2022 was a seminal year for the current version of Tangerine Dream. They released a ‘new’ album, Raum, their second studio album since the death of founding member Edgar Froese in 2015. It was created with access to Froese’s Cubase arrangements and tape recordings, and it took them to the top of the dance charts. A return to Tangs in cathedrals would help to unite the current version of the band with the past still further.
Tangerine Dream first played Coventry Cathedral in 1975; controversially, because the whole notion of a ‘rock’ band gigging in a cathedral met with disapproval from some in the church. The previous year, they’d played Reims Cathedral in France, but Coventry had the added complication of the German bombing it suffered during the Second World War. Nevertheless, the gig went ahead and was a triumph.
No complete recording of the 1975 concert exists, at least not officially. There was a film by Tony Palmer, the soundtrack of which is included in the massive In Search of Hades box, but you need to be a dedicated Tangs collector to own that (or be happy to stream it).
That Tangerine Dream was the trio of Edgar Froese, Conrad Schnitzler, and Klaus Schulze. The original Tangs. 47 years later, the Tangs returned to Coventry, but this time the trio was the current incarnation of Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane and Paul Frick.
This is a 3CD/Blu-ray set, and so we have the full concert – moving from classics like Stratosfear, Cloudburst Flight, and Love on a Real Train recorded during their time signed to Virgin to their more recent Quantum material such as Raum and Continuum. Several pieces are performed with special guest Steve Rothery (Marillion), whose guitar work threads itself into the band’s electronic textures to create a fascinating new dimension. Rothery has subsequently recorded an album, yet to be released, with Thorsten Quaeschning which promises to add another layer to the development of this music. The wave of electronic music that came from Germany in the 1970s was labelled ‘Krautrock’ by John Peel. There are overlaps with the work of Kraftwerk and other German bands of the time, but, for me, Tangerine Dream have always stood alone with a unique sound.
Perhaps the nature of making music with synths and sequencers and computers means it’s possible to completely change the band’s members without there being a great impact on the sonic results. Does individual touch matter less when programming a synth and playing an electronic keyboard, compared with the individual feel needed to play a guitar, for example?
There will be differing views on that, but what matters is this version of Tangerine Dream not only serves the legacy well, but, with the willingness to incorporate new sounds, the band is sounding wonderful.
The first substantial track, Stratosfear, heads straight back to one of their successes for the Virgin label. This version is urgent and dynamic. This is unmistakably the Tangs, and yet here the track is played with a new and exciting energy.
It’s Time to Leave When Everyone Is Dancing, counterintuitively, does incorporate a dance rhythm, but we’re still on CD 1, so it’s not time to leave yet. Part of the success of their art has always been a willingness to blend deep and mysterious sounds (sinister at times too if we track right back to their early experiments and the classic breakthrough album, 1974’s Phaedra).
Tangerine Dream’s music feels hypnotic. As layer upon layer of synth sounds build, melodies and rhythms develop in a subtle way, almost by stealth. But develop they do. We’re never far from hearing a new element, so we’re always engaged, always avoiding a cold and calculating feel which some electronic music can tip into. Their music, more than ever on this album, is organic. Listen, for example, to the way You’re Always on Time grows and shrinks back to the sublime coda, piano tones mixing with the sequencers.
Then straight into Choronzon from Stratosfear, which sounds as if it could have been written as a theme to a television series. In fact, it did become the theme to a Hungarian politics programme. It has an upbeat melody and driving pace, but the layers and textures constantly add new interest.
Steve Rothery adds his electric guitar to Kiew Mission (from Exit) and Cloudburst Flight (Force Majeure), already two of their most accessible tracks. As usual with Rothery’s playing, he thoughtfully adds to the power of the music; he makes vital contributions without dominating the soundstage.
The third CD is devoted to six parts of the Coventry Cathedral 22 Session. This is an extended improvised piece, again adding Steve Rothery’s guitar. Pieces such as this demonstrate how successfully the ‘new’ Tangerine Dream are continuing the spirit and the technical ability of the original incarnation. The current trio (plus Rothery) are not a glorified tribute band, accurately but soullessly recreating the work of the originals. To be able to improvise and, on the fly, create new music that the original band, I’m sure, would be proud of is a real achievement.
At the conclusion they thank the audience for “keeping this Dream alive”. This live album is a terrific lasting record of a rejuvenated band with plenty more Dreams to offer.
TRACKLISTING
CD1: Coventry Cathedral 22
01. Introduction (1:50)
02. Stratosfear (10:27)
03. Betrayal Sorcerer Theme (5:06)
04. Continuum (7:08)
05. The Dream Is Always The Same (3:54)
06. Raum (7:24)
07. It Is Time To Leave When Everyone Is Dancing (6:26)
08. Love On A Real Train (8:57)
09. You’re Always On Time (7:35)
10. Choronzon (4:04)
CD2: Coventry Cathedral 22
01. Los Santos City Map (7:26)
02. Tangram Exerpt (5:34)
03. Portico (6:58)
04. Ricochet Piano Intro (1:45)
05. Ricochet (5:28)
06. White Eagle (6:12)
07. Phaedra (7:59)
08. Kiew Mission pt.01 (6:00)
09. Kiew Mission pt.02 (5:05)
10. Cloudburst Flight (11:29)
CD3:
01. Coventry Cathedral 22 Session pt. 01 (7:34)
02. Coventry Cathedral 22 Session pt. 02 (6:07)
03. Coventry Cathedral 22 Session pt. 03 (7:20)
04. Coventry Cathedral 22 Session pt. 04 (9:04)
05. Coventry Cathedral 22 Session pt. 05 (3:34)
06. Coventry Cathedral 22 Session pt. 06 (3:51)
07. Closing Words (2:19)
Total Time – 166:54
Blu-ray: Full Concert (as Disc 1-3) in Hi-Resolution Stereo & 5.1 Surround | Interviews with Thorsten Quaeschning, Paul Frick & Hoshiko Yamane
Deluxe 3CD/Blu-ray Boxset: As above plus 48-page Hardback Earbook – featuring photographs and liner notes by Chris Wheatley
MUSICIANS
Thorsten Quaeschning – Synthesizer, Sequencer, Piano, Musical Director
Paul Frick – Piano, Synthesizer
Hoshiko Yamane – Violin, Viola
~ With:
Steve Rothery – Electric & 12-String Guitars (CD2: 8-10 & CD3)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Kscope
Country of Origin: Germany
Date of Release: 27th June 2025
LINKS
Tangerine Dream – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | X | Instagram | Info at Burning Shed
