THE HOLLYWOOD YEARS - VOL. 1

I first got this disc a few years ago, in my crazy days of buying anything from Tangerine Dream. It's a pretty good album, but not among their best. It is a collection of songs that they wrote for movies, but that were never used. I don't give a lower rating for soundtracks or collections, as the buyer should take that into account when they decide if they want it. Although this is listed as a studio album, it plays like a soundtrack. (which it is).

The album was produced in 1998, with Tangerine Dream now just consisting of Edgar Froese and his son Jerome. By this time TD had lost the experimental edge to their music, they were producing mellower ambient stuff with tracks that are becoming harder to distinguish from each other. "Goldhunter" and "Chamber of Hope" are probably the best tracks, but all the music is a pleasant, if unremarkable ambient mix. If I were to recomend a TD soundtrack I would suggest "Canyon Dreams" or "Thief" instead. If you like later TD (or ambient music) I would instead reccomend "Mars Polaris"

This is quite a difficult album to talk about.

Needless to say that the late middle nineties weren't the best of this great band. Having grouped some of their undeveloped (?) tracks in two albums can be considered as a "human" mistake.

Still, a wonderful moment as "Goldhunter" does have its own full merits. It is a wonderful break- out as TD performed during their great musical path. But, great musical instants as such are quite scarce to be honest. I am a desperate fan of the band, but such a "moment" is rather disappointing (because of its rarity). At best, "Low Paradisio", is another musical mistake. It shouldn't have to be recorded to tell the truth (but it is still very pleasant)

Of course, there are some nice and decent moments to share, but honestly the great TD is alien to this recording. Only "Autumn In Sonoma" deserves another full mention. I don't want to be somewhat negative in my rating in here: it is just a matter of genuine feeling. I extensively have loved the band for the music they performed so far. At this time, I can't get thrilled with their musical orientation; that's it I guess.

These years were never quite a great period of their lives. This first album (a second one was released the same year) is of no great value. This album is far too long . It should have been cut by half to leave it somewhat decent (as the very good "Chronos Mile").

As such, only two stars can be generously provided.