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Music > Albums > Tangerine Dream - Antique Dreams (2001) Retail CD
added on May 7, 2007, at 12:18 by allcdcovers

The series of CD issues under the general title of "Tangerine Dream Classics Edition" rolls on with this release of TD-miscellany entitled "Antique Dreams". For once, no one can accuse TDI of being miserly - this disc contains very nearly 70 minutes-worth of material, nearly all of which has been previously unavailable officially (or at least, long out of print). The 12 generous tracks here have been culled from two main sources: the band's extensive work for German TV during the '80s; and previously unreleased concert extracts between 1981 and 1990. In addition, there is a previously unheard studio number by Edgar Froese from 1985 and two important items from the early '70s. These last two open the disc and may even be enough to make the whole thing worth having for some fans! Both are legendary works: 'Ultima Thule' was cut as a single, way back in 1971 and has been out of print for many years. It reveals just how close Tangerine Dream's formative roots are to early Pink Floyd, with strong suggestions of 'Interstellar Overdrive' and other such classics. The Overture that Tangerine Dream produced for the 1974 Chichester Festival production of Sophocles' great tragedy, "Oedipus Tyrannus", is similarly suggestive of some of the more experimental Pink Floyd works, but it also carries some quite distinctive TD hallmarks. Although plagued by some quite severe hiss from the analogue tape (and analogue synths) in some parts, it is wonderful to have this great brooding masterpiece finally available for public delectation! Of the familiar material, 'Sorcerer and Thief' is a 6-minute segue of music from the two films of its title, performed by the band in concert at the San Francisco Mill Valley Film Festival, 1981 - mostly of the two title themes played fairly straight. 'Phaedra of Nottingham', on the other hand, is a 5-minute reworking (by Edgar and Jerome) of the original "Phaedra" for their 1990 UK tour. It is pleasant enough, I suppose, but it does the original no favours at all and it has also been hacked rather ungraciously from its concert setting. And just as they're sliding rather nicely into the second section of "Live Miles - Albuquerque", too... Although ostensibly previously unreleased, long-term fans of the band will probably recognise much of 'Cool Breeze of Brighton'. This is a 10-minute chunk from the band's 1986 UK tour, made up of ideas from several other albums. It acts as a wonderful reminder of just how good TD's live performances used to be! It is just a shame that this too has been separated rather untidily from whatever followed, with the track coming to an abrupt halt, mid-melody.Most of the rest of the disc will be new even to the most avid collector of Tangerine Dream's work (both official and bootleg). It is a goodly mix of (obscure) German TV work and concert extracts, with the odd studio item thrown in for good measure. The bulk of the material covers the whole span of the 1980s and while there is nothing particularly stunning here, most fans of the band will be pleased enough to have it. It is also presented in a nice order, providing a good variety in the programming so that it can be listened to at a single sitting without boredom ever setting in or the need to reprogramme tracks. In fact, for once of late, Tangerine Dream have produced a disc that really stands up to repeated playing; serious collectors need not hesitate in snapping this one up. Newcomers would probably do better buying one of the band's more main-stream releases from this period first, though, like "Logos", "Poland", "White Eagle" or "Pergamon", although I wouldn't actually caution anyone away from this disc!

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