Search - Tangerine Dream :: Atem

The pick of early Dream

Steve Benner | Lancaster, UK | 01/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Atem" was Tangerine Dream's fourth album, released in 1973. In many ways, it marks the group's furthest departure from the world of rock and pop and the closest they ever came to the sound world of the classical avant garde. It is interesting to note that, for the first time, no guest musicians are credited, suggesting that the group of Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Peter Baumann was settling down to working together and becoming more confident of their sound world. The opening title track, 'Atem' (the German word for 'breath') clearly builds upon earlier TD material, like 'Alpha Centauri' and 'Zeit', being similar both in scale - it is over 20 minutes long - and style. In many ways, it is an updating of "Electronic Meditation", with Chris Franke's tom-tom drumming providing the main impetus over mostly organ and synth sounds in its early parts, and for its almost organic overtones. Present for the first time, though, is the distinctive sound of the mellotron, which was to become so much a Tangerine Dream trademark throughout the mid- to late-70s. 'Atem' is a beautifully structured work and has an exquisite central section, with a quiet heartbeat pattern played on tom toms, over an eerie mellotron loop and some beautifully textured patterns of white noise and, later, throbbing VCS3 sounds. At this point, TD comes close to the sound world of the electroacoustic musicians, especially of the French Canadian acousmatic school.The next track, 'Fauni-Gena' is another largish work (almost 11 mins) which continues in a similar vein. The sound world here is suggestive of the primitive rainforest, with, once more, a haunting mellotron loop over the sounds of exotic birds and other creatures (whether real or synthesised is never obvious) carrying the listener's imagination off to far away times and places. Once more, it is highly redolent of the acousmatic school of composition.'Circulation of Events' is another typical early TD meditative piece, featuring sustained organ and synthesiser notes over a rising VCS3 pulse. The final track, 'Wahn' (another German title: this one means 'delusion' - in the sense of that which gives rise to insanity!) is unique in the Tangerine Dream canon, however, in consisting of little beyond vocal utterings (grunts, mutterings, screams, shouts and so on) echoed and reverbed, before a rising percussion line restores some semblance of decorum and a gentle mellotron theme sings the work to a close. This is a track owing more to Ligeti's 'Aventures' and 'Nouvelles Aventures' and works of that ilk, than to anything from the rock or pop world. Perhaps the closest you can get to this nowadays would be Trevor Wishart's 'Vox cycle'.This CD is a (1996) remastered release from original master tapes by TD's own Eastgate studio, so is probably as definitive a release as could be achieved. Its analogue origins remain apparent throughout, however, with tape hiss being quite prevalent, especially through the quieter passages, of which this disc has plenty. This needn't put you off, though, as the material more than makes up for these technical shortcomings, and I'm happy to report that the release is free of any particularly disturbing remastering artefacts. Although its 40 minute total playing time is less than generous by CD standards, this was typical of its day and this disc remains highly recommended to anyone wanting to explore the realm of early Tangerine Dream, or other works out of the mainstream of 1970's pop."

Tangerine Transition

rubidium84 | Ft. Calhoun, NE | 04/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tangerine Dream was going through a slow period of transition from 1970's "Alpha Centauri" to 1974's "Phaedra". This album represents a step in that transition where the band finally begins to embrace electronic instruments as their primary tools, while still holding on to some of their "Alpha Centauri"-type experimental approach. This is the last TD album released before they went to England to record with Virgin, and also the last studio album to feature drums until 1979's "Cyclone".Personally, I find this album somewhere between the industrial freakouts of "Electronic Meditation" and the icy moonscapes of "Zeit". There are some wild and crazy moments, but the disc is dominated by a sense of space, and empty quietness. Quite a lot of the album sounds like Zeit outtakes or backing tracks waiting for a solo, but they provide a nice contrast to the louder, more upfront moments.This is the first TD album to feature the Mellotron, which would become a staple of the Tangerine Sound in the following decade. The album is drenched in Mellotron, but the instrument is most prominent in the first two tracks, the sidelong epic "Atem" and the shorter, mysterious "Fauni-Gena". "Fauni-Gena" also contains some kind of backing track made up of jungle bird noises.Overall, I would say that if you like "Alpha Centauri"s first side, you'll like this record. Bear in mind that the primitive recording environment is made evident in the amount of tape hiss throughout the album, but that's easy to ignore."

The best of the cosmic Dream!

Barry P. Saranchuk | Moosic, PA United States | 05/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Man! I sure wish that someone would clue some people in to the eras of Tangerine Dream..."Worst Classic Dream",HA! I guess you could say that this isn't very technical of a T.D. CD?But this was the FIRST Tangerine Dream that had synths on it! This is a way-out classic from the early 1970's,not a new-age CD made on digitally perfect technology. Don't look for light airy music,look for experiments made by friends of Salvador Dali,or fearky,hairy, Kraut Rock madmen set loose in a studio and existing with a mind-set to experiment into deep space! Now this album is thee first step to the classic mid-period of Tangerine Dream! The baby steps were on Alpha Centauri ,and that was an album that reached for outer space with flute, guitar,and organ,for God's sake! If you are a Kraut Rock fan then this might be T.D.'s pinnacle for you!? Try ZEIT,and Alpha Centauri for earlier "reaching for space" madness.(With Zeit,possibly "floating in space" madness!?) Anyway,the ATEM album marked a finding of a "code" of sorts for Tangerine Dream. It opened the way to smoother,cooler,scarier sounds that were emitted on PHAEDRA,STRATOSPHERE,etc.("Un-easy listening" synth classics,I like to call 'em!) But,I have to say that fans of the more "Prog." T.D, AND the more "Kraut Rock" oriented T.D. fans should both hear this pivotal CD! The sound on this issue is a million miles better than the Relativity re-issues that had a giant sound 'drop-out' on one track. So, now you can put on headphones and just float into the space that these early explorers created. Just keep an open mind...please. This is a classic from the early 1970's for God's sake,enjoy it for what it is. Cosmic music of the trippy kind!"