Tangerine Dream

[JoeMichelJarre]

I really really loved TD up until about 8 years ago when I ran out of patience with their output after about 1988. Honestly I don't think they have written or released anything of significance to the world of Electronic music since then, while JMJ has at the very least tried to broaden his horizons while not releasing anything particularly significant. The kind of banal musak that they release now I find infuriating. It is also really dissappointing that their work is contimually recognized by awards such as the Grammy's when JMJ's output, while different, deserved some kind of popular recognition.

I would agree though that the late seventies/early eigthies was their heyday. Poland is probably the best Live electronic music album ever relased. Rubycon is a wonderful mix of electronics and acoustic "soundscapes", at once unsettling and disturbing, but still quite melodic and interesting. Indeed, it was probably after this periiod when they lost their experimental edge, that TD became dull.

If I had to recommend a list of albums, this would be it:

Rubycon
Tangram
Green Desert
Force Majeure
Le Parc
Underwater Sunlight
Poland
Logos
Exit
Optical Race

I do like Tyger too, though its an acquired taste, William Blake put to synthesizers is certainly an interesting idea!

I can't recommend anything after this to be honest. I recently bought Turn of the Tides, and its woeful

[Jock]

I saw Tangerine Dream at the Astoria, London, about 5 years ago. What really annoyed me the most was the blatant use of backing audio taken straight from their studio albums, they may as well just played the CD's of Logos, Poland, Force Majeure..etc.. A really really cheap thing to do live.

You are right tho, the main talents of the group were Pete Bauman in the early years, and Chris Franke/ Johannes Schmoelling a few years later. Apart from a brief stint with Paul Haslinger in the group, anything after that and its way downhill musically wise.

As for JMJ, I cant think of anything notable that he's released since Metamorphoses. Nothing that really stands out and makes me go WOW. Which is quite disappointing.

I'm wondering whether this is just because of the advance of technology in music. With virtual instruments, plug-ins and a myriad of music software, anyone can have the ability to create sophisticated sounds, music and production. They could download cracked versions off a P2P file share site and dont even have to pay to be able to do this.

I wonder whether that exposure and the availabilty means that we're expecting way too much from a professional. Like, hey JMJ I can recreate the sound of an orchestra in my bedroom and call up 20 virtual analogue synths and effects and it all sounds fantastic, so as you are sitting in your professional studio, with professional equipment and staff, I'm expecting a bloody miracle !

Dunno. Its just my take on it. That thanks to this technology our expections are now very very high. Maybe to a point where its impossible to meet them.

[Graham]

I have a fair bit of TD music in my collection, but they've done so much stuff that it's hard to know where to start! I tend to fall back onto albums like "Melrose", "Lily on the Beach" and "Rockoon", an era that suits my melodic taste buds.

Jock does have a good point though - technology has moved on so much that it's much easier for people to at least have the potential to produce great sounds. I can name numerous little-known electronic/synth artists that have produced (and continue to produce) music eclipsing that which Jarre is producing now. However, with Jarre's heritage, his music will always find that special place.

[Robbie]

Their last good albums are from the 80s. Since the 90s albums are new-agey crap.

[Jock]

Just checked out that youtube clip of TD performing at the Loreley Prog Festival that Robbie posted.

This is a classic example of what I was saying earlier about their live performances, It sounds like they are playing along with the Tangram CD in the background. It sounds awful. For a start, get rid of that stupid woman on the percussion/drums. The whole thing just doesnt sit well in the mix. If they are going to try and do the classic tracks live then re-instrumentalise them from scratch. Its exactly the same crap I heard at the Astoria, London.

If I want to hear that sort of stuff I'll sit in my music room with the CD on and drum along to it myself.

I'm all for Edgar Froese carrying on the TD name, but he should stick to his new era of music, and leave the old classics alone, unless he takes the time out to create live versions from scratch.

[Robbie]

I agree with you JoeMJarre.
JM should have more awards, at least as much as TD have.

JMJ's recent outcomes are not succesful, but he do tryes to experiment! And he is not just trying, he can do experiements. Even more times, even if these projects are not that popular...
Opposite to TD, they have making the same boring thingies for some years now.

For me TD exist till around beginning of 90s.

And TD fans, forum members say they don't listen to JMJ as he is minor. 8(( lool

[JoeMichelJarre]

Ahh Jock,

You obviously haven't heard the complte hash that TD made of a version of their classic Phaedra album on the 22 Volt VHS I had for a while. Oh My God, this preset driven piece of **** was an insult to the original, and was being "performed" by the actual band. Its worth a listen to see how bad it is in comparison to the original. You cant take a soundscape and put it in a modern programmed environment and make it sound good!

No, TD are for me, past it, clinging to the coat tails of an admittedly loyal fan base, but their music is awful now, just plain rubbish. Someone mentioned Rockoon, one of the albums I hate the most.

There is no point in sugar coating this in terms of JMJ either. But as I said he has at the very least experimented with different styles..

[Jock]

LOL, really ? I havent heard that version of Phaedra, and from what you are saying maybe its best I dont !

You are so right about Rockoon. That was the turning point for me. I bought that CD, put it on in the car, within 15 mins I'd done a U-turn, driven back to the shops and actually returned a TD CD to get my money back !

[Robbie]

You are so right about Rockoon. That was the turning point for me. I bought that CD, put it on in the car, within 15 mins I'd done a U-turn, driven back to the shops and actually returned a TD CD to get my money back !

I can't judge the whole Rockoon, but track "Girls on Broadway" is not that bad...Fact is they went too far from his original style!

[Graham]

Someone mentioned Rockoon, one of the albums I hate the most.

That would be me! I've heard a lot of TD stuff, and totally understand why fans of that "TD sound" would hate that album. It's for that exact same reason that I like it, and at the end of the day, you are going to get that mix of love/hate with most musicians.

For the most part, I love Jarre's work, even T&T has its highlights. But, Sessions 2000 is awful, and Geometry of Love I can take or leave. Along comes a mate of mine who usually hates Jarre, hears me playing Geometry of Love, and he couldn't get enough of it. That particular album suited him, just like Rockoon (amongst other TD stuff) stuited me.

I used to expect (nay, demand!) that Jarre carried on producing classic material like Oxygene and Equinoxe, but how boring would that get? He experiments with different styles, and you either like it or you don't. If you don't, leave it alone and ignore it. His next album might be more up your street. The same applies to TD. They have undergone numerous "transformations" in terms of band memebers, and that reflects in their work. You are rarely going to get an individual who likes every single piece of music they have ever made. Some prefer the early years, some prefer the latter years, depending on their musical tastes.

It can be hard to accept that musicians and fans tastes will change over time, and eventually deviate to such a point where you may no longer like what they produce. Well, all I can say is, regardless of who you like in the EM world, there are artists out there now, producing original material that's every bit as good.