is basically insecure, a total perfectionist or just plain cavalier when it comes to revisiting the past achievements of Tangerine Dream. Perhaps it's a mix of all three? The "Tangents" boxed set of 5 CD's certainly demonstrates something of all of these attitudes. The music on these disks is drawn from the period 1973-83, during which time Tangerine Dream were signed to Virgin Records. The set ignores only "Cyclone" of the 12 principal TD Virgin releases and incorporates a single passing nod to "Pergamon" (CDs 1-3). It also covers the main OST releases of the Virgin Years, "Sorcerer", "Risky Business", "Thief", "Firestarter", "Wavelength" and "Flashpoint" (CD 4). The final CD presents some 10 tracks (1 hour) of previously unreleased material, supposedly from the same period, and mostly credited to Froese alone. In all, the set contains almost 6 hours of material. None of this music - not even that of the final disc, I suspect - is presented in its original form, however. It has all been subjected to "re-recording" or "remixing" by Edgar Froese. Modernised, some might say; pointlessly vandalised, would be a more apt phrase, to my mind! So, be warned! A sampler set this is not. The alterations consist principally of the application of additional layers - usually lush synthesised orchestral or vocal washes - although some tracks have been completely re-recorded by Froese using new voicings. By and large, the overdubs seem to have been applied with little sensitivity to the inherent character of the originals - there are times, indeed, when the new layers fight quite badly with the earlier rhythmic or harmonic structures. This seems generally to be at its worst with older material and with that contributed by band members other than Froese, as though it is these that are most in need of obliteration, er, sorry, I mean updating. Light and delicate works have come off badly too, as though there was some deep underlying need for all ethereal or unsubstantial stuff to be beefed up. The effect is rather like listening to Mozart, say, played by a massive Romantic orchestra. The original beauty is still there to discern, but generally, one is left hankering for a more enlightened approach to it all. The additions tend to be all much of a muchness, too, imposing a quite tiring uniformity on what was once a fairly disparate and varied series of sound worlds. The previously unreleased tracks (which mostly sound as though they have been extracted from concert sequences, or else are rejected film score material) have an over-riding similarity of sound, too, suggesting that they also have been tinkered with prior to release. Just how much you like this set will basically depend on how well you know, and how much you love or value the original works. If these were concert performances, I'd probably be quite keen on them. Similarly, if I'd come to the CDs without knowing the sources, I'd probably be raving about them - production standards are high and the sound quality is immaculate: clear and punchy. As it is, though, I find the overly bright uniformity of the result rather too taxing on the ears to summon up much enthusiasm for it, overall. Collectors of the works of Froese and TD will simply have to have this set, of course, if only for disc 5. There is a nice thick booklet included, too, full of fun facts and pretty images. Equally, this collection would sit nicely alongside "The Dream Roots Collection" for anyone who just wanted some chunks of not-too representative Tangerine Dream on hand, to listen to now and then. It doesn't beat having the originals, though. I'm prepared to give the set 5 stars for standard of presentation and sheer volume of content...
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
*This* is the place to start!, September 29, 2000
This review is from: Tangents 1973-1983 (Audio CD)
About two years ago, I was feeling adventurous and bought this boxed set. I'm totally hooked on TD now and own more than 20 of their albums. This is the boxed set that did it! I know that forking out more than $50 on a boxed set is a big deal, but there's no bad material here. The "Virgin years" period of TD's career is by far the best in my opinion. The early TD isn't quite as accessible to newbies, and the later post-80's stuff sounds like techno-junk. Fortunately, you don't get either here. In this box, you get five discs total: three solid discs culled from about 10 or 12 of their best releases, a disc of soundtrack music, and a disc of bonus tracks which sound a lot like they belong on the first three! Note that some of these songs have been re-recorded specifically for this compilation -- which normally would irritate me, but here it's not a bad thing. For example, this set contains a short 3-minute version of 'Kiew Mission' -- which in my opinion far outshines the 9-minute version on 'Exit' which contains some really goofy vocals. Some of the best sections of 'Logos' have been excised and redone as well, but they sound terrific! For example, there's quite a difference between 'Logos (blue part)' here and the same passage on the Logos album. I also *love* the version of 'The Call' found on disc 4 -- this gem from the 'Sorcerer' soundtrack has never, ever, sounded better than this. This is what started it all for me -- from here I went to several of the live discs such as Livemiles, Poland, Logos, and Encore, and I was definitely hooked for life. If you're looking to become more familiar with Tangerine Dream, stop here. You'll be *very* glad that you did.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atmospheric Dreams, May 29, 2002
This review is from: Tangents 1973-1983 (Audio CD)
For me, personaly, this band was my first exposure to electronic music. I can not say enough good things about them that has not already been said. This band is one, if not, the most, important contributor's of not only electronic music, BUT MUSIC ITSELF. They weave beautiful, melodic, and somtimes haunting tunes with driving, pulsating, rhythmic sounds. Combined with astonishing sound effects, they create a very original and very distinctive, atmospheric, hi-tech sound. Tangents is a five c.d. set spanning Tangerine Dream's Virgin years, and should be in your music collection. The box set features studio, live, soundtrack and previously unreleased material, along with a very comprehensive seventy- four page booklet about the albums, the equipment, and the musicians themselves. I think that your audio perception will be taken to a higher level as you are immersed by the beauty and complexity that is Tangerine Dream.
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