Search - Tangerine Dream, Edgar Froese, Johannes Schmölling :: Firestarter: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Inspirational sounds for a creative mind

Kristian O'Brien | Australia ( Launceston, Tasmania) | 07/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my first TD album to start the collection and still remains as the favourite. For the people who haven't viewed the film I can assure you that the music carries out the atmospheres and emotions released in the film brilliantly. Even though I had seen the film before purchasing the album, I was actually more interested in the sound score behind the film at the time. I love the mysterious ambience of the synth combined with the slow melodic rock. Each composition has a distinctive mood but they all flow together to create an electronic masterpiece. The soundtrack to me doesn't seem to be restricted to the movie as such although it fits the context of the film perfectly it also seems to stimulate personal emotions and you could easily paint your own picture from the powerful sounds created. This album is always never far from the CD player."

The Best TD Soundtrack...

Neil Thompson | Birkenhead, Wirral United Kingdom | 08/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The problem with TD's soundtrack albums is that they tend to have too many "filler" tracks; probably necessary for the score of a film, but they tend to get in the way of the stronger themes. (See "Wavelength" and "Near Dark" for examples). On "Firestarter" we have a gem of an album, however. This was one of the first TD albums I bought and at the time I hadn't seen the film, (I'd read the book, but that's inconsequential), but I often think that viewing a film prejudicies the listener when listening to the soundtrack alone. With "Firestarter" I was glad I was ignorant.This could easily stand up as a "proper" TD album release. The early 80s was a time when some believe TD were at the height of their creative power, and this album slots in beautifully next to "White Eagle", "Hyperborea" and even the mighty "Poland"."Crystal Voice" is a very moving opener, full of sweping pads and a yearning melody, then "The Run" quickens the pace with a staccatto chord sequence in the background and some oscillating drums to offset the rhythm."Charly The Kid" has to be one of the standout tracks here. Similar in pace and theme to the opener it seems to exude emotion with it's wonderfully timbred synth voicings. "Escaping Point" is more ominous and is vaguely reminiscent of work done on "The Sorcerer" soundtrack. "Rainbirds Move" is in the style of "Hyperborea" ("No Man's Land") with it's eastern flavour."Burning Force" is fairly intense; it reminds me of the last part of "Horizon" on "Poland". From there the pace is dropped to the curious sounds of "Between Realities" before Froese wields his guitar once again for "Shop Territory", but we'll forgive him this time as he doesn't go too over the top!"Flash Final" begins with some vocoder treatments; a surprisingly underused piece of equipment in the TD arsenal; I can only think of "Cyclone" where it's been used before. The album closes with "Out Of The Heat"; a piece that alternates between epic and earie; lightweight sequencing and acoustic guitar over heavy orchestral chord samples.If anyone was put off by this being a soundtrack, they shouldn't be. Fans of Schmoelling, Froese, Franke era TD will find that this is something of an overlooked classic."

Hot Fire Stuff

Neil Thompson | 01/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I saw Firestarter I recognised on the credits and opening titles that the music score was by a certain Tangerine Dream. I never heard of them before until I watched the movie and instantly became absorbed from the music. Throughout the film the music acts as an atmospheric contributor that captures the mood and character of the film. Despite never hearing TD before I realised this soundtrack was cleverly done and distinctly thought about before TD recorded the music. I have a lot of film soundtracks and was more than happy to add this to my collection, an absolute great piece of work."