What does it sound like?:
In the mid 1970’s I had a few music loving mates. Our record collections were only just getting into double digits, so friends purchases became an important extension of what you listened to, and everything got played, even if your tastes were poles apart.
Back then I bowed to no-one in my admiration for The Dictators, Blue Oyster Cult and Kiss. The more avant-garde albums by Hawkwind, Gong, Floyd and Tangerine Dream favoured by one of our troop didn’t do it for me. So, listening to “Atem” and “Alpha Centauri” after something close to a 40 year break has been as much a revelation as a reminder.
This re-mastered Esoteric / Cherry red box set collects together TD’s first 4 releases on the German Ohr label, before the move to Virgin and the breakthrough release of “Phaedra”. Each CD is presented in a replica sleeve and other than a poster there are no additional tracks or live cuts as there have been with previous releases.
Across the 4 cds the diverse soundscapes are a reminder of how radical and innovative TD were.
Whilst there is nothing conventional about debut album “Electronic Meditation”, it’s the perhaps most conventional of this set. Recorded on a two-track Revox tape recorder Its freewheeling instrumental format features more guitar than the other albums in the box plus keyboards and drums with Froese’s tape loops of breaking glass, dried peas and backwards vocals. Opening track “Genesis” features droning guitar with occasional discordant bursts of cello. “Journey Through A Burning Brain” sounds like it could be just that – pounding drums, random plucked notes seguing into guitars and more pounding drums. The remaining tracks feature jazzy / church style organ, “Cold Smoke” punctuated with sudden percussion and a wall of feedback laden guitar. “Ashes To Ashes” is the only track you could probably actually meditate to.
Alpha Centauri, released in 1971 (according to Julain Cope) used the space rock template from Floyds “Saucerful of Secrets” although it” removed the rock”. More keyboard orientated than the first release there are VCS3 synthesizers, a Farfisa organ and even a coffee machine alongside twittering flutes. “Sunrise In The Third System” and “Fly And Collision Of Cosmic Sola” certainly have an ethereal, other worldly feel that soundtracks the cosmos, sometimes starry, sometimes sinister, an aural representation of a monochrome horizon.
Released in March 1973, Atem is probably the most accessible of the set, it’s popularity with John Peel exposing the band to his many fans (and one of my mates). The title track opens with the sound of breathing, washing into wind like swirl that becomes dominated by thundering drums. “Fauni-Gena” uses Mellotron to create a lush, swooping vibe supplemented by bird call. “Circulation of Events” is more monotone, creepy. “Wahn” is a mix of dancing Mellotron and tribal drums overwritten by some animalistic noises. All in all a bit of a weird ride.
The final CD in the set is “Zeit”. It steps back from the more open structure of “Atem”, dominated by cello and Moog to create four “movements” that are darkly minimalist, full of gloom and droning passages. The tracks ebb easily from one to the next, an austere ambiance that I found challenging to sit through.
According to Wikipedia TD have released over 100 albums since ““Electronic Meditation”, and it’s not immediately apparent where this set of re-issues fits in. It’s material the hardcore fans will already be very familiar with, having been re-issued before, whilst new fans would probably be drawn to “Phaedra”, “Rubycon” or “Stratosphere”. Either way, it provided me with an enjoyable chance to re-visit a couple of albums that I’d not thought of in 40 years, and developing an appreciation that I’d not had before. Time to dial up “Phaedra” on Spotify ….
What does it all *mean*?
I wish I knew
Goes well with…
A darkened room and some headphones
Might suit people who like…
Gong, Can, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Amon Düül II, Ash Ra Tempel, Cluster and Faust.
I heard Zeit once and hated it. A few weeks later I saw a guy about to buy it and told him it was just a tedious drone. He said I know but it’s great when you’re stoned.
On the other hand Phaedra and Rubicon are really good.
He was not wrong.
Saw this lot, seated cross-legged on a rush matting floor, at Plymouth Guildhall when Phaedra had just been released. Another stonking ‘Van Dike presents’ gig; we didn’t realise how spoiled we were back then, out in the sticks but getting top rate bands regularly in town.
There was a huge speaker stack in each corner of the hall, between which the audience gathered, polite, excited, and receptive. After what seemed like (heh) an age, the lights went down and the chattering subsided. A small desk lamp came on somewhere on stage, and a bearded bloke in scruffy clothes shambled on from one side and sat at a keyboard. “Probably a roadie, making sure things are all ready” I thought.
Then the opening sounds of Phaedra began, sweeping from the back of the hall and across the stereo image, enveloping us in a wall of music. Awesome. Couldn’t stop grinning, and have been a fan ever since. Even though I’ve never really followed their progress closely, that one gig was a monumental musical moment for me.
I’ve already got these albums on vinyl and twice on CD, so I won’t be buying this set. If you haven’t heard them, do yourself a favour and invest in either this or the set that follows this chronologically – both groups of albums, but especially the one carrying Phaedra, are a real treat.
Might suit people who like…
Gong, Can, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Amon Düül II, Ash Ra Tempel, Cluster and Faust.
…my jeans are flairing….I smell patchouli and damp ARP great coat…I want it…
Looks interesting. Will probably investigate.
The two “Virgin Years” sets, 3-CDs for 1974-1978 (Phaedra, Rubycon, Ricochet, Stratosfear and Cyclone plus bonus tracks. £11.99 at Amazon) and 5-CDs for 1977-1983 (Encore, Force Majeure, Tangram, Exit, White Eagle, Logos & Hyperborea plus bonus tracks. £15.99 at Amazon), are pretty cheap but are rather poorly presented in multi-disc jewel cases.
Oh, nice! Will have to investigate further.
I prefer Tangerine Dream to Pink Floyd.
Me too. Except the other way round.
You prefer Dream Tangerine to Floyd Pink?
I hate to be a pedant but Atem was the last of this batch (1973), following Zeit (1972), not the other way round.
Indeed, my mistake. Makes more sense that in terms of the way the themes seem to develop.