ALPHA CENTAURI

TANGERINE DREAM already witnessed a lineup change. Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler are now out of the picture. Schulze then went on to ASH RA TEMPEL, ended up with the COSMIC JOKERS that sure didn't please him at all, and of course his famous solo career. New members include Christopher Franke, still in his teens, and Steve Schroyder. That means already the only thing TANGERINE DREAM had in common with their debut and "Alpha Centauri" is Edgar Froese himself. With this album, the band decided to drop the guitars and most of the drums and went for an exploratory brand of space "music" that would define them for their next two albums.

The music is quite a bit more lengthy than before, no more raw, aggressive psychedelic guitar jams here. "Sunrise in the Third System" proves that, with strange sounding electronics, and some sort of strange string keyboard. "Fly and Collision of Comas Sola" starts off with more electronic effects, with spacy organ (almost sounds like a pipe organ). It won't be until the end when Franke gives us some drum work. This is the only cut the album with drums. Then you get the side length title track. This is the band going in to exploratory space "music", if you want to call it that. Strange wind sounds, lots of flute to go with it and all sorts of strange assorted electronic effects. I like how this piece ends with some sinister spoken dialog in German against a backdrop of organ and wordless voices. Not exactly accessible (Exit this is not), but this is recommended for those who want something more adventurous.

My rating: 4 1/2 stars