RUBYCON

For a long time this was the only Tangerine Dream album I knew, and approaching the other records felt difficult. I think it stands as a monolith between their more archaic and mystic earlier recordings, and leading the way towards future of more clean and easlier sequencer-dominated records. On "Rubycon" I believe these both elements unite, and offer a ride for a surreal, simultaneously soothing and oppressing dreamlike voyage. In the end and beginning of the album there are calm flute driven spaces of dream, which encircle a more troubled sounding longer middle part, rhythmed by sequencers, and occupied by atonal sea of howling voices at the very center of the suite, starting side B-side of the vinyl. I would suggest this album for anybody who is interested on emotional music of great quality, and meditate this in the peacefulness of the candle lit night. I believe that the title name comes from the ancient Roman history, the Rubicon being an Italian river on which shores some Julius Caesar had the die been cast. The records following this album have some good moments in them, but I haven't found anything really impressing from them to me, unlike in the early records which are mostly fantastic. Them I would recommend for fans of ambient krautrock and ethereal cosmic music.