Eclectic Music Press Release Re-Print Eclectic Music is not affiliated with the record label or artist in this post, the press release is being reprinted here with full permission from the record label and is being reprinted in full with the sole intent of disseminating information. Although this release may be rather dated, I feel that many people would like to see where the major magazine "reviewers" are plagiarizing their articles from, sometimes almost word for word.... ------------------------------------------------------------------- TANGERINE DREAM Optical Race "I look at our compositions as travel music; adventure music, much of which has been inspired by the places we've visited over the years," describes Edgar Froese, Tangerine Dream founder and visionary. And, from the opening sequencer drive of "Marakesh," with its deft rhythmic shifts and engaging melody, to the wistful "Mothers of Rain," Optical Race boldly announces Tangerine Dream's return to once again inspire those who listen and take them on a musical adventure. Optical Race also represents Tangerine Dream's first album for Private Music, the innovative label founded by Peter Baumann, who was himself a member of the group from 1971- 1977. Fueled by psychedelia, political activism and the experimentation of Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix, Tangerine Dream has, over the past 21 years of its existence, created stormy, surreal sonic landscapes. Ask any music synthesist who their major influence was, and the name Tangerine Dream is likely to leap from their lips with the precision of a sequencer pattern. As pioneers of electronic rock in the late 60's, Tangerine Dream's music would move from airy space walks full of haunting sounds and ambient effects, to pounding, hypnotic grooves, driven by sequencer rhythms that sounded like cosmic rubber bands. Their mid-seventies records, Phaedra (1974), Rubycon (1975), Ricochet (1975) and Stratosfear (1976) established a sound that was both evocative and introspective, heroic and meditative. Founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese, Tangerine Dream was among a generation of German artists to break with the conventions of western rock and create a music that transcended nationalities and borders. "We could not compare our talent with American musicians," claimed Froese in a Downbeat interview. "What we had to do was step away from that and move through the back door into different ways of expressing ourselves through music." The universality of that sound may account for their success not only in their native West Germany, but through-out Europe, America, Australia and the Eastern Bloc, where they have performed and recorded the live albums Pergammon [sic] (East Germany) and Poland. Froese fit easily into the creative environment of the time. He worked With surrealist painter Salvador Dali, playing music for his exhibitions as part of a group called The Ones. Tangerine Dream's first album was recorded in 1970 and 18 years later, its title, Electronic Meditation, seems like a paradox to the often violent music inside. Synthesist Klaus Schulze, then the drummer with Tangerine Dream, called Electronic Meditation the "punk album of electronic music." But Tangerine Dream refined its sound through the shifting personnel on Alpha Centauri, Atem and a two record set of textures for string quartet and electronics, Zeit. They settled on a trio of Froese, Christoph Franke and Peter Baumann and were discovered by British DJ, Jonathan Peel, which led to a contract with the British Virgin record label. On Virgin, they entered the British Top Ten with Phaedra. Tangerine Dream became notorious for its long, improvised concerts, sometimes performed in darkened cathedrals, sometimes in flashing planetariums. It was music for the imagery of the inner mind. Today the band's concerts, like their albums, are meticulously crafted, full of the sonic detail that has been a hallmark of the ten albums they have released in the 1980's. Beginning with Tangram, the first album after the departure of Peter Baumann, up through Le Parc and Underwater Sunlight, Tangerine Dream has been at the forefront of digital and computer instrument technology, continually discovering new sounds for their exhilarating journeys into often strange and mystifying lands. In the late 70's, Tangerine Dream found a second career in film music, beginning with William Friedkin's "The Sorcerer" in 1977 and continuing through "Flashpoint," "Firestarter," "Vision Quest," "Legend," "Wavelength," "Shy People," the short-lived TV series, "Streethawk," and, most recently, "Miracle Mile," due out in August '88. "The only group that can claim the electronic sound as their own," said Music and Sound Output, "...Through their scores... Tangerine Dream have altered the sound of cinema as well." While Tom Cruise may have lipsynced to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock Roll," he still made love with Rebecca De Mornay to the strains of Tangerine Dream in "Risky Business." And to listen to Tangerine Dream's film scores for "Thief" in 1980 and "The Keep" in 1982, one can hear the origins of Jan Hammer's popular "Miami Vice" sound designs in 1985. Not coincidentally, Michael Mann was the producer/director of all three. Tangerine Dream has never fit comfortably into any category, even after 25 group albums, 9 solo Froese albums and over a dozen soundtracks. At any given time they could have become a New Age group, a progressive rock band or simply retreated into the studio as a soundtrack machine. But, they have consistently experimented with their music, from the rock vocals of Cyclone (1978) to settings of William Blake poems on Tyger (1987). They have been packaged as rock, yet their music is more classically structured and influenced by minimalists like Philip Glass. With almost no U.S. airplay or conventional media attention, they have managed to earn five gold albums and sell out two cross-country American tours. With Optical Race, Tangerine Dream begins a new era. It is the first album since the departure of Christoph Franke, leaving the 44 year old Edgar Froese as the only long-time member. But he is aided by Paul Haslinger, who joined the group in 1986 for Underwater Sunlight, and newest member Ralph Wadephul. This youthful infusion may account for the upbeat, rhythmic drive of Optical Race. Haslinger was only 8 years old when Tangerine Dream recorded Electronic Meditation. He brings serious classical chops into the group and he is now an integral part of the composing process. Tangerine Dream have evolved into a style that is equally both unique and rooted in the philosophies and technology of the late 20th century. Optical Race's "Twin Soul Tribe" pulses with a dark brooding atmosphere, a delicate lilting melody weaving through it like a frail reed. "Cat Scan,", "Sun Gate" and "Atlas Eyes" are full of the triumphant themes, sonic cues and interwoven sequencer melodies that make Tangerine Dream's music immediately recognizable. Optical Race is music for the soul's ears and the mind's eye, a vision of sound sprinting into the future. ***** August '88 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Eclectic Music is a production of Datta Production and Development 905 97th Street Kenosha, WI 53140 datta@vacs.uwp.wisc.edu This newsletter was brought to you via computer resources courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Datta Production and Development. All of the opinions in this newsletter belong to the respective authors and do not necessarily agree with those of Datta Production and Development. Datta Production And Development is not affiliated with University Of Wisconsin - Parkside or the University of Wisconsin System.