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Michael Hoenig - Departure from the Northern Wasteland CD (album) cover

DEPARTURE FROM THE NORTHERN WASTELAND

Michael Hoenig

 

Progressive Electronic

3.79 | 63 ratings

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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
3 stars "Repitition is the image of eternity in music"

When band members decide to go solo or to make a solo album while remaining in the band, it is normally because they want to explore alternative musical avenues. Perhaps their submissions have been rejected by the band because they do not fit in with the sound. Perhaps they simply want to make the jazz/pop/rock etc. album they've always felt was in them.

Not so it seems with Tangerine Dream. Although Hoenig was only a member for a brief time, "Departure from the Northern Wastelands" is a perfect facsimile of a Tangs album by any other name. The title track, which occupies the whole of side one of the LP, even has the same type of structure as pieces such as "Rubicon", with a mellow, floating start leading to a repeating trance rhythm and extended synthesiser improvisation. The sound is pleasant, indeed highly enjoyable, even if the over riding impression is one of heard it all before.

Side two has a further three tracks, of which "Hanging garden transfer" is simply a continuation of side one, running for a further 10 minutes. Only "Voices of where" attempts to break the mould, the processed vocals sounding rather out of place. Normal service is however resumed with the closing "Sun and moon".

Those who enjoy the music of Tangerine Dream, especially their mid-late 1970's period, need have no worries about enjoying this album. It is to all intents and purposes a Tangs album.

Easy Livin | 3/5 |

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