A schizophrenic, electro-prog hybrid, Tangerine Dream's Dream Mixes IV makes for an enigmatic addition to the band's massive catalog. Edgar Froese's near-40 years' worth of recordings have produced Terry Riley-esque minima... more »lism, twisted space pop, light trance, kraut rock...all with wildly varying degrees of success. DM4 is closely aligned with the feather-light 80s-era soundtrack music his band is perhaps best-known for, even opening with a voice sample from the not-so-classic 1985 thriller Gotcha. But Froese wanders freely, from the slight jungle undertones of "Messenger" to the progressive "Perplex Parts." This being a mix record, Froese borrows from the past for songs like "Floating Higher," which recycles a riff from 1983's Risky Business. So much gets thrown at the wall, some of it has to stick; unfortunately, songs like "World of the Day," which starts with a promising ambience only to degenerate into new age sludge, slide right off. The sound of a legend content to noodle and experiment, DM4 is an occasionally interesting, but often frustrating listen. --Matthew Cooke« less
A schizophrenic, electro-prog hybrid, Tangerine Dream's Dream Mixes IV makes for an enigmatic addition to the band's massive catalog. Edgar Froese's near-40 years' worth of recordings have produced Terry Riley-esque minimalism, twisted space pop, light trance, kraut rock...all with wildly varying degrees of success. DM4 is closely aligned with the feather-light 80s-era soundtrack music his band is perhaps best-known for, even opening with a voice sample from the not-so-classic 1985 thriller Gotcha. But Froese wanders freely, from the slight jungle undertones of "Messenger" to the progressive "Perplex Parts." This being a mix record, Froese borrows from the past for songs like "Floating Higher," which recycles a riff from 1983's Risky Business. So much gets thrown at the wall, some of it has to stick; unfortunately, songs like "World of the Day," which starts with a promising ambience only to degenerate into new age sludge, slide right off. The sound of a legend content to noodle and experiment, DM4 is an occasionally interesting, but often frustrating listen. --Matthew Cooke
CD Reviews
NOT IMPRESSED!!!!!
Sammy Fan | Minneapolis, MN | 10/07/2004
(1 out of 5 stars)
"First off let me make it known that I am a huge TD fan. I have over 20 of their albums.... mostly from the late 80's to the present, and including the Tangents box set. There might be one song out of my whole collection that I don't like (one of the songs off of Rockoon). I have all four of the Dream Mixes as well, and find this one by far the worst out of the four Dream Mixes as well as all the rest of my collection. In my oppinion Jerome as completely lost when this was written. The disc has no flow, rhyme, or reason to it.... it is music that goes absolutely no where. About a year ago I bought an album from ex TD member Johannes Schmoelling "White Out" that was highly recomended to me and the both of these albums remind me of each other.... PUTRID!!!! Since I bought this ablum I have only listened to it twice. The first time was just to get to know it. The second time was in effort to go back and see if there was something that maybe I was missing. I have tried to listen to it a third time but end up turning it off becuase I got so bored listening to it. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND YOUR TIME!!!! TD has a lot of great music but this one is horrible!"
Still one of the best at what they do!
J. Williamson | Raleigh, NC United States | 06/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This of course is the fourth in the Dream Mixes series of releases. I have to say, Jerome Froese just keeps getting beter and better at this melding of old and new TD sounds. With the exception of the recent Mota Atma, I have not been too impressed with the musicalness of TD's output over the past several years. The Dream Mixes, on the other hand, have always been a highlight for me. I've been a TD fan since I heard Legend back in 1986 and have well over 50 TD CDs. Some TD purists don't like the Mixes series, but I happen to think they are a fresh twist on some of the material. Jerome (Edgar's son) is the one mainly responsible for the Dream Mixes, and this fourth disc is right on target again. His song structure sense and melody have really matured over the years, and he just knows how to do this. On this fourth in the series, the use of old songs is more subtle than others in the series. Long-time TD fans will pickup the traces from even Stratosphere, Exit, and Risky Business (yep, there's a mix of "Love on a Real Train" on this disc!).This is a strong disc in the Dream Mixes series and is highly recommended. I've listened to it 4 times all the way through in the 2 days I've had it!"
Best Batch Yet
J. Rolfe | New York, New York USA | 03/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It always amazes me, the intense passion - for or against - that Tangerine Dream inspires. I suppose that is to be expected when a band is as enduring, eclectic and adventurous as TD. Anytime Edgar Froese sets course in a new direction, some part of his audience will be left cussin' in the dust. Then there are those newcomers who catch the band during a stylistic period that inspires apoplexy and are scared away. But there's something for everyone in the TD catalogue if you're willing to spend the time and open what's left of your mind. The Dream Mixes series is an appealing way to check in and catch up as Edgar and son Jerome re-explore, re-think, and re-arrange a catalogue of work that stretches back more than 30 years. DM4 is twenty-first century TD rife with elements of trippy 70s albums Ricochet and Force Majeure, and more structured 80s works Tangram and Exit as well as their lighter, more melodic 90s stylings. The fun, if you're a longtime listener like me (31 years), is in picking out the snippets of the old as they flow by in what is essentially one 70-minute piece with distinct passages that have their own titles and distinct feel. Of the four DM cds, I like this one best (it was my favorite album of 2004) as it has fewer peaks and valleys than the others (DM1 was especially uneven). After repeated listenings, it still engages and enthralls me with its variety, hooks and dynamics. It's quite gorgeous in spots, spacey in others - a well-executed showcase of what Tangerine Dream does best. In this case, putting a fresh spin old proceedings while creating a unique atmosphere in which to dwell for an hour."
ENTER THE INTERGALACTIC NIGHTCLUB...
Jim Reed | New York | 02/02/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Young DJs everywhere are pressing buttons and flipping dials and it all sounds the same after awhile so I think it should be mandatory that all electronic music addicts check Dream Mixes 4 an adventerous often psychadelic trip through sound. From the spacey reworking of a Risky Business tune in Floating Higher to the exuberant bursts of energy of Meta Morph Magic an awesome reworking of a Force Majeure tune Dream Mixes 4 is for the dance club of your mind.It's true that some songs are more intersting than others but on the whole it takes more chances and is more inventive than 90% of electronica artists out there."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1