RUBYCON

Coupled with Phaedra, Rubycon is also one of the best Tangerine Dream albums to be released from their early era. Rubycon is slightly less accessible than its predecessor because of its tendency to be fairly ambient occasionally, but it is highly enjoyable once you listen to it over a few times.

Phaedra was a very cold and lonely sounding record, and Rubycon takes those elements and warms them up only slightly. Across this two track suite is an otherworldly and almost tropical wonderland-like atmosphere that still evokes feeling of estrangement, but it isn't nearly as troubling and unsettling as could be expected. Part 1 starts with soaring mellotron accompanied lightly by the sounds of the forest and its creatures before succumbing to a pulsating beat of rushed euphoria leading you through the soundscape on flighted feet. Part 2 starts a little bit more on the ghostly and weary side of things, and after a sinister mellotron drone the sound paints a mental image of being underwater, accompanied by the synthesized sounds of whales and eels, and the dark echoing hidden within oceanic caves.

This entire album is really a bombardment of enjoyable atmosphere that I feel could probably induce euphoria in anyone willing to give it a shot when they're in a mellow mood. This isn't music for becoming energized, but it is music for the imagination. Highly recommended successor to the great Phaedra.