KSCOPE2287 tangerine dream

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The last few months have seen Tangerine Dream, in their Berlin studio space, working on new material – the EP “Probe 6-8”, their follow-up release to 2017’s critically acclaimed “Quantum Gate” album. Classic studio productions and late-night real-time compositions became the blueprint for slowly evolving ambient structures. The band’s sequencer-drived sound in the tradition of the early ‘70s work was combined with lush 1980s crystalline bliss. Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane and Paul Frick composed and produced with full access to Edgar Froese’s Cubase arrangements and Otari Tape Archive with recordings from 1977-2013.

The first track, titled “Raum” is a bow towards the early live studio performances like “Zeit” and “Phaedra”. A heavy Moog bass marks the beginning and the end of this 15-minute piece, which slowly builds up towards a dry and hard sequence. The melody is accompanied by a chorus-like Roland Jupiter 8 part and an ambient rave Moog Minitaur sequence highlights the final peak, till the violin slowly transports the listener out.

On “Para Guy”, the violin alternates and complements with a prominent Yamaha DX7 pad combined with field recordings from the nearby forest and canal. “Continuum” with its repetitive sequence and broken beat shows glimpses of acid sounds and increasing choral atmospheres.

The B-side of this EP contains two remixes. Berlin-based composer and producer Grand River (Aimée Portioli) gave “Raum” her signature sound. “Continuum” was remixed by Berghain resident and Leisure System co-founder Sam Barker, who harnesses kick-less ambient techno since his praised 2019 debut album “Utility”.

For the first time in decades, Tangerine Dream’s tracks can not exactly be re-created for a live performance. An EP, which was not meant to be performed live, as a direct response to the many cancelled shows of the last months. “Probe 6-8” is the band’s precursor to their forthcoming full-length album in early 2022, the second studio album after the passing of the founder Edgar Froese.

All tracks composed and performed by Tangerine Dream

Thorsten Quaeschning (Synthesizer, Sequencer)
Hoshiko Yamane (Violine, Electric Viola/Violin)
Paul Frick (Synthesizer, Sequencer)
Edgar Froese (Synthesizer, Sequencer) – track 1, 2 & 4

Artwork by Bianca Froese-Acquaye Layout and Design by Melanie Reinisch