Raum

On their 2022 album Raum, Tangerine Dream develop the concept of it’s precursor EP (Probe 6-8) further. Composed and produced with full access to Edgar Froese’s Cubase arrangements (and Otari Tape Archive with recordings from 1977-2013), Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane and Paul Frick deliver late-night real time compositions combined with classic studio productions, sequencer-driven haunting soundscapes alternate with anthemic warm synthesizers. Composed in a time of social distancing and cancelled shows, the tracks cannot exactly be recreated (or will at least need significant re-instrumentation for a live performance). With the 17-minute ‘In 256 Zeichen’ they lay the fundament of this record. ‘Continuum’, with it’s repetitive sequence and broken beat shows glimpses of acid sounds and increasing choral atmospheres. ‘You Are Always On Time’ is built on PPG wavetable sounds and eerie field recordings. The title track ‘Raum’ makes a nod towards the early live studio performances like ‘Zeit’ and ‘Phaedra’ - the melody accompanied by a chorus-like Roland Jupiter 8 part. An ambient rave Moog Minitaur sequence highlights the final peak, until the violin slowly transports the listener out. A heavy Moog bass marks the beginning and the end of this 15-minute piece. Raum is the band’s second studio album after the passing of the founder Edgar Froese in 2015. With deep respect for the sound of the previous five decades, this record continues in the ever-evolving pathway of Tangerine Dream.