Sketch for September
loteq | Regensburg | 06/05/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
""Tang-go" is a double-disc retrospective which will be useful only for casual listeners, looking to buy a short, convenient overview of TD's work from 1990 to 2000. With the exception of one or two tracks, there's nothing here you cannot find elsewhere on previous compilations ("The private music of TD", "Atlantic bridges", "Atlantic walls, and so on) or regular TD albums still in print. Compared with TD's groundbreaking '70s work, the musical range displayed on "Tang-go" is small and the creative light that once made TD great seems to be dull now. The band ventures into a melodic, easily accessible adult-alternative territory, but many songs are almost indistinguishable from each other. The dancier tracks are mostly soundscapes with a formulaic rhythm backing and can't compare with the work of contemporaries like Autechre, Aphex Twin, or The Orb. Still, there's some interesting material here. The boombastic "Mothers of rain" (off 1988's "Optical race") is very impressive, just as the atmospheric "Towards the evening star" (off "Goblin's Club"). Two tracks from 1999's remarkable "Mars Polaris" are also included, as well as a couple of numbers from TD's soundtracks like "Oasis", "Transsiberia", and "Great wall of China". As always with TD's later-era work, I think "Tang-go" works best as nice background music while driving, reading, or cooking. Overall, "Tang-go" is a good introduction to TD's work in recent years. However, if you want to have a collection covering TD's innovative "Virgin Years (1973-1983)", I think you should buy the double-disc set "Dream sequence" or the very comprehensive box set "Tangents"."
Essential TD value-pack
Steve Benner | Lancaster, UK | 10/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Regular readers of my Tangerine Dream disc reviews will know that I don't general approve of compilation sets. I'm happy to make an exception in this case, though, as this 2-for-the-price-of-1 double album does indeed offer an excellent survey of the band's output over the final decade of the previous millennium (including a live performance of an even older gem!) Most of the tracks are not the original versions but remixed or live editions, which genuinely offer improvements on the originals - unlike the mangled versions of earlier masterpieces offered on the likes of the "Tangents" collection. Both of the discs of "Tang-go" are generously filled and deliver a satisfying programme of material, without a single dud! Some of the track-endings are a little raggy, but the overall content is good enough for this minor niggle to be easily overlooked.This release can be unreservedly recommended for anyone wanting a fairly comprehensive sampling of recent Tangerine Dream wares. Long term collectors may find much they would like to have here, too."
A nice compilation
Takuya Arai | Lakewood, OH USA | 05/08/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very nice compilation of recent Tangerine Dream tracks between 1990 - 2000. However, it's sadly missing some tracks that I would have liked to have seen from Goblins' Club and Oasis. Too bad. But overall, a good mix of stuff for fans too lazy to burn their own mixes and a good intro for those who don't really know TD. For 2 full cd's it's a very good price too!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
