Back catalogue: Experimental/Electronic

Review: Cult German electronic outfit Tangerine Dream made an indelible impression with Electronic Meditation, their first big release and first grand studio project. It was rebased in 1970 and is a thrilling fusion of Krautrock, experimental rock, psychedelia and electronic rock that utterly belies the times in which it was made. It is also the only LP to feature the line up of Edgar Froese, Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler and was recorded using just a two-track Revox tape recorder. At times haunting and tense, at others more dreamlike and contemplative, it is a uniquely freeform style of music.

Review: This new reissue of The Angel From The West Window by Tangerine Dream's showed the returned back to their electronic music roots in 2011. Departing from the mellower tones that characterized some of their 90s output, the band's latest album at the time delved into more challenging and orchestral electronic landscapes. The Angel of the West Window, inspired by the works of German author Gustav Meyrink, showcases a revitalised sound: pulsating sequencers, expansive synthesized textures, and evocative electric guitar solos dominate the album. Collaborating with Thorsten Quaeschning, Froese infuses the tracks with dynamic rhythmic foundations and ethereal electronic layers, creating an edgy and immersive sonic experience. Electric violin accents add a haunting depth to the compositions, enhancing their atmospheric quality. Standout tracks like 'The Mysterious Gift to Mankind' and 'Living in Eternity' highlight Tangerine Dream's ability to blend synthetic and organic elements seamlessly. The album's thematic richness and sensitive melodies evoke a cinematic scope, making it ideal for both introspective listening and atmospheric settings. Long-time fans have welcomed this resurgence, celebrating Tangerine Dream's return to form and their enduring influence on electronic music. Tangerine Dream's musical legacy and innovative spirit is part of electronic music history. Fans of their Virgin records output should really enjoy this album.

Review: If you're trying to work out where in Tangerine Dream's back catalogue Finnegans Wake fits, then good luck. According to our sources, this is "roughly the group's 125th release". So it's remarkable just how fresh and forward thinking the record sounds, given most people start running out of original ideas once they reach adulthood, let alone make it past the first two LPs. First released in 2011, eight tracks launch us towards the stratosphere on a rocket of synths and electric guitars, chords soaring ever higher as the background symphony of glitter and chime invoke images of stardust falling over an ocean of zodiacal light below. If that's too conceptual, then let's just say this is progressive kosmische Kraut at its most epic and bold. Just like the rest of their output, then.