Tangerine Dream: The Pioneers of Electronic Music

Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only constant member. The band was one of the pioneers of the electronic music genre, and their early work was influential on the development of Krautrock and ambient music.

Origins

In 1967, a group of young German musicians got together to form a band that would change the course of music history. Tangerine Dream was the first electronic music band, and they paved the way for a new genre of music.

Founding of the band

In 1967, Edgar Froese founded the group Tangerine Dream in West Berlin. The name was chosen because it was specific enough to be a project name, but still open to interpretation. The first lineup of the band included Froese, Christoph Franke, and Klaus Schulze. They were soon joined by Peter Baumann. This lineup would stay together until 1971.

The band’s approach was largely defined by Froese’s preference for improvisation over compositional planning. He has said that the locked-grooves typical of many contemporary electronic music recordings frustrated him, and that his goal was always “to create music which continuously develops and never repeats itself.” Tangerine Dream’s early work is notable for its experimental character and exploratory approach; both effects were achieved by use of advanced recording techniques, particularly multitrack recording and tape editing.

Early sound and style

Tangerine Dream’s early sound was based solely on the effects of sequencers and echo units, creating throbbing, droning textures that were sometimes fragile and beautiful, sometimes abrasively atonal. They later pioneered the use of analog synthesisers and drum machines.

Pionneers in the genre of electronic music, Tangerine Dream has been extremely influential to a number of artists. The band was formed in 1967 by Edgar Froese in West Berlin, Germany.

Development

Tangerine Dream is a German band that was founded in 1967. The band has gone through many lineup changes, with the only constant member being Edgar Froese. The band was one of the first to use electronic instruments and was a pioneer in the development of electronic music.

First album: Electronic Meditation

In late October of 1968, Krautrock pioneers Tangerine Dream released their first album, Electronic Meditation. The album was the result of a three-day session in May of that year, during which time the band – consisting of Edgar Froese, Klaus Schulze, and Conrad Schnitzler – improvised with a variety of electronic instruments.

The album’s liner notes state that the goal of the session was to “achieve inner harmony and reach a higher level of consciousness through music.” And while it’s certainly not an easy listen, there is something meditative and transportive about the record. The band would go on to perfect their sound on subsequent releases, but Electronic Meditation remains an important early document of their work.

Second album: Alpha Centauri

Tangerine Dream’s second album, Alpha Centauri, was released in 1971. The album saw the group move away from the more experimental sound of their debut and towards a more avant-garde and progressive style. The title track, which took up the entire first side of the LP, was a 23-minute long suite that saw the group explore new sonic territory with the use of synthesizers and sequencers. The album also featured shorter tracks like “Fly and Collision of Comas Sola”, which showcased the group’s new direction.

Third album: Zeit

Third album: Zeit (1972)

Zeit, German for “time”, is a double album and the third studio album by electronic music group Tangerine Dream. It was released in August 1972 by record label Virgin.

The album continued the group’s movement away from the more rock-oriented sound of their first two albums toward a more experimental, ambient style. It is their first album to feature violinist Steve Schroyder, who would become a key member of the group.

The album was well-received by critics and is considered a classic of early electronic music.It was included in Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and ranked at number 490 in Pitchfork’s “Top 100 Albums of the 1970s”.

Commercial Success

Despite having no significant commercial success during the early years of their career, Tangerine Dream’s first album, Electronic Meditation, is now seen as a pioneering work of electronic music. The group’s second album, Alpha Centauri, was a much more successful release, reaching number one on the German Billboard charts.

Phaedra

In 1974, Tangerine Dream released one of its most commercially successful albums, Phaedra. The album reached number thirty-three on the Billboard 200 in the United States, number eight on the UK Albums Chart, and number four on the German albums chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies in the US.

The album’s title track was released as a single in some countries and peaked at number fifty-nine on the German Singles Chart. “Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares” was also released as a single in Germany, where it peaked at number ninety-four.

Rubycon

Tangerine Dream’s fifth studio album, “Rubycon”, was released in 1975. It is a concept album that tells the story of two robotic tires that travel across a desert landscape. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 1 on the German Albums Chart.

Stratosfear

In May 1976, Tangerine Dream released their eighth album entitled Stratosfear. The album peaked at number 29 in the UK Albums Chart, and was their first album to gain any significant mainstream attention. The band embarked on their first major UK tour to promote the album. The tour was a success and attracted critical acclaim from the music press. NME wrote: “The new-found accessibility of Tangerine Dream has finally made them acceptable to a wider audience … what we heard last night was evidence that [they] have staying power”.

Later Work

Tangerine Dream’s sound changed considerably after Froese’s departure, becoming more rhythmic and danceable. The new sound was partly a result of the band’s growing interest in sequencers and synthesizers. In particular, their live shows featured extensive use of the Sequencer Korg PS-3100, which was popular at the time. This new sound was featured on the albums Phaedra (1974), Rubycon (1975), Ricochet (1975), and Stratosfear (1976), all of which were commercially successful.

Miracle Mile

In February 1985, Tangerine Dream released their fourteenth studio album, Le Parc. The album was recorded using the newly-developed SDL system, and its title referred to one of the locations in the game Crime Wave, whichprovided the inspiration for the album’s concept. The game’s protagonist is pursued through a series of outdoor environments by enemies; these are reflected in Le Parc’s five tracks, “L’Enfant,” “La Maison,” “Le Jardin,” “Le Parc,” and “L’Hôtel.” The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one in Germany and number three in the United Kingdom.

Tyranny of Beauty

The third album, “Electronic Meditation”, was released in 1970 and is considered a pioneer work of electronic music. The title track was recorded in one single take, with Froese and Schmoelling playing their instruments and Schnitzler manipulating the sounds with echo machines, filters, and tape recorders. The result was a 20-minute piece of music that set the tone for the rest of the album.

The following year, Tangerine Dream released the double album “Zodiac”, which featured longer, more compositionally complex pieces. The first side of the first album consisted of a single track, “Aries”, while the second side contained three shorter pieces. The second album featured two long tracks, “Cancer” and “Leo”, which were separated by a shorter piece, “Virgo”.

By this time, Tangerine Dream had developed a distinctive sound that would be further explored on subsequent albums. Their music was often described as “mood music” or “atmospheric”, as it tended to create a sense of space and atmosphere rather than telling a specific story or conveying a specific emotion. This was largely due to the use of electronic instruments and effects, which allowed the band to create sounds that were not possible with traditional acoustic instruments.

Inferno

Pioneers of electronic music, Tangerine Dream, released their 16th studio album, Inferno, in 1975. The double LP was the first album to feature new member Peter Baumann on keyboards and composer Edgar Froese on lead vocals.

The band had been experimenting with a new sound, which they dubbed “kosmische musik” or “space music”. The goal was to create an aural landscape that would take the listener on a journey through the cosmos. The result was an album that was both atmospheric and psychedelic.

The title track, “Inferno”, is an extended jam that features Froese’s ethereal vocals and Baumann’s spacey keyboard work. Other stand-out tracks include the catchy “Phaedra”, the propulsive “Rising Run” and the beautiful “Cloudburst Flight”.

While not as groundbreaking as some of their earlier work, Inferno is a excellent example of Tangerine Dream at their peak. If you’re a fan of electronic music, this is an essential album.