SYNTHETISEUR

"Synthetiseur" is a very special compilation album of Tangerine Dream. It was released in 1990. It's an economic package that includes their fifth studio album "Phaedra" released in 1974, their sixth studio album "Rubycon" released in 1975 and their debut live album "Ricochet" released also in 1975, on only one CD package. This is a very interesting compilation album because it includes three indispensable musical works of the band, the three albums that are in general considered the three best works of Tangerine Dream. So, we can say that it can be a very worth purchase if you don't have the three original albums yet in vinyl or CD. It means that, if you buy "Synthetiseur", you can save on money. However, for those who have already the three albums, "Synthetiseur" only can be a nice addition for your collection.

However, we cannot deny the unquestionable quality of "Synthetiseur". Tangerine Dream is unquestionably one of the most influential electronic groups of all time and these three albums are the living proof of that. Their music has made an immeasurable impact on ambient, new age, techno, trance, and progressive rock, as well as modern film score composition. Founded as a psychedelic rock group, soon Tangerine Dream turned to the electronic music especially during their second musical phase, "The Virgin Years". "The Virgin Years" began with the pioneering Tangerine Dream works, precisely these three albums that belong of what became known as the "Berlin School". The line up on the three albums is the same, Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann and Christopher Franke, which is considered the best of the band.

As I've already reviewed these three albums previously and individually on Progarchives, in a more extensive way, I'm not going to do it again. So, if you are interested to know, in more detail, what I wrote about them before, I invite you to read those my reviews. However, in here I'm going to write something about them in a more short way. So, of course, I'm not going to analyze them as extensively as I made before, but I'm only going to make a global appreciation of them.

"Phaedra": "Phaedra" is often regarded as a groundbreaking album that was shaped by an experimental sound, with structured sound sequences that present themselves to the listener in an atmosphere space like manner. "Phaedra" leads in monotone electronics at the beginning directly into the wide world of the universe and knows how to create a monotone trance in cosmically designed sound surfaces. In the further course, the cool inapproachability of the electronics unites with organic looking Mellotron inserts, which is accompanied by more rhythmic sound elements. The way into unexplored galaxies is, thus, effectively relaxed. Perhaps even more powerful as a musical landmark now than when it was recorded. "Phaedra" has proven the test of time. The 70's was a time of music taste and intelligence, really.

"Rubycon": "Rubycon" is like "Phaedra", an impressive work from the experimental early phase and the sequencer heavy time in the middle of the 70's, but oriented a little further towards the later. The Moog Synth is used more often than on its predecessor, which makes the soundscapes appear more structured overall. Of course, the impression of uniformity also comes from the fact that there are only two pieces of the same name. The free form parts, which are still available, appear more mature and sophisticated than their predecessors. "Rubycon" is a standard work of the Berlin School. If you are interested in electronic music you should check it, and its predecessor "Phaedra". People who want to find whether they like such "futuristic music" must check it too. This is one of the best, Tangerine Dream's albums.

"Ricochet": "Ricochet" could just easily have been an excellent studio album. I find it remarkable how well Tangerine Dream was able to implement their studio compatible concepts' live. "Ricochet" is one of the definitive Tangerine Dream's albums and is indispensable for lovers of the electronic music. If you want to experience the beginnings of electronic music, you cannot avoid this album. "Ricochet", "Phaedra" and "Rubycon", are the three classic albums of Tangerine Dream that no prog music fan can avoid. Considering the fact that "Rubycon", Froese's "Ypsilon In Malaysian Pale" and Klaus Schulze's "Timewind" were also released in the same year, "Ricochet" was the final jewel in the crown that turned 1975 as the best year in Tangerine Dream's related history and in the prog electronic music too.

Conclusion: After what I have wrote and despite I have mentioned that "Synthetiseur" is only important for those who don't own the three original works or for the hardest collector fans of the band, it's undeniable the great quality of this compilation album. As I also mentioned that "Phaedra", "Rubycon" and "Ricochet" are in general considered the three best works of Tangerine Dream, in which I include myself, turn "Synthetiseur" as a great compilation album, one of the best of the band. "Phaedra" and "Rubycon" are considered the two greatest masterpieces of the band and two of the best electronic prog albums ever made. In relation to "Ricochet", despite technically be a live work that was recorded live, in reality, it's an original work from the band that was recorded live. So, we can say that "Synthetiseur" is a great compilation album with three amazing works of one of the best and most representative acts of the "Berlin School".

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)