Search - Tangerine Dream :: Alpha Centauri

Pre-synthesizer Dream

T. Dokland | Birmingham, AL | 04/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For people familiar with the synth-heavy later Tangerine Dream, this album is quite different. Preceding even the Mellotron, the album features mostly good old-fashioned electro-acoustic instruments, with a lone VCS synthesizer used only to generate weird sound effects that are not particularly connected to the music. Nevertheless, the overall impression is atmospheric, reminiscent of early Pink Floyd experimentation (which of course is what they were aiming for), heavy on the echo, guitars and drums adding up to a monomental wall of sound on track 2. An essential TD recording, though not quite as good as Atem, their magnum opus from the early synth/mellotron era."

Tangerine Dream 'Alpha Centauri'

Stavroula Avgousti | Athens Greece | 01/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album, is in my opinion, an excellent sample of german rock and especially german rock psychedelia. The first track "Sunrise in the Third System" begins with bird-like sounds followed by the synthesizer sounds which are prevalent all through the album. "Alpha Centauri" can be characterised as a proto-electronica work, however there are flutes, guitars and percussion which provide in tracks 2 and 3 ("Fly and Collision of Comas Sola" and the title track "Alpha Centauri"), a more natural sound.

The bonus track "Ultima Thule Part 1" is a very beautiful piece, more rock-oriented with clear influences, in my opinion from groups like King Crimson or Procol Harum."

The Universe of Sound

Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 11/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This second release was issued in March 1971 and its main instruments are the flute (Udo Dennebourg) and organ, though it continues on a path of exploration in soundscapes that was started by the band.



Edgar Froese, who dubbed the music, "Kosmiche mosik," is joined by Christopher Franke and Steve Schroyder, with Roland Paulyck on synthesizer and Dennebourg also providing the vocals. The four tracks are built around the 22:04 of the title number. Fly and Collison of Comas Sola - at 13:23 - again gives the musicians an opportunity to explore the artistry of sound on a larger canvas. The lead track - Sunrise in the Third System - is an excellent gateway to the longer pieces and the final cut - Ultima Thule - has been issued in a pair of forms over the years, with this release containing Part One.



The band is exploring the universe of sound and also carving a fabulous foundation that will soon make them leaders in the emerging "Berlin school" of music."