Search - Tangerine Dream :: Transsiberia

An o.k. later-era work

09/02/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Although I think Tangerine Dream are producing trite space-pop music now and have lost their influence on the music scene since the mid-'80s, I pursue all their releases up to this day. I think "Transsiberia" is a bit better than all the other countless and uninspired late-'90s releases, which overstock the record market. On this album, TD incorporated some really funky techno rhythms, which make tracks like "Siberian Lights" a pleasure to listen. Unfortunately there are also some boring tracks without rhythm backing. But all in all, this is TD's most enjoyable late-'90s album. It's worth a listen, even for old fans who only like their early stuff."

1000 miles of train journey

01/20/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Transsiberia" was recorded in 1998, although some of the compositions that found their way to the CD, were recycled from output accumulated in previous years, resting in the humongeous archive of Edgar Froese. The film never saw the light of day, which is a pity, since it seems to be an interesting traveling journal of Trans-Siberian Railway. The original TDI sleeve front cover is beautiful, as if the window froma small Russian cerkiev was photographed and augmented upon, and then put into a nice graphic. Unfortunately, the tracklist is hidden inside the sleeve, and the potential buyer doesn't have an opportunity to see what is inside, how the tracks are, etc.At least they printed the year of the recording, which lacked from many other TDI releases."Transsiberia" is very interesting, I dare say the only recording of the Froeses in the decade, which is mostly good from the beginning to the end, and each track brings something new. Another album that has this property is "Oasis" of 1995. My favorite is the opening track, 'Yaroslav Station', which is very much in tune with the overall idea of providing the soundtrack music to the movie about the tran journey. it definitely cuts the mustard, for I immediately feel as if I were looking out the window of a speeding train, looking at the sparkling outlines of iron wheels and the snake of the rails in motion. 'Smoky Karlow' is dead boring, but at least some autio plonks rescue it from complete forgetfulness. Fear not! the third track, 'Siberian Nights', is another speeding train song, which features audio samples known from Edgar Froese 1983 solo album "Pinnacles". That's a very touching train journey into the past. I am certainly grateful. What you shouldn't miss here is the fact that the modern rhythmic music of Jerome Froese seems perfectly fit for the soundtrack to the movie about trains, and the surrounding sound lamps of the past are a perfect complement. 'Jenissei River' is a super-cheesy tune which pierces our ears, much like the following studio album of the band, "The Seven Letters from Tibet". It was also featured on "The Hollywood Years" soundtrack compilation of 1997, and in a slightly changed form on "Quinoa", a bizarre basket of boring curiosa.Why this track? "Transsiberia" might have been so much better. Fortunately, the fifth track, 'Balkai Sunrise' is the best on the whole album. Needless to say, it's another speeding train, a lightning of the train. If ever electronic music came close to emulating the impression one has when inside the train - this is the track that does the job. Have you ever been startled by puffing and huffing of the train, or by a gong? You will be equally startled here. It's also another journey into the past of "Pinnacles". The second half of the album is not as good, but will do. 'Samowar Juri' features a bland synthesizer tune from "Goblins Club". Why? Don't ask me. Ulan Ude is about the sixty seventh reheating of the track known from 1988's "Miracle Mile". if you hear it for the first time, you will definitely like it. I will pass on this one, since I heard it in sixty six other versions before. 'Chingan Night' is definitely better. The train stopped, and you can admire the enormity of the Siberian spacious landscape in the middle of nowhere. 'Russian Soul' borrows heavily from "Canyon Dreams" for the background sample, but the foreground tune is so cheesy that I seriously doubt that it can reflect any soul, Russian or not. The album ends with 'The Golden Horn', almost a direct copy of one of the tracks from "Optical Race". Still, it fits right at home, ans as the transsiberian train slowly descends into the Amur valley and then slowly rolls onto the platform in Vladivostok, you are glad that you took the journey."

A Good Listen

David B. Thompson | Carson City, Nevada USA | 01/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I started listening to Tangerine Dream a few years ago. I was looking for something different than the standard rock and pop, and the acoustic music, I was accustomed to. I'd heard of Tangerine Dream from one of their soundtracks (I don't remember which), but decided to start collecting a few of their recordings. (Allmusic.com is an excellent resource for research if you haven't used it.)



As with many of my reviews, my approach to TD is from one who has not followed the group's career. I could be considered a casual listener. Please interpret my comments in that light.



I find this recording, like many of those in my electronica collection, to be excellent to listen to when I am doing something else. The music doesn't draw my attention away from other things. I also find TD music very good to put on when I'm trying to go to sleep, as the deep rhythms and flowing synthesizer lines calm my thoughts. I often listen to TD on my iPod as I drift off to sleep, or put them on early in the morning when my tangled thoughts wake me.



This recording fills that role excellently. I listen to it when I'm working and when I'm resting. I enjoy the images evoked by the music--big landscapes and open skies. While not particularly Eastern in nature, I can see why the producers chose this music for the soundtrack of a documentary of the traverse of Russian terrain. It would work equally well in a number of similar contexts.



If you're looking for music to calm your thoughts or provide an alternative background while doing something else, this recording will work for you. It's also just good music. It's not my favorite music, but it is played fairly often and that's a good testimony to its quality."