Jacob's Tangerine Dream Blog

Jacob's Tangerine Dream Blog

Tangerine Dream: Live Portland, Oregon 4/77 + SORCERER review

reviews - concertsPosted by Jacob Pertou Sat, August 28, 2010 11:00:00


EUROCK, Vol. II No. I

London, Shepherd's Bush Empire 1997

reviews - concertsPosted by Jacob Pertou Sat, December 19, 2009 12:00:40


Tangerine Dream
London, Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Set One: Waterborne / Sorcerer/ Poland /Sundance Kid / Silver Scale /Warsaw In The Sun / Stratosphere / Dolphin Dance / Strethawk / Beach Theme

Set Two: Flashflood / 220 Volts / Firetongues / Two Bunch Palms / Little Blonde in the Park Of Attractions/ Rising Haul In Silence / Lamb With Radar Eyes / Touchwood / Culpa Levis / Encores: Mädchen On The Stairs / Thief Yang And The Tangram Seal / Towards The Evening Star/ Purple Haze



HUMANS OR dummies? It was the question Kraftwerk always posed. Their answer, an ironic one: that humans posing as dummies might have something more to say about life in the hi-tech, late 20th century than the unreliable human heart alone could reveal. Meanwhile, their '70s counterparts Tangerine Dream, unloved by the critics and locking the cross-promotional-appeal of Ralph Hutter's 'robots', were roundly accused of asking precisely the opposite question: could dummies posing as humans have something interesting to say, too?

If that sounds harsh, it's probably static off a mouse's bock by now to Edgar Froese, the 53-year-old Tangs founder. Only once in their remarkable 30-year career hove the bond ever been remotely fashionable - in 1973, when John Peel made their fourth album, , his Record of the year - and the suggestion that they might become so again would no doubt leave Froese feeling even more contemptuous of critics he has always dismissed as "unqualified" to discuss his work.

You can see his point. Featuring two sets stretched over three hours - the latter a seamless, ghostly waltz through most of the current live album, Tournado, presaged by what might be described as on extended medley of some of their obscurantist back catalogue (surely you remember Dolphin Dance?) - Tangerine Dream live, more than 20 years and as many albums on from their only UK hit, Phaedra, is not an event likely to appeal to anybody unfamiliar with their work.

Unlike the mouldy pot-pourri of techno-heads and hippy-trailsters one might expect to find at a Tangs performance in 1997, the majority of the Empire audience were eerily attentive Dream-buffs of a surprisingly more familiar ilk: mums and dads. Only the ripples of gravely nodding heads and thoughtful applause which greeted the end of each piece proof that they were, contrary to their universally doleful expressions, actually enjoying themselves. Musically, Tangerine Dream rarely waver from the some cosy electronica slipstream they've operated in for decades: for from the foreboding music-of-the-future Froese claims, and more the soundtrack to a Gothically romantic post that never really existed, except in the minds of whiskery minstrels. Lush, pulsing, unintrusive.

Visually, with the band - currently comprising Froese and his son, Jerome, on keyboards. Zlatko Perica on guitar and Emil Hachfield on electronic percussion - as static as a line of washing stretched across the stage, it was left to the surrealist back-projections to provide the show: brains that looked like planets; psychedelically-tinged fish. The wow-factor, it has to be said, was disappointingly meagre. But then that hardly mattered as, true to their creed, a lot of the audiences preferred to keep their eyes closed throughout much of the evening.
Not dozing, you understand. Merely dreaming…of something. . .else.

Mick Wall

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Rocking Out The Bats Impressions

reviews - concertsPosted by Jacob Pertou Thu, September 03, 2009 19:05:37
The T-shirt for the event, purchased the day before in Northeim.


Fanmeet at the Brauhaus In Spandau

Chris G. and Jörg J. having a conversation. It was nice as always to have a chat with you. Sadly, there was not as much time, than I'd liked to. It didn't help that I had to leave the fanmeet for 20 minutes, as I had forgotten my ticket back at the hotel! Chris, can we meet for a PPM show in Berlin sometime, and talk some more?

Peter P., my uncle, my aunt, and Andrea & Herbert. To be joined by family members, also with a high interest in Tangerine Dream, was something special. I've always went alone to the concerts, but this time it was quite different. Never felt alone at any moment. And together with Peter P. we were four Danish people at the fan meet, which was very nice. Herbert had come with his lovely daughter Andrea, who should drive him safely home after the show.

Doug, Marilyn, Ståle (posing for the camera), Peter de B., Jörg etc. At this table sat a handful of routined concertgoers. Doug and Marilyn is a very and friendly couple from UK; Ståle from Norway is known to crack a smile ever so often (this photo is no exception): Jörg from Germany, who is a TD-collector with a great knowledge about the band, and last but not least, Peter de B. from the Netherlands, who arranged this excellent fan meet. The location, plus the fact that we could listen to TD, was just perfect! Thanks many times.

Gary and Gerald. It was three years since I last Gerald, who now resides in Berlin. Nice seeing you again, and that your good mood is intact!

Myself, Peter de B., Jörg J., Allan M., Peter P., Stein-Erik and Gerald. This one is in fact one of David G.'s photos. I hope you don't mind me using it, as it was possibly the only photo I posed for. Shortly after this photo, I leave with Gerald, Peter P. and Stein-Erik for the Zitadelle.


Before the concert.

On the way to the Zitadelle Spandau, there's a bit of advertising on some wall.


The queue of people wanting to buy tickets. A sold-out show was in sight!


The queue of ticketholders. We had to go through a strict security check, that did not allow cameras. However, the guy who visited me, did only pad on my t-shirt, and not on the jacket, where I had my camera in the inner pocket. So I got the camera in, but the sight of the many security people didn't excactly made me feel like digging it out. So I thought I'd just relax and watch the performance with no camera. As last nights photos weren't very good, I thought it couldn't be a great loss.
Sadly, my aunt got her's confiscated. "Too professional" was the argument. She was very upset, but over-all enjoyed the show. She my uncle left soon after, in order to get back her camera, though.


My concert ticket. My aunt and uncle, who sat just behind me, had a spare one, as my cousin was otherwisely engaged on the night (a crying shame, really), and ended up selling it to a ticket tout. Fortunately, the unsympthetic tout sold it to a more sympathetic person, who fortunately was interested in the music.


9 or 19 air balloons flying in the indian summer sky. To be hit in the head by such large ballons, certainly defrosted any pseudo-snobbish attitudes one could adapt during the time you were placed on seats in very classy surroundings, after having spent a lot of Euro's for the entry. It loosened up on eventual pre-concert nerves, and the audience got more connected with each other. Amazing psychological effect, that ignited the inner child in many of us. There wasn't a major difference between the audience and the young girl who stood in front, bouncing back the balloons on the audience!


We are family.



Stein-Erik, Chris Newman, Graham C. and Cathy Newman about to find their seats.



Rocking Out Them Bats!

Thorsten seeking eye contact with Edgar during Kiev Mission (Remake 2009). In Northeim they entered the stage, Edgar pressed a button on his keyboard, and the drum intro started. In Berlin, the suspense was kept with style, as they sat behind a curtain, which was dropped at a strategically good time. All signs revealed that this going to be a much better experience!


Berlin press taking photos. Still I'm not aware of many reviews, let alone any positive.


With a camera like mine, it's impossible to catch Iris during a still moment!


And the band played on...


...and on.


Bernhard taking his calm position, before he plays flawless violin on Astrophel And Stella, replacing Chris Hausl's lead vocal with a folky fiddle. A highlight of the night!


There's no real pardon, they're playing that Sally's Garden.



I finally realised that it didn't help using zoom during the shows. Probably my best concert photo!


When it was time for a mean solo, Bernhard made sure he had eye-contact with the entire audience, and folded his arms over his Ibanez guitar, before he bursted into a technically perfect guitar solo, and lifted the track to another level.
When evaluating the event with my aunt, the day after the show, she said there wasn't even enough of that guitar. That surprised me, in a very good way. We can't get enough of that guitar, Bernhard!


After Trauma, TD leaves the stage for a well-earned break. I can't underline it enough, everything was just so much better in Berlin! We missed Colin sorely, I missed my cousin as well, and the security prevented many people in documenting the event better than myself, but overall, it was a superior experience.
Eastgate had arranged the event perfectly with the weather responsibles, the crew (not the security) at the Zitadelle, and last but not least, Tangerine Dream for constantly seeking new venues to perform your music in. A seated Zitadelle was the ideal location for the music.


Four encores. This one is The Blue Bridge, which was followed by Cloudburst Flight. Atlas Eyes and Dolphin Dance were new. After Cloudburst Flight, I thought it was impossible to continue, but they did. And with pure class. TD never ceases to impress me, and I'm glad to have experience the setlist's tracks in its proper right.


Conclusion? A fricking awesome show, with no distractions whatsoever. It was fantastic, that no-one came to hear a substandard rock band, or to dance or to get pissed. All came with the same purpose, to be entertained by the one and only Tangerine Dream.


Meet and greet

I had the chance to say hello, but I was hesitant, and I got one nice photo of the maestro, instead! Most of the time I kept a low profile, but being recognized by Bianca and Thorsten totally made my day!


The lovely Linda!


Bernhard writing autographs.


Picture Palace Musicians: Don Wuttke, Thorsten Spiller and Stoppel.


Two days in the name of Tangerine Dream were bound to end, very soon. But like all other good relations, it was something that was inevitable.
Thanks, in particular goes to Ed, Mac and Stef - three Glaswegians with an inexhaustible humouristic sense, I could enjoy all the way back to my hotel after the show. First round's on me in London!

It's Monday, and it's time to evaluate the concert with my aunt and uncle over a dinner at the Hauptbahnhof, before they return to Denmark.

Rocking Silver Sky Impressions

reviews - concertsPosted by Jacob Pertou Thu, September 03, 2009 00:03:28
My 11th and 12th concerts with Tangerine Dream, were the first I went to with a camera. Previously my concert reviews had been extremely long to compensate for the lacking images to accompany my thoughts, but this time, and because I have very little time for summer holidays this year, I won't spend the next few days with writing. Hopefully, the pictures will help me minimize the writing ordeal.

I found this flyer at my hotel in Northeim

Still on Danish soil, checking if my camera works. It seems so, but most of the concert shots I took were too lousy to share. As the Northeim gig weren't attended by many people, I'll post a few of them anyways.


After five hours on trains, with a change in Hamburg, I got to Northeim. I got a little lost in my first attempt to find the hotel, so I returned to the train station to take a photo of the central town map, and ultimately ended up on the hotel.


While on my way to the hotel, I saw many of these posters. Maybe the organizers would need to evaluate the design, because it seems very few people took notice of the event.

The concert ticket.


After checking in, I quickly returned to the train station for a taxi, to take me to the Waldbühne. Arriving at four o'clock was much too late to hear as much as I wanted from the first band Noetics. They were really good, and played extremely tight. The 5-10 minutes I heard was much, much better than Nektar and Wishbone Ash, who went on stage as the following acts. The only photo I took, was them leaving the stage.

So I go to the merchandise stand, which is nicely devoid of sweaty-aggressive he-men trying to force their way across the crowd. In fact, a very smiling fan finds the time and place to read with a magnifying glass on the back of the newly released double dvd. At first I buy "Winter In Hiroshima", the "London Eye", "A Cage In Search Of A Bird" cupdisc, the "Rocking Out The Bats" T-shirt and two cd's from Picture Palace Music: "Natatorium" and "Curriculum Vitae 1". When Ten Years After plays rapid-fire rock'n'roll, I buy "Mars Mission Counter".


First person to meet and shake hands with was Errol K. from Amsterdam. I can't recall any concert of the 12 I've been to, that he hasn't. He tells me, he has seen Chris, and from the top of the amphitheatre he points at some silvery locks, and I see Chris Newman "almost" immediately! We talk about collecting, and it seems my own collection is pretty tiny compared to his museum-like apartment. Well, he's good company as ever. I take the steps down to say hello to Chris, who instantly hugs me, and introduces me to Stein-Erik, who I am joining for next day's ride to Berlin. It's the first time I meet this fine Bergen Dreamer, but he quickly offers me a beer. Next round is on me in London!
I also meet Cathy, Chris' wife, who he is on honeymoon with. I, myself, must find a girl to join me on the roadmap to TD music, one day!


Nektar follows shortly after Noetics, but despite their thumbs-up on this band, I think they suck. Sometimes labelled a krautrockband, because of their move to Germany, however, it's music for the culturally illiterate blues fan.

Nektar in nightmare.


That plasma screen looks familiar!


Some early evening drizzle. Notice how few people we were.


Andreas from Germany. An all-round good man, and 100% geniune TD fan! Good talks we had!


Unfortunately all my snapshots of Wishbone Ash turned out crappy, but so did most of their tracks, so we could nearly break even!

You should be dancing. Yeah.


Errol and Ståle drinking beer. Mmmm...beer!


Two sober Norwegians (Ståle and Stein-Erik).

Gary. Nice meeting you and Colin. For a few minutes, I seriously thought you ended up in Cologne, when Chris showed us Colin's text message.


Ten Years After f***ing rocked! Looking forward to seeing them again on Friday in Sønderborg. Talented, and energetic young leadguitarist. You don't miss Alvin Lee.

Ten Years After merchandise.

Joe (Krismopompas) and Ståle (Mars/Tangerman) hanging out with Ten Years After. Thanks many times to Joe who drove me back to my hotel in Northeim, after the show. It was really appreciated, mein Freund!

Crew, busy clearing the stage for the mighty Tangerine Dream.


Bernhard fixes a few loose cables with some gaffertape. Unlike the Berlin show, there was no curtain, so you could follow Thorsten, but mostly Bernhard preparing for the show. There was almost no light on stage, so this is one is the only useful photo. Notice the halo over Saint Bernhard's head!


It was very dark on stage, during Kiev Mission (Remake 2009).

Edgar on board in his machine park, fully concentrated, with Linda on chords in the background. Kiev Mission (Remake 2009) was the perfect concert opener, and a complete remake, with Thorsten on his magnificent synths doing the solos. The live version was an improvement on the cupdisc version, which sounds tame in comparison.

I had taken place upfront, so I could have eye-contact with the band, and hopefully take a few photos. The sound is much too quiet, but very clear. I can hear small-talk from several angles. A lot of people has gotten drunk by this time of the evening, and many feels the urge to dance around. It might sound like your idea of a great festival, but to me there was too many distracting factors, minimizing my enjoyment of the show. The absolute downer was when a man noticed an empty space of maximum 20 centimers, between me and the guy who stood right to me. Then he suddenly forces his way upfront, by physically removing me from my place. No remorse or no regret. (If you read this, which I hope you do, you were a fucking idiot!). He clearly had no clue about the band, and was only there to take pictures.

So after some 45 minutes, I'm forced to be in the second row. I've learned from my job, that conflicts must be chosen with care, and he would probably have punched me, if I reminded him of his inexcusable behaviour. Whatever, I decided it shouldn't ruin it for me completely. But then someone said something to me, in an uncharming drunken manner, so I've had much too much of standing upfront. I was also tired from standing up, so I walked backwards into the very small, but noisy crowd.

Linda performing Sally's Garden.


Yes, there were many distractions which were more noticable by the fact that TD simply didn't play loud enough. Nothing wrong with their performance, mood, light show, and definitely not their varied set list, but it's a few of these previously mentioned nuissances, makes me rank this event quite low compared to most of the other TD concerts I've attended.

Leviathan can always put me in a good mood again, but it wasn't until One Night In Space, that I dared to move upfront again. This time in the right side, not interested in standing where I was pushed away in the first place.
The last few tracks made me realize, I hadn't come in vain, but I was more relieved by the fact that there was another show the following day, which could only be better.

The only photo I took where you can actually see Thorsten. A very gifted musician, who's certainly an asset to Tangerine Dream.


The setlist with comments

Kiev Mission (Remake 2009)

Beyond The Cottage And The Lake - A major improvement of the original melody from the "Legend" LP. Surprised to hear this one live.

No Man's Land 2008 - Cheerful as ever, but can it remain that in further concerts?

Lady Monk - The intro is nice, but the track loses its plot soon after. Not a very good track over all.

Transition - A quirky track with much variation, perfected by Iris' switch between congas and V-drums. Sadly it was much ruined by the previously mentioned idiot.

Astrophel And Stella - Good track with Bernhard stealing the show, and making the track better than ever, with his violin playing.

Leviathan - Hallelujah!

Sally's Garden - We've heard it before, it's a nice track and one of the quieter moments in the TD concerts. Some people took advantage of that, during the show. It was at the time, I had enough of standing upfront.

Serpent Magique - A show-filler, on the night.

Ayumi's Loom - The twang Bernhard Beibl added to this track was wonderful and improved it significantly.

Sphinx Lightning 2008 Part 2 - Not my favourite piece from "Hyperborea 2008". Didn't like the show much at that point.

Midwinter Night - Sitting at the back of arena. Didn't pay much attention. Think I bought a beer.

Hunter Shot By A Yellow Rabbit - A strong performance, even 50 metres away from the stage. I'm beginning to listen again.

(Memotron Bridge) - Played by Thorsten.

Logos Part 1 (Excerpt) - Nice.

Fire On The Mountain - Actually, it's Iris, who's on fire!

One Night In Space - A track I'm never tired of. Back upfront again, this time in the right side. Seems I'm recogniozed by Thorsten. Powerful performance.

(Extended Bridge)

Trauma - With more powerchords than ever. Someone talks to me, I'm too polite and replies.

The Blue Bridge (encore) - Edgar is on guitar and despite the cold weather, his fingers aren't cold. Linda joins in on saxophone.

Cloudburst Flight (encore) - From the history of music's best LP. Ends a mixed experience with bravour.

TD leaves the stage. Edgar had signalled before the encores that it was a cold night, which it was, so I left for my hotel soon after the show. Thanks to Joe, for driving me.

This concert and the Loreley show were good concerts in their own rights, but the atmosphere surrounding the music wasn't quite right. Too many unenthusiastic elements was disturbing. Now I know that, before I buy a ticket for another out-door festival featuring Tangerine Dream.

Thanks goes to the friendly, well-known TD fans for doing their best in order to salute the world's best live band. You know who you are!


Rocking Out The Bats Impressions up next!

Berlin Kulturkaufhaus SMS review

reviews - concertsPosted by Jacob Pertou Sun, May 31, 2009 10:46:57


I received a few text messages from Chris G., who attended yesterday's performance at Berlin's Kulturkaufhaus. Here's the tracklist:

Trauma
Serpent Magique
Terra Coda
No Man's Land 2008
Sally's Garden
Hyperborea 2008
Sphinx Lightning 2008 Part1
Carmel Calif
Leviathan
La Liberation


"Gig was quite nice, partly too loud. Sorry I didn't take pics nor video, but TD filmed it with five cams. Crowd mixed up 7 to 74 years, appr. 400 people. FULL merch with all backup CDs, highlights were a spectacularly extended Hyper Sphinx and Leviathan. Cheers!"

Thanks for the report and tracklist, Chris!

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