purlieu Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/tangerine-dream-quantum-gate Tangerine Dream’s new studio album Quantum Gate is due for release on September 29th 2017, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the band. In late summer 2014, Edgar Froese, Thorsten Quaeschning, Ulrich Schnauss and Hoshiko Yamane began to work on what was planned to be the first album of Tangerine Dream’s Quantum Years – a new phase of the band that Edgar wanted to use to introduce a couple of substantial changes. Consisting of himself, long term collaborator Thorsten Quaeschning (synths), violinist Hoshiko Yamane and new member Ulrich Schnauss (synths), the Quantum Years promised an updated, contemporary take on the band’s trademark sound of the 70s and 80s: sequencer-driven electronica covering a wide range of moods and atmospheres from ambient soundscapes to energetic, upbeat moments. Non-musical ideas relating to the field of quantum physics and philosophy had inspired Edgar to attempt a translation of these concepts into music. Very sadly however Edgar passed away in early 2015 – requesting that his wife, visual artist and TD’s manager for the last 15 years, Bianca Froese-Acquaye would ensure that his vision for the Quantum Years would still be realized. Throughout the last two years Quaeschning, Schnauss and Yamane therefore worked hard on achieving a result that would match Edgar’s expectations – as well as the ones of TD’s loyal fanbase. It’s worth noting that the compositions appearing on the album are not only based on theoretical concepts and ideas Edgar had outlined, but also on a large number of actual musical sketches that he luckily had already prepared during the initial phase of the band’s reformation process. Therefore, Quantum Gate is just as much a new beginning as it is a testament to Edgar’s never-withering inspiration and ever-flowing creativity If the quality of Mala Kunia and Quantum Key is anything to go by, this should be pretty special. The Edgar / Ulrich / Thorsten lineup has been the strongest since the mid-'80s so far. I have no idea if it'll be the last album ever (certainly Edgar was originally planning to finish TD this year), but it'll be the last album he had planned, so it'll be quite sad to hear in a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumi Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Wow. This new album is quite good. It's the first time I've really bothered following anything from them in years. Ulrich's influence is evident - maybe a little too much but this is a good effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purlieu Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 Yeah, there are a couple of very Ulrichy tracks in there, and one that really sounds like one from the Edgar solo albums years, but the rest is a really good balance to my ears. It's a touch less energetic than the Quantum Key EP of a couple of years ago which surprised me, but overall I really enjoyed it. Will be picking up the Sessions 1 album soon too - that contains two half hour improvs from recent gigs. If you enjoyed this, fumi, I'd definitely think about checking out Quantum Key, Mala Kuni and Particles. 2008-2014 material is mostly quite forgettable, but since Ulrich joined the standard has been really high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumi Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Yeah, there are a couple of very Ulrichy tracks in there, and one that really sounds like one from the Edgar solo albums years, but the rest is a really good balance to my ears. It's a touch less energetic than the Quantum Key EP of a couple of years ago which surprised me, but overall I really enjoyed it. Will be picking up the Sessions 1 album soon too - that contains two half hour improvs from recent gigs. If you enjoyed this, fumi, I'd definitely think about checking out Quantum Key, Mala Kuni and Particles. 2008-2014 material is mostly quite forgettable, but since Ulrich joined the standard has been really high. Mmm. I've heard a few snippets of stuff over the past ten years but to be honest, they were mostly done by the mid 90s. Tyranny Of Beauty was the last album I bought from them at the time I was really following them. The people that came into the band in the years after Paul Haslinger left in 90/91 took the band in a direction that I didn't like. Edgar bringing his son was also a mistake, IMO. yeah, I know he was there in 89, but his role was a minor one. Along with all the soft jazz leanings and attempting to climb aboard the dance/rave bandwagon - just felt really desperate, I thought. It's nice to see Ulrich involved but I dunno, it's time to hang the TD label up. But it's a brand that sells so I guess that won't happen. I'm sure the standard is much better with Ulrich on board. The only problem is that it starts to sound like an Ulrich Schnauss solo album instead of TD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purlieu Posted October 2, 2017 Author Share Posted October 2, 2017 You came out right around the lowest ebb - Turn of the Tides and Tyranny of Beauty are definitely their worst instrumental records. There have been plenty of really good tracks - and a handful of worthwhile albums - since then, although once Edgar founded his own label the quality control sunk quite badly. I'm still glad I ploughed through them to find them gems though, and I genuinely believe Edgar was completely passionate about TD and the music right to the end. This one is worth seeing through to the end, for me the piano part beats even the sections in Song of the Whale and Ricochet. One of my favourite pieces of music ever: These are also really worth a listen if you haven't already (and anyone else!): Mars Polaris, Jeanne D'Arc, Springtime in Nagasaki, Purple Diluvial, Chandra Part I and all the Quantum Years material is up there with the best stuff TD put out for me. It's difficult to argue that the '70s and '80s were their most fertile era, but I do think that if they'd had somebody willing to edit the albums down to the absolute best material, rather than letting Edgar go with his idea of TD being a 'musical diary', the 2005-present Eastgate/Quantum eras would be up there with their best and most consistent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumi Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 I will check these out, for sure. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumi Posted November 1, 2017 Share Posted November 1, 2017 Just picked up 'Particles'. A must have. Really nice mixture of live stuff and studio too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purlieu Posted November 1, 2017 Author Share Posted November 1, 2017 Oh yes, that's a great EP. The 30 minute improv is great (I really should get around to getting Sessions I soon, that's two long '70s style improvs too) and the Stranger Things Theme cover is lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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