ELECTRONIC MEDITATION

One day in the early 1970's, Tangerine Dream got an offer they could not refuse resulting in them bulk purchasing a bunch of synthesisers. This entailed them throwing in their current instruments by way of part exchange, and all three attending An introduction to playing synth classes. The boys shone brightly in class, and went on to become experts in their field.

Prior to this though, the band has a much lesser know BS (before synth!) period where their instrumental line up consisted of more conventional kit such as guitar, drums, cello and organ (OK, maybe the Cello was not that conventional!). While this may sound promising, offering the prospect of the band's melodious style being hear in a different way, the reality is sadly somewhat less exciting. Not only is this period BS, it is also prior to them discovering any compositional abilities. Consequently, "Electronic meditation" is best left only to those who enjoy the most avant-garde of Krautrock and improvised indulgences.

If we skip quickly past the opening "Genesis", which is pretty much devoid of anything musical, we enter the 12 minute "Journey through a burning brain". The organ sections here are highly reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Saucerful of secrets", but the track largely focuses on the unstructured improvised guitar work of Edgar Froese. "Cold smoke" also features the atmospheric organ sounds and pounded timpani of Pink Floyd's early years, indeed it could be an outtake from their Pompeii sessions. As with the rest of the album though, the emphasis is almost entirely on experimentation and improvisation.

It therefore falls to the ear of the beholder to decide whether this album is fascinatingly challenging or musical gobbledegook. For me, while this is in relative terms some of the better recordings of this type I have heard, the almost total lack of anything discernibly musical leaves me absolutely cold.

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