Search - Tangerine Dream :: Kyoto

Turning Japanese

Mr. A. J. King | uk | 06/19/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1. Streets of Kyoto: Starts with a panned scurrying drum loop, with a simple bass note intro. To this is added a modern type sequence (very much like TD's latest stuff on Purgatorio or Edgar's solo tracks), pads are introduced on top of this, with some old PPG type sounds low in the mix. Drums drop in and out throughout the track. Great stuff, but modern sounding with little or no obvious input from Johannes (perhaps the tapes were too bad as there's 1 or 2 slight drop outs if you listen closely and Edgar had to rescue the track by overdubbing it more?).



2. Industrial Life: A few seconds of the drums Edgar used on the Aqua remix, then punchy snare drums are added, with fat analog chords. On top of this Johannes plays a distorted, guitar type synth melody (with a MXR pedal?), whilst a mid paced sequence plays over distorted chords. Later a strummed type sound is added, with ominous bass notes underneath...drums build...then straight into a "the Park is mine" section...I forget the track...you'll have to check. Brilliant nevertheless, very punchy, with great chords and a new melody from Johannes? Excellent!!!



3. Chilly Moons:

Starts with a 12 string sample (to which a buzzy type analog sound is added later), with modern choir sounds, whilst a bubbling (mid paced) sequence slowly builds underneath (again very Edgar like...with hints of Canyon Dreams), this goes on for about 3 minutes with things subtley shifting, then a drum loop is added, building with more up-to-date drums on top (claps etc), the sequence takes on a more organ 'type' timbre as the volume builds, very modal. The track ends with analog bursts finally giving way to choir washes.



4. Lizzard Lounge: Starts with a spiky (and punchy) sequence, with bell like overtones and a breathy bass type sound, whilst a high hat rhythm repeats. Drums are then added, with loads of panned noise effects, then a VCF modulated sound is added, whilst more quirky 'boxy' drum sounds are added (just the kind of thing you'd expect from Johannes). Whilst this mid paced section plays a panned melody is added as the sequence gets more complicated, then drops away leaving just the bass and modern pads to end. Brilliant!...



5. Cherry Blossum Road: Starts with a fairly simple piano melody (by Johannes, could even be Edgar), with a subtle bass synth underneath, pads and washes are added, then powerful drums punch-in, whilst Johannes plays a great melody on top of it all. Brilliant!



6. Tamago Yaki: Powerful drums start this track, with a weird bass and random note sequence, pads are added as the rhythm then builds into a chugging type sequence...'very atmospheric', then a tapping noise rhythm is added whilst an eastern feeling takes hold. PPG synth sounds are heard, with distorted disturbing chords and a strong bass plays. Just stunning!!!



7. Craving for Silence:

A solo piano intro, whilst a subtle bass synth note underpins it, then a panned (L-R) piano sequence starts, giving the whole track a minor key 'feeling'. Later a running paced rhythm starts, building to a powerful rhythmic section as the piano plays a meandering melody. Goes on a bit but I loved it :)



8. Mad Sumo Yamoto: Starts with a fast analog sequence, with a low organ note. Johannes plays a nice (hard-sync) synth solo over this as the sequencers build into a more 1980's groove. Great stuff :) the finishing line is in sight..and what a finish!:



9. Kyoto Sunrise: A plucked melody starts this track with a fantastic and highly atmospheric backing. PPG sounds are heard throughout, as a bass note sequence starts (it reminded me of Johannes' work more), things get more rhythmic and then it drops away mid-track for a few bars, and then comes back with gusto (what's a gusto?). A few strange effects are introduced. Fantastic!



10. Last Train to Osaka: Low 'panned' strings open this track with a plucked (FM?) type melody. It reminded me a 'bit' like Kitaro in places. Another melody is introduced, together with a 1980's type choir sound and a modern echoed bell melody to close. A subtle track and a great counterpoint to the more rhythmic tracks....talking of which....



11. Shogun's Prayer: Opens with a fast sequencer and drums, over which lush chords are played. A nice melody kicks in as the track builds, with great analog washes. The rhythm builds as drums are introduced (very much like Edgar's work on Dalinetopia...punchy and varied), as the track changes key and goes through several twists and turns before another great melody starts, the drums drop away and the lush chords close.if this was played live, say as an encore you'd be weeping into your beer, and this time it wouldn't have anything to do with the price you paid for your beverage. Stunning, the best album TD have produced in a long long time...Cheers Edgar and Johannes, the boys played a blinder."

A reminder of how things once were

Steve Benner | Lancaster, UK | 04/18/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tangerine Dream's 2005 release "Kyoto" is a gem to be treasured indeed. The hour's worth of music on this disc lay dormant on 24-track master tapes for 22 years before finally getting to see the light of day. These compositions were laid down by Edgar Froese and Johannes Schmoelling in 1983, ahead of the band's first ever tour of Japan, intended for performance during the tour and subsequent release in album form. Differences of artistic opinion at the time within the band prevented that plan coming to fruition then; it is good to see that the legal wrangles with Chris Franke are now sufficiently behind us that this music can now come to market bearing the TD moniker. Historically, this disc would fit between "White Eagle" (1982) and "Hyperborea" (1983) in the studio album releases, or "Logos" (1982) and "Poland" (1983) in the live album stakes. Musically, though, I'd say the content had more in common with "Live Miles" of 1986/7.



Rich and varied in both its synth textures, melodies, tempos and styles, the disc has all the hallmarks of Tangerine Dream's music-making at its peak. Whether that be the slow and steady building of intricate material from a simple piano introduction, as in 'Cherry Blossom Road' and 'Craving for Silence', the masterful development and reinforcement of overlapping sequencer runs displayed in the likes of 'Tamago Yaki' or slow and searing solo synth lines over fast electronic percussion ('Shogun's Prayer'), it's all here. So complete is it, in fact, that it is hard to believe that Chris Franke had no hand in its production at all (but who am I to argue) but easier to believe that it has had no significant touching up since, other than to recover it from elderly analogue tapes.



I am sure that many will say that this is the best Tangerine Dream release since Chris Franke quit the band and the Berlin Wall came down; in many ways it is. Buy it and treasure it! Play it and weep for things that are long gone! They don't make them like this any more."