AMBIENT MONKEYS

Ambient Monkeys is the Tangs album that divides Tangs fans. Originally a reworked version of various existing pieces, merged together with ambient jungle sounds, it was used as an aural backdrop at live performances, keeping concert-goers amused while waiting for the show to commence or during occasional planned pauses. The story goes that the pre-concert music attracted so much comment that it was then made available for sale in its own right.

It is basically the sound of Tangerine Dream in a rain forest. The sounscape includes mainly (as you may have guessed) monkeys calling from the canopy, while parrots swoop and a monsoon gives way to sunlight. It is atmospheric doodling of the highest order. It is an ideal introduction to ambient electronica, with tongue gently but firmly in cheek. A beautiful disc to play as background music.

And there's the problem. Good-natured fans have embraced the CD warmly. Newcomers will love it. Po-faced super-serious electro-noodlers rate it very poorly. I predict that the average rating will always be "somewhere in the middle", but each individual review will be either strongly for or against. I've no axe to grind, as I'm not even a Tangs fan, just an amused observer.

Suffie it to say, I play this CD more than any other Tangs disc.

Smile.