LOGOS... LIVE AT THE DOMINION - LONDON

Recorded at the Dominion Theatre, London, this superb live release finds Tangerine Dream performing a lengthy, bravura set very much at the peak of their formidable powers. Others will argue that the German electronic pioneers best times came around the mid-seventies with their 'Phaedra' and 'Rubycon' albums, yet it is their later material, particular between the years 1977 and 1984 that finds the group at their most universal, creating highly-emotive synthesized melodies that partially eschew the experimental musings of their formative years in favour of a much more accessible sound. The style evident on 'Logos' would of course lay the foundations for a commercially successful 1980s period which saw the trio - led as always by founding member Edgar Froese - embark on a lucrative soundtrack period(1977 had seen them provide the music for William Friedkin's thriller 'Sorceror') which would see Hollywood directors such as Michael Mann(Thief, Manhunter, Heat, Miami Vice) and Kathryn Bigelow(Near Dark, Strange Days, The Hurt Locker) utilising Tangerine Dream's powerful music in place of classical scores. Indeed, 'Logo's most powerful moments also feature prominently in Michael Mann's criminally-ignored and highly-atmospheric 1983 World War II horror fantasy 'The Keep', making it a much sought-after album thanks to the fact that the film's official soundtrack was never made commercially available, probably due in part to the film's subsequent box-office failure. Made up of one pulsing, five-minute closer('Dominion') and the epic, electro-psych journey title-track, this 1983 album ebbs and flows almost sensually from one uplifting moment to the next. The variety of moods charted by the group leads the listener through a seemingly endless array of gently-pulsing electro soundscapes, all the while flecked by neon-lit keyboards and dazzling, multi-layered synth workouts that flow almost effortlessly from one section to the next. This is Tangerine Dream in gloriously upbeat mode, and, unlike their earlier, darker live offering 'Ricochet'(another excellent concert album) there is much less reliability on repetition. Featuring a crisp, classy sound quality, 'Logos' is possibly the definitive live statement from this pioneering outfit and a must for every fan of early electronica. A truly captivating experience.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012