Tangerine Dream - "Stratosfear" (1976)

I can't say I have many German albums in the collection, and I can't say I know a lot of German artists or bands. Kraftwerk, Nina Hagen, Nena, Scorpions, Rammstein and a few bands from the Krautrock scene. And Tangerine Dream. Germany is a big country, but the number of famous artists doesn't correlate with the population size. I suppose a language barrier is to blame.

Like Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream uses mostly synthesizers of different kinds, but there the similarities end, musically in any case. Kraftwerk is colder, harder, more precise in their arrangements, almost robot like, while the creations of Tangerine Dreams radiate warmth, softness and humanity. Although Tangerine Dream sometimes creates dark and gloomy soundscapes, there is still a pleasant feeling surrounding it. Another difference is that Kraftwerk more made verse-verse-chorus songs, often with singing, at times with a pop ingredient as a number of mainstream hits show, while Tangerine Dream's creations more lean towards sound sculptures without the same clear structure, always instrumental. Tangerine Dream's music is simply much more druggier, and it's not surprising that it was a popular band among the hippies who visited Goa in the 70's. How many acid trips have had this album as a soundtrack, I wonder. At least for 35 minutes.

Stratosfear was the eighth album by the band. It was first mixed by Nick Mason from Pink Floyd, but this mix was abandoned because of arguments between Tangerine Dream and Virgin. It's a good album, a musical journey in the inner regions of consciousness. It was the last album where the classic setting Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann and Christopher Franke collaborated. The sound is typically electronic 70's, positively meant, often quite dark, some parts could be soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange. But as mentioned, there's always a warmth there, it's as if the music sweeps the listener into a dark, warm, mental blanket. What was new with Stratosfear was that some analog instruments sneaked in here and there, guitars are heard, some kind of flute, a grand piano. They often stay in the background, the synthesizer still dominates, but they contribute to the mood. The entire album actually ends with a few minutes of piano chords with a flute soaring above it.

Four songs of different lengths, they are quite varied, although it may be one synthesizer loop as a base that hypnotizes. But on top of this different things are going on, so it never feels boring. Probably not a record for everyone, but I like it.


Tracklist

Side A
1 Stratosfear 10:04
2 The Big Sleep In Search Of Hades 4:45

Side B
1 3AM At The Border Of The Marsh From Okefenokee 8:10
2 Invisible Limits 11:40