Tangerine Dream Stratosfear

A rather confusing package for those with a newfound interest in Tangerine Dream, The Essential Tangerine Dream might appear to be a three-in-one compilation by glancing at the front, since it lists three titles - two of which happen to be title tracks of Tangerine Dream albums - seemingly picked at random. As it is a single-disc compilation that features full-length versions of tracks by a band that thrived in the ten- to 20-minute format, the set is more like a sampler than an all-encompassing anthology designed to satisfy the curious. That said, this is an excellent sampler, one that should spark further interest in the group's deep discography.

Limited 18 disc (16 CDs + two Blu-ray) set. Tangerine Dream were one of the true pioneers of electronic and ambient music and the albums they recorded for Virgin Records between 1973 and 1979 remain classics of the genre. In Search of Hades: The Virgin Recordings 1973 - 1979 is the definitive statement of this period in Tangerine Dream's history, featuring newly remastered versions of the albums Phaedra, Rubycon, Ricochet, Stratosfear, Encore, Cyclone and Force Majeure all drawn from the original first-generation master tapes, and new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes of Phaedra and Ricochet by Steven Wilson…

Featuring shorter compositions and an increasingly lyrical lexicon of electronic sounds, Le Parc has more in common with the burgeoning new age movement than Tangerine Dream's earlier, eerier work. The songs are essentially musical postcards from great parks around the world, though the focus is on the mood generated by these places rather than a literal translation of geographic qualities. Thus, "Yellowstone Park" is rendered with an American Indian spirituality, "Zen Garden" is peaceful and mysterious, "Central Park" highly stylized and danceable. Tangerine Dream's music in recent years had shifted toward more accessible and melodic arrangements, so coming from the vantage point of a Phaedra or Stratosfear, the music on Le Parc could be viewed as a considerable "dumbing down" of their artistic origins…

Although Tangerine Dream is usually associated with synthesizers and the ambient movement that followed over a decade after such albums as Phaedra, Stratosfear, and Rubycon were recorded, Force Majeure shows the band displaying its roots in space rock. This time around, guitar and drums (played by Klaus Krieger) are as prominent as the keyboards. As the name would appear to indicate, the music on the album doesn't seem played so much as propelled forward, the overall pace rarely slackening for long. The title track is a suite that incorporates several distinct themes that segue into a cohesive whole via musical bridges…

Originally part of a fan-based live bootleg recording project called Bootmoon, this recording of the pioneering and influential German electronic outfit Tangerine Dream is part of a series of unadorned live performances (the band habitually added post-production instrumentation and otherwise altered its sound on its official live releases). This mid-1980s performance in Cleveland presents a series of cinematic-sounding compositions that make full use of the available electronic technologies of the period, including sequencers and synthetic percussion, to heighten the sense of musical drama.

A multi-disc CD + blu-ray box set, In Search Of Hades, containing Tangerine Dream’s trailblazing 1970s recordings for Virgin Records is set for release through UMC/Virgin on 31 May.

Kscope are extremely proud to announce the new album from Tangerine Dream, Recurring Dreams. With Recurring Dreams, the new generation of Tangerine Dream pay homage to the band's timeless beginnings with captivating and emotional renditions of selected classics, such as "Phaedra", "Stratosfear", "Tangram" and "Yellowstone Park". These new recordings are not just re-recorded covers but heartfelt and individual interpretations, featuring all generations of synths and sequencers, added layers and new arrangements, applying Froese's new quantum dream to these highly influential tracks. Recurring Dreams also includes the new version of "Claymore Mine Stalking" that was used in the popular 2018 black metal movie Lords of Chaos.

This is an extraordinary compilation of the progressive and psychedelic music sub-genre known as "Krautrock". On six CDs, consisting of nearly 480 minutes of music, you will find an overview of some of the most creative styles of music from the "Deutschrock"-phase. This is the second time that such a huge spectrum of bands and artists of so many varying styles within this genre is found on one compilation. Accordingly, it is an absolute highlight for veteran fans as well as newcomers. Scorpions, Eloy, Guru Guru, Embryo, Kraan, Amon Düül II, Popul Vuh, Grobschnitt, Os Mundi and many more.

Romance '76 (1976). Esoteric Recording’s Reactive label is pleased to announce a newly remastered CD release for the seminal German Electronic & Ambient musician Peter Baumann’s debut solo album, “Romance ‘76”. Peter Baumann came to prominence as a key member of Tangerine Dream, joining Edgar Froese and Chris Franke in the group in 1971 and making his debut on the album “Zeit”. His contribution was felt on the classic Tangerine Dream albums released by Virgin Records issued between 1974 & 1976, “Phaedra”, “Rubycon”, “Ricochet” and “Stratosfear”. In 1976 he embarked on a solo career with his classic work “Romance ’76”, recorded in July and August that year in Berlin and Munich. The result was a remarkable album that is now held in huge esteem by aficionados of German Electronic Music…