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Tangerine Dream: Alpha Centauri

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Sanctuary Records
Released: 1971
Time:
 43:14
Category: Electronica
Producer(s): See Artists ...
Rating: ********.. (8/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.tangerinedream-music.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2009.04.03
Price in €: 7,99





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Sunrise in the Third System (Ch.Franke/E.Froese/S.Schroyder) - 4:21
[2] Fly and Collision of Comas Sola (Ch.Franke/E.Froese/S.Schroyder) - 13:23
[3] Alpha Centauri (Ch.Franke/E.Froese/S.Schroyder) - 22:04

Bonus Track:
[4] Ultima Thule Part 1. [Single] (Ch.Franke/E.Froese/S.Schroyder) - 3:22
 

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Edgar Froese - Organ, Bass, Guitar, Producer, Cover Art
Christopher Franke - VCS3 Synthesizer, Flute, Percussion, Piano Harp, Producer
Steve Schroyder - Organ, Voice, Producer

with:
Roland Paulyck - Synthesizer
Udo Dennebourg - Flute

Dieter Dierks - Engineer
Thomas Heimann-Trosien - Engineer
Becky Stewart - Reissue Design
Steve Hammonds - Project Co-ordinator
Anthony Amos - Project Co-ordinator
Monique Froese - Photography, Cover Art
Curtis Evans - Design
Paul Russel - Sleeve Notes

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1971 LP Ohr 556012
1971 LP Brain 2/1082
1971 LP EMI PD SQ 5096
1996 CD Castle ESM346
1996 CD Castle 1033
2000 CD Castle Music America 553
2004 LP Earmark 42031
2005 CD Castle Us 36139
2000 CD Castle 553
2002 CD Castle 566
2001 LP Sanctuary 34573461
2000 LP Castle 0000346

The second album by electronic innovators Tangerine Dream is often credited as the first to be called "space music". Heavily influenced by 1960s psychedelia on its debut album, ELECTRONIC MEDITATION (1970), Tangerine Dream quickly distinguished itself as an ensemble that took great pains to create interesting sounds by running everyday objects (such as a cash register) through a tape recorder. The progression to synthesizer music on this album marked a transition for the band, and this effort truly put them on the map. Composed of just three songs, ALPHA CENTAURI was recorded primarily with flute, electric guitar, organ, and synthesizer. The weeping and moaning guitar and organ in "Sunrise in the Third System"eventually lifts off, giving way to "Fly and Collision of Comas Sola", where a tweeting and twirling synthesizer soundslike electric raindrops hitting water. The drum solo in thesame song is unexpected, an improvised bit of jazz in an otherwise unearthly place. The final piece, "Alpha Centauri", describes a merging of the natural world with another dimension, as flute mingles with oozing electronics and eventuallyfades away.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Recorded at Dierks Studios, Cologne, Germany in January 1971. Originally released on Ohr. Includes liner notes by Julian Cope, excerpted from Cope's book "Krautrocksampler."



As if the sound is breaking through your speakers, Alpha Centauri begins its journey. Crackling and swirling synthesizers seize control of your stereo. Like a call to psychedelic arms, the first track "Sunrise in the Third System" marches on with its organ. The mixing of the three tracks found on Alpha Centauri leaves something to be desired, in that the tracks are not mixed the way they would be today with each track endlessly flowing into the next like a stream. Nonetheless, when one is not paying too close attention to such details, the album seems to flow quite smoothly. The sound is not of the highest standards either, as should be expected, this being a 1971 release of "space music." Tangerine Dream's style of "space music" had not yet been refined and revolutionized as it was a couple of releases later with Phaedra and Rubycon. Regardless, for those interested in a wilder and more reckless ride on the "space music" autobahn, Alpha Centauri should satisfy the need.

Michael Breece - All Music Guide



"...1971's ALPHA CENTAURI is classic krautrock..."

Q (12/02, pp.133-4) - 4 out of 5



"...[TANGERINE DREAM'S] brooding stillness, their extended compositions that imperceptibly shift emphasis, their concealment behind a wall of glowing synthesisers, have all contributed to modern music's obsession with anonymity, ambience and the romance of the keyboard..."

Mojo (Publisher) (6/96, p.112)

 L y r i c s


Instrumental!

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


Currently no Samples available!