Tangerine Dream - Ricochet [1975]

Country: Berlin.Germany
Style: Electronic, Ambient, Experimental
Format: Mp3
CBR: 44.1Khz, 320kbps.

"Part One," recorded in Autumn 1975 in France, opens up with a solemn march. Froese's fuzzed guitar introduces the main theme of the piece (a repeated melody of C-Bflat-Aflat-G-F-G), then the keyboards latch on to it, doubling the melody and adding harmonic variations. Of note, there are real drum sounds (presumably Chris Franke, given his earlier role in the band and the emphasis on toms) in addition to synthetic percussion. The march builds and builds, before being intruded upon by a sudden barrage of garbled sound samples. At about eight minutes into "Part One", the second half turns an urgent pace. Now the instantly recognizable, classic Tangerine Dream sound flows in: looping melodic patterns and rhythmic sequencing to weave a soft thread of hypnosis about the listener. The band explode with a bouquet of different sounds, the layering of which is astounding, if you really sit and listen to everything that's going on. Again, did just three people play all of what we hear at once live? Incredible, if so; they must have had state-of-the-art equipment. The main theme resurfaces soon enough to lend some thematic cohesion.

"Part Two" was recorded in Croyden, England (October 23, 1975) and contains a prelude with a delicate piano ringing out lonely notes with just the right amount of echo, before a flute mellotron wanders into the picture to provide companionship. Though brief, this is one of the most beautiful moments on the album, with higher notes twinkling in the distance somewhat recalling Frippertronics. Then, it's off to another wave or two of racing, mechanistic sequencing and kaleidoscopic patterns, sometimes louder and sometimes softer, more or less seeing us through the remainder of "Part Two."

Track listing :

1. Ricochet Part I (17:02)
2. Ricochet Part II (21:13)

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