Batman Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 Tangerine Dream Phaedra February 20, 1974 37:34 Edgar Froese Peter Baumann Christopher Franke 1. Phaedra (17:45) 2. Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares (9:55) 3. Movements of a Visionary (8:01) 4. Sequent C’ (2:18) Do you smoke massive amounts of weed? Do you consider “On the Run†not only a good song in that it adds to the album Dark Side of the Moon, but a good song on its own? Do you like dark, scary music? Do you enjoy the ambient music of Brian Eno, but find yourself wishing that he was more German? Do you need things repeated to you multiple times for you to get the point? Do you need things repeated to you multiple times for you to get the point? Do you need things repeated to you multiple times for you to get the point? Do you like electronic music of any kind? More specifically, do you like trance? Do you need things repeated to you multiple times for you to get the point? If your answer to any of these questions was “yes,†then Phaedra by Tangerine Dream might be right up your alley. Tangerine Dream is one of the most important and influential bands in electronic music. Albums like Phaedra and Rubycon were incredibly revolutionary, and still sound unique and new today. Phaedra is pretty much the beginning of trance music. Unlike Tangerine Dream’s earlier, wilder albums, Phaedra is an ethereal and relaxing album. Earlier Tangerine Dream albums were challenging to listen to, but Phaedra is really an easy-listening album. The thing that separates Phaedra from other easy listening albums is its dark and eerie mood. Without the use of any heaviness (or any audible rock n roll influence), Phaedra is darker than Black Sabbath. For an incredibly unique, scary, and relaxingly eerie musical experience, listen to the title track in complete darkness (which reminds me, this album is great to listen to during late night and alone driving). Another thing worth mentioning about Phaedra is how extremely entrancing it is. Synthesized arpeggios and patterns are repeated over and over and over again, becoming very hypnotic and spacey. Because of this, Phaedra is a terrific album to listen to if you can not focus completely on the music. If you are doing your homework or something, and you are listening to Phaedra, the main idea of the music repeats until it is engrained into your brain, whether you’re listening closely or not. Also, the mood, which is the main focus of Phaedra, is easily captured and enjoyed. For many, this is the only way to listen to Phaedra. Although, that isn’t to say that you can only listen to this album unfocused. If you are patient, you will be sonically rewarded when focusing on the music during the entire album, as you will be able to notice all of the subtleties that make Phaedra such a great, timeless album. I’m going to be honest; for a fan of rock, this album may be hard to get into. I originally got this album because it was on DDD’s list of 100 best prog albums. When I first picked up the album at the library, it was in the new age section, which I definitely wasn’t expecting after seeing it on a prog rock list. It turned out that Phaedra bears no resemblence to rock n roll. To make matters worse, I read the credits and found that there were no instruments...all three band members played synthesizers and technology. And to top it off, upon my first biased glance, it seemed too repetitive to me. However, after a few listens, I put my biases aside, and was able to lose myself in the layers of synthesized supernatural beauty, and I let the album take me on an amazing sonic journey. Hopefully you will too. Plus, if you're a weed smoker, this album's reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaally good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 I used to love this album. Sure, I was a weed smoker and an LSD tripper by then, but you can enjoy this record without any illegal help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted March 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 I used to love this album. Sure, I was a weed smoker and an LSD tripper by then, but you can enjoy this record without any illegal help... I agree, I was just throwing in the weed stuff to catch people's attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 It is this type of review of an album and a group that I have never heard of that intimidates me and makes me wary of responding. I'm old enough to have heard my fair share of music and I like to think that I know more than the average Joe about many artists and genres. But when I come across a review like this, I realize how little I actually do know. I just feel like I don't know enough to contribute. You make all of your recommended albums sound so fascinating. I appreciate the work you put in your reviews, Batman. I'll try to get over my insecurities and let you know what I think about the albums, whether I know them or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Well you should definitely try to get a hold of this album, Peachey, or at least the title track. I think that the main goal of the reviews section is to introduce posters to artists they haven't heard of, and push songfactors out of their boundaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted March 24, 2008 Report Share Posted March 24, 2008 I love this album, but I don't listen to it all that often. You have to be in the right mood. "Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares" is one of the most peaceful pieces of music I have ever heard. and by the way, Batman, is this how you got into Techno? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted March 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2008 yes it is. it's not a techno album, but I wouldn't listen to electronic music if it weren't for this album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 You need to seek out Moebius and Jean-Michel Jarre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 where is a good place to start to get into more electronic music? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra, if you want something that is listenable. After that, there is a long list of artists ranging from the more elaborate, studio-intensive stuff (like Tangerine Dream) to the downright crazy and anarchic sounds of avant-garde artists (Neu! and Cabaret Voltaire). It really depends on your threshold for patience. Everyone's got plenty of time to dig on the more popular bands before they venture out and seek other junk. Hell, at this point, I'd say listen to Radiohead's "Cuttooth" and Neu!'s first album and you'll see the striking resemblance in both (Radiohead has gone on the record as saying they've been inspired by them). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 I haven't heard a lot of TD. I do have their Rockoon album (vinyl-1992)and have always enjoyed it. Maybe I should go back and check out some other stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted March 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 I haven't heard their later stuff so I really couldn't tell you how it compares. As it is with most artists from their era, I'd assume their earlier work is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 One thing I forgot to say. Batman, you should be writing music reviews - and I don't mean some hack uni fanzine, but a real publication that has a wide circulation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 One thing I forgot to say. Batman, you should be writing music reviews - and I don't mean some hack uni fanzine, but a real publication that has a wide circulation I think I told him so some three years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otokichi Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 (edited) In 1985, Tangerine Dream released "Le Parc," with notable parks in major cities as the focus. Some years later, in the 1990's, VH-1 used to have a Jazz/New Age/World Music show called "New Visions." The closing video was "Berlin: Tiergarten," which featured Weimar-era film clips, reinforcing the fierce feeling of nostalgia. Some years later, "Tiergarten" was one of the tunes I selected for a memorial music disk for my mother, a former second grade teacher. (It's the kids squealing at the beginning of the track that made it a natural selection.) Edited March 26, 2008 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted March 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Hey thanks guys! Right now I'm majoring in journalism and I think someday I want to get into music journalism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_s_1987 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 I second that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 And I third! Batman, you can really make me hear and feel the music when I read you reviews. Keep it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 But here are some tips for your next prog album review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_s_1987 Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 ^ That is brilliant. When I get around to reviewing albums, which I hope will happen eventaully, I should use that advice here and on progarchives.com as a bit of a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 haha I first saw that posted on progarchives, so they'll probably recognize it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_s_1987 Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 Yeah, I'm sure they'll see it immediately in my first review... In The Court Of The Crimson King is graced with wonderful use of the grand piano, harpsichord, synthesisers and washes of freshly washed mellotron. Two of the tracks feature flute, reminiscent of Jethro Tull and Camel, whereas 21st Century Schizoid Man is raw and loud, like something off the album Red, which was coincidentally also released by King Crimson. This is either an excellent King Crimson album or an average album by BARRY MANILOW??!!... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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