Phaedra

This was cool… the cover on the anniversary edition that I listened to on Apple Music was less cool…

Thought this was super cool. Definitely want to dig into some more TD.

absolutely love THIS

I mean it's not bad but it also feels like a 80's techno DJ rehersal session and it does not contain any real exiting moments

It’s like meditation music

Don’t like one bit

83% Best: Phaedra Must-Hear? Sure

This a scifi horror movie soundtrack tf? not bad tho just will never listen to it ever

exceptional

I've never heard of Tangerine Dream before but this was a cool ambient album. I listened to it while walking around in an airport and felt like i was in a movie.After digging into them a bit, I've learned that they were very influential and are still very prolific. I have to check out some more of their work.

Somewhere between ambient and exploratory

Loved it. And the songs that followed on Spotify.

I was hopeful but it just didn’t quite do it for me. 2

Listened to it on YouTube because Spotify only had two of the four songs. It was okay. Ambient, electronic, strange. One of the songs reminded me of music from SMT. When you start getting sick of a sound that’s repeated, it ends up changing. Constantly changing.

I'm no expert on ambient music, but I know I dig this a decent amount. 3.5/5

Sounds like being in some artsy space in Berlin!

Another one that doesn’t belong on this list

Spacey and ground-breaking. But a slog to get through it all. Good for background listening though.

I only got to listen to the last 2 songs but I’m glad I didn’t hear the rest, I don’t care for instrumentals.

Not much of a fan of this style of music but it’s not offensive. 2.5

Appreciate the importance but didn't do it for me.

Very good album.....

Intense; establishes a mood right away

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. I love it! Spacey, surreal, alien, and experimental instrumentals. Sci-fi/Horror movie soundtrack kinda vibe. Spent most of my life passing on this thinking it was adult contemporary yoga-mom stuff.

Excellent background music for working, otherwise a little boring.

One of the records that I am glad is on here as I never would have come across it. Won’t become a regular in my rotation but glad I heard it.

Incredible. Exciting, important, cosmic, futuristic… Highly recommended.

ALIENS😩

Pasting default message that despite keeping an open mind my county tends to vote down the more pure electronica albums.

It's like krautrock but solely played by synths. This could be boring but the songwriting is excellent and it's quite the trip

All the ladies go crazy when I tell them I got this on vinyl.

Music for synth lovers by synth masters. Count me in.

To really understand the impact of this album and this group is a mix of you-had-to-be-there and you-have-to-listen-to-a-ton-of-electronica (and a few other things). It helps a lot that the album is akin to a cloud gently letting sunbeams through.

When I think of Tangerine Dream I think of Tom Cruise. That is because they did some of the music for Risky Business. Listening to this I only imagine it playing during a movie……in the background. It’s cool music but not something I would seek out or jam to. I like Vangelis better than this, but I appreciate the ground they broke.

Perfectly fine background music and is perfect for the Brighton ambient scene. Not something I can easily vibe off

Overall found this boring. Really not my kind of thing. Occassionally I thought 'oh something interesting happened then' but that was rare.

80s Sci-fi video game music

5/5

Super slow ambient. Ok background music/sound, but I could never put this on for listening - too boring.

Spent more time being irritated by this than enjoying it. It’s probably groundbreaking for its genre but I just don’t see this as routinely listenable?!

Chill cool and interesting

Is this why Germans like Hasslehoff so much? Because their music sounds like the Night Rider theme? This album is good I guess if you listen to it as an demo showcasing that you can do scores.

Just didn’t care for it at all unfortunately

Compelling New Age weirdness. Noises across the spectrum. Lovely changes in dynamics and mood. Elegant.

Super trippy and i could see enjoying this album in the right circumstance.

Bored me to tears

This is rad. Pretty dark and very atmospheric.

i thought this was a great soundscape. I was expecting something much more brutal and was pleasantly surprised.

Is it music or background noise?

Sounds like the soundtrack to some B-rated movie

Is it music? I don't know? Do I like it? I don't know? Where am I anyway?

Blegh.

Yes... I mean... No... Though I can agree with the viewpoints of many; stating this is the birth of EDM, that for the period when this was conceived it was groundbreaking, or that the group has created such a massive catalogue of music that it is impossible to overlook them. And yet, after listening... nay, after subjecting myself to this modern version of water-torture, I can but say that I am not a fan. 2** stars, as I'd rather listen to this for the rest of my life than several of the abject crap that I have labelled 1*

something like explosions in the sky, but not something I would actively return to.

It's like listening to that one whale sound section of "Echoes" by Pink Floyd for 30 minutes. Some fantastic soundscapes. Must listen with headphones.

Although I am not a fan of electronic music, I rather enjoyed this. It felt like background music, something to kinda have on and let it sweep around you. I did think the songs ended a bit abruptly, there's no finality to them. But when you have it on in the background, that's probably wise to not have a song that has a BIG FINISH to it. Top tracks: "Phaedra," "Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares"

It's a cool space prog rock kind of album. I can totally see why Steven Wilson has done remixes of it. The title track is so creepy and captivating - it feels like it belongs in Blade Runner or any great sci-fi pic. The second song (Mysterious Semblance...) was more uplifting. It felt like I was looking wide-eyed out the window of a rocket passing through the galaxy. Movements of a Visionary got a little too experimental? The opening 2 minutes felt a bit choppy but it got better from there. Sequent C' feels more like a Braveheart thing than a spacey thing. Still cool. Not usually my scene but something about this album just resonated with me.

I can appreciate that they were pioneers (and influenced Steven Wilson, one of my favorite artists), but it's honestly pure background music that doesn't go anywhere.

Rather like Pink Floyd fill in bits. The Rothko of modern music, so maybe great as a backdrop for a modernist art exhibition. Annoying after a while when it penetrates the consciousness.

1-2

Nothing special, maybe I need to relisten

So fucking boring I almost died

Interstitial style, apparently from the origin. “I could make that” stuff that you really couldn’t.

This is music for inner and outer space travel. It gives me early pink floyd vibes and vangelis' Blade Runner soundtrack.... This was such an innovation at the time...and hits me as an anticipation of electronically driven evolutions of classical music. It's so easy to make these sounds on today's computers, we forget how technically experimental and innovative this music is. Our ears have become accustomed to sounds these days that are more layered and technically complicated that this, but there's a simplicity here that pulls me into a tron-like journey. The soundtrack to cyberspace....with headphones, these tones move through the inside of my skull and define an almost infinite arena of tonal play....

I can see why this album is considered important and I was surprised by the release date as it does sound ahead of its time. However, as I listened I found it slipping into the background often. The title track was my favourite - you could almost draw a direct line from it to 80s synth pop. I think I need time to let this album grow on me but for now I will not be revisiting- although I can imagine other dimensions being unlocked in the barn while under the influence…

I like new age. Obviously in this case especially, it is a spin-off or part derived from electonic/ techno/ synthwave, or in some ways pioneers those genres. It doesn't matter because this band is most certainly a pioneering band and what came first is mute. Now, with that said I find that while yes, I know they are originals and important, thier music is more of a good effort than timeless. Perhaps it is the specific genre itself and "how" one takes in new age: it is purely emotional, and there is some unbelievably good new age out there that effects the heart strongly. I felt that while this was perfectly enjoyable it is mildly mood setting it never really made me stop and consider my entire human existence.

Beep boop keyboard smashy... Pass

Nice ambient

Never a time nor place for this. I suppose if you needed a movie score. On fact, I'd like to see a separate artist write and produce a full album music vid.

I personally believe that I could have died without listening to this one

This sounded like some video game music. Some of it was cool, but it was very long and got a bit boring.

I wouldn’t really call this music. It’s more like sounds, and I can see it being used in movies, or as a space or robotic type background noise, but it’s not music. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none

Really nice album. Nice atmospheric sound.

It was really unnerving to listen to at some points, definitely anxiety inducing. It reminded me of a soundtrack to a horror film. It was electronic, but sounded classical as well. At points it reminded me of Holst's planets, like you were be sent off to space.

Atmospheric, moody, and at times hectic. It's good electronic music that could easily be incorporated into a 70's sci-fi movie. It's good if you're into it....me, not so much.

ambient music - I didn't have time to listen to all, just 2 tracks - long, dreamy, spacey instrumental tracks

I'm into this. I can imagine "Phaedra" gently crescendoing right after death- the soundscape between this world and the next. These five tracks, selected by a committee, to gently adjust you to your new reality. Soothing, ethereal, and slightly energizing. A tangerine eternal dream.

Similar to some other albums on this list - the influence is undeniable. Twenty years on this album would still be feel relevant. Unfortunately it does it's job a bit too well. What they did has been absorbed by so many artist and and influenced a variety of genres and done much better. Or at least more effectively. The title track is an obvious standout.

Decent ambient/atmospheric background music. Kinda museum exhibit core

I think spotify is missing a track or 2. but that’s okay - i saw what i needed. when im ready to go to space ill ping bezos and ask him to put me on a blue origin rocket. then ill ensure this album plays on repeat. until then ill never listen to this trash garbanzo music again

“One of the most influential electronic albums ever!!!” My dude this is just 1 note with some rain, wind, and ocean sound effects over it for like 45 minutes

Interesting and I know it's super influential, but too ambient for me to stand out and really catch me.

The start of German electronic music and one of the best albums to come out of the genre. This would go on to inspire Kraftwerk and more in that era and even more in the future. This is just a beautiful album.

This is the fifth album from a German electronic music group, released in 1974. I generally am not super into electronic music (probably an understatement), and I'm not exactly sure what to make of this, but I didn't hate it. It's not really something I would actively choose to listen to, but it's interesting. It really sounds more like the soundtrack to some sort of space movie or something, not something I'd generally listen to as a standalone piece. It's almost eerie sounding at times, a bit unsettling. It's sequencer-driven, but it's pretty layered, fairly bass-heavy. I don't know, normally I feel like I hate this kind of thing, and I certainly don't love it, but it's ok. Not bad, decent listen. Favorite song: Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares Other: Phaedra 7/29/24

i will eat you alive i will eat you alive i will eat you alive i will eat you alive enjoyable, quite so

Meh

Nice

Durante minha escuta ao álbum entrei num profundo estado de concentração e de meditação, tive vontade de não fazer mais nada a não ser olhar para nada enquanto espero os 17 minutos e 39 segundos da primeira música passar. Também senti calma e ansiedade em diferentes momentos do álbum, mas nunca fiquei entediado ou irritado. É uma experiência sonora. Talvez não seja o artista que mais vou ouvir, mas definitivamente toda vez que ouvir será uma experiência marcante no dia.

This was definitely a Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares.

I couldn't finish this. Clever arrangements but wouldn't come back to it

Okay I liked it!!

This was an AMAZING experience. At first I was having trouble with it, and then it just clicked. Absolutely fantastic. 5 stars.

Cool

70s ASMR? I suppose it might be nice background music for working. In all honesty I didn’t get through the entire album, only got to the track “Movements of a Visionary” I guess I’m not seeing the vision.

OK - this is what I'd been hoping for with these albums. Something that I'd never heard before, knew nothing about AND (crucially) really want to hear again. I can't even begin to judge this on one listen. So I'll give it 4 stars (because I did enjoy it) and I'll just say it was intriguing enough to give several more listens - like a live Dead show or a good Miles Davis album.

Not a huge fan, but I can see that it was a very forward thinking and groundbreaking release in 1974

Ambient mellotron music? I’m a fan!

I'll probably sound extremely ignorant saying this—especially to the fans of electronic music—but 'Phaedra' sounds like the kind of stuff they'd play at a spa to quickly put you to sleep. Sure, it may be significant to the genre, but I don't get why I'd listen to this unless I'd want to completely float away and disengage (this is the kind of music you play and forget it's on). Either that or put it on if you're having trouble falling asleep—I bet it works wonders. 1.5 stars (+0,5 stars 'cause it's not unpleasant, just extremely boring, sleepy, and repetitive)

This might be groundbreaking. I just got bored.

Not today, and probably not tomorrow either.

If a crash-course in music of the 1970’s should teach us anything fifty years later, it’s that the Germans knew how to trailblaze. Between Tangerine Dream, Neu!, Can, Cluster and Kraftwerk, the level of innovation coming from one country in the 1970’s is astounding in retrospect. What’s more, none of these bands seem to have dated in the slightest: they’re still heavyweights to any alternative music fan, treated with an undying reverence as many of their peers fade quietly into embarrassment. I first saw the cover of “Phaedra” on a CD case, tucked away in one of my drama teacher’s filing cabinets. Between him and my art teacher espousing the greatness of Can, I had plenty of good influence coming my way as a teenager. Yet ten years on, I’m only just giving this album the time it deserves. Listened to alone, devoid of context, “Phaedra” may not feel particularly groundbreaking: sure, the atmospherics are good, but mostly it’s just some fun noodles with sequencers and synths. But I have to respect it as something born out of 1974, when electronics would have been mostly restricted to the Radiophonic Workshop and Doctor Who. The four tracks on offer here- in particular, the title track- are more impressive than they are emotional, powerful mostly in the sense of their historical significance. I may not be listening again in a hurry, but I can’t deny it’s a thrill to hear these early tech wizards at work.

It's not my favourite Tangerine Dream album, but it's still great hearing the origins of electronic music. I haven't heard this album in a long time, but it struck me how much I could hear from other artists who ran with these humble beginnings. Not quite enough for 5 stars, but a strong 4 star album.

music tech II definitely lets me appreciate this album more than i would have but it’s amazing. absolute behemoth of a first song and never bad all the way through

I should listen to more German Electronic

Truly an innovative band. Love that old-school synth sound, they create some gorgeous landscapes on here, just takes you away and before you know it the whole thing is already over. Ambient stuff like this isn't everyone's thing for sure, but when you can start to enjoy music like this, it hits a spot nothing else does.

Rein instrumental. Düster, wabernd. Je nach Stimmung interessant bis abschreckend. 3/5

spacial, tribal and a church organ synth swimming beside them both. Great album to put on when you’re feeling introspective or just trying to think. This took me on a journey.

Torture. Took actual effort to tolerate this. And wasn’t worth it in the slightest.

Early ambulient electronica. Dreamy soundscapes like a space sci fi movie score. I wouldn't give this the time of day if it was made more recently, but respect has to be given to the context of 'trail blazing' being a massive understatement for this in 1974. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares Date listened: 03/07/24

Landmark early electronica.

dark and ethereal ambient instrumental music. it would be interesting if incorporated into a movie score, but by itself, it’s pretty boring, honestly.

electronic, 1974 -> 2

Impressively epic electronic/ambient album. Considering this was made in the 70s, on analog equipment, it’s amazing how fresh and futuristic it still sounds. If you close your eyes you can imagine yourself on a distant barren planet, but it also soundtracked a beautifully gloomy post rain morning walk. One to pack for the flight playlist going forward.

What in the ET phones home is this? Supposedly this is some ground breaking electronic music but to me it just seems like something guys came up with stoned out of their mind taking about aliens. Aliens! This was kind of calming and good for background noise but still lame.3.0/10

The link to this album goes to an older version that no longer has all the songs, but a deluxe version exists on spoitify. This is an interesting album to start my day because it makes me feel like I'm still dreaming, interesting spacey ambient sound-scapes, I feel like I'm in the movie Logan's Run. Looked at the band's spoitify and low and behold I had some liked songs by them and had no idea, the songs are from the GTA 5 soundtrack.

boy i don't really know how to feel about this one. it was out of my comfort zone. it is really beautiful, haunting. it is out of my comfort zone. it is also a lot of electronic noise. it is out of my comfort zone. i found it very relaxing. it is out of my comfort zone. it's not music i would ever seek out. it is out of my comfort zone. i really liked it? it was out of my comfort zone. but i liked it?

nope

I can see how it was likely very innovative and influential at the time, but it has not aged well. Much prefer ambient music from Brian Eno instead.

2/3

An album can be groundbreaking and still be rubbish. I get how electronica needed influences like this, I can also agree that it is a movement that lacks musical merit.

Música electrónica ambiental. Ni fu ni fa.

Música electrónica ambiental. Por lo visto alguna canción sale en Stranger Things.

Super elettronico, un filo troppo concettuale

Great meditating music

I was unfamiliar with Tangerine Dream but I saw they were electronic and thought that it may be a good album for a morning run. It wasn’t the best album for a run but there was enough that intrigued me to give it another listen and I’m glad I did. The title track especially is a peak ambient, minimalist song and the rest of the album was a shimmering trip. Definitely got Mike Oldfield vibes with this one but instead of the spooky vibes, I got spacey vibes. 4 stars

Fine background music, but kinda boring.

Spherische Klänge aus den 70ern

Ambient electronic music. The title track felt like a mix of Mass Effect and Pink Floyd’s “Echoes”, and I really liked it. The others didn’t grab me as much. Good background/vibe music.

Hard listen this. Not my cup of tea.

Weird Obscure German techno - gave me a headache within the first 5 minutes....

Could only listen to tracks 3 & 4 on spotify, but was ok just didn't blow me away or anything.

סינגלים

Exploring the sonic boundaries of electronica while always staying listenable. Essential. Yes, I said "sonic boundaries."

**In-Depth Review of "Phaedra" by Tangerine Dream** "Phaedra" is the fifth studio album by the German electronic music group Tangerine Dream, released on February 20, 1974. Widely regarded as a seminal work in the electronic music genre, "Phaedra" marked a significant evolution in the band's sound and the broader landscape of electronic music. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence, concluding with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics "Phaedra" is an instrumental album, and thus, it does not feature traditional lyrics. The absence of lyrics places a greater emphasis on the music to convey emotion and narrative, relying on sonic textures and dynamics to evoke imagery and feelings. This approach allows listeners to interpret the music subjectively, making the experience deeply personal and varied. ### Music The music of "Phaedra" is characterized by its innovative use of synthesizers, sequencers, and Mellotron. It consists of four tracks: "Phaedra," "Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares," "Movements of a Visionary," and "Sequent C'." 1. **Phaedra (17:39)**: - The title track is a masterpiece of ambient and electronic music. It begins with a sequence of pulsating synthesizer patterns created by the Moog synthesizer. These sequences were not entirely controllable, leading to a somewhat random but mesmerizing quality. Layers of Mellotron strings and eerie soundscapes build upon this foundation, creating a sense of vastness and cosmic exploration. The track evolves slowly, maintaining an air of mystery and tension throughout. 2. **Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares (10:45)**: - This track features Edgar Froese's iconic use of the Mellotron. The lush, symphonic sounds of the Mellotron create a dreamlike atmosphere, reminiscent of drifting through a surreal, otherworldly landscape. The piece is more structured than the title track, with a clear melodic progression that conveys both beauty and melancholy. 3. **Movements of a Visionary (7:55)**: - This track showcases the band's use of sequencers to create complex, interlocking patterns. The rhythmic sequences are accompanied by swirling synths and electronic effects, producing a dynamic and immersive soundscape. The track has a more rhythmic and driving feel compared to the rest of the album, highlighting the band's ability to blend ambient textures with rhythmic elements. 4. **Sequent C' (2:17)**: - The closing track is a short, haunting piece dominated by Peter Baumann's flute-like sounds produced on the Mellotron. It serves as a gentle, reflective coda to the album, offering a brief moment of introspection after the expansive sonic journeys of the preceding tracks. ### Production The production of "Phaedra" was groundbreaking for its time. Recorded at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, England, the album was produced by Tangerine Dream themselves, with Simon Heyworth as the engineer. The use of analog synthesizers, particularly the Moog, was a significant aspect of the album's sound. The Moog's sequencer allowed for the creation of complex, evolving patterns that were both hypnotic and unpredictable. The Mellotron, an early tape-based sampling instrument, added rich, orchestral textures that contrasted with the synthetic sounds of the Moog. The production process involved extensive experimentation, with the band often embracing the accidental and the random as integral parts of the creative process. This approach resulted in a sound that was both organic and futuristic, with a depth and complexity that rewarded repeated listening. ### Themes While "Phaedra" does not have explicit lyrics to outline its themes, the music itself evokes a range of concepts and emotions: 1. **Cosmic Exploration**: - The album's expansive soundscapes and electronic textures suggest a journey through outer space or uncharted realms. The music often feels like a soundtrack to a science fiction narrative, with each track representing a different chapter or scene. 2. **Mystery and the Unknown**: - The title "Phaedra" references Greek mythology, alluding to themes of passion, tragedy, and the subconscious. The music mirrors these themes through its haunting melodies and atmospheric effects, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue. 3. **Nature and the Sublime**: - Tracks like "Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares" evoke natural landscapes transformed into surreal, otherworldly visions. The use of the Mellotron to create lush, symphonic textures enhances this sense of the sublime, blurring the lines between reality and dream. ### Influence "Phaedra" has had a profound influence on the development of electronic music and beyond. Its impact can be seen in several areas: 1. **Electronic Music**: - The album was a pioneering work in the use of sequencers and synthesizers, influencing countless artists in the electronic music genre. Bands like Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, and later electronic acts such as The Orb and Orbital have cited Tangerine Dream as a key influence. 2. **Ambient Music**: - "Phaedra" helped to define the ambient music genre, with its focus on creating immersive, atmospheric soundscapes. Artists like Brian Eno, who would later become a leading figure in ambient music, were inspired by Tangerine Dream's approach to sound design and composition. 3. **Film Scores**: - Tangerine Dream's work on "Phaedra" laid the groundwork for their later success in film scoring. The band's ability to create evocative, cinematic music led to collaborations with filmmakers and contributions to numerous film soundtracks, including "Sorcerer," "Thief," and "Risky Business." ### Pros and Cons **Pros**: 1. **Innovative Sound Design**: - "Phaedra" was groundbreaking in its use of synthesizers and sequencers, creating a unique and influential sound that was ahead of its time. 2. **Atmospheric and Immersive**: - The album's ability to create rich, immersive soundscapes allows listeners to experience a range of emotions and imagery, making it a captivating listening experience. 3. **Timeless Quality**: - Despite being released in 1974, the album's innovative production techniques and timeless sound have ensured its continued relevance and influence in contemporary music. 4. **Pioneering Ambient Music**: - "Phaedra" played a crucial role in the development of ambient music, influencing a wide range of artists and genres. **Cons**: 1. **Accessibility**: - The album's experimental nature and lack of traditional song structures or lyrics may make it less accessible to some listeners, particularly those unfamiliar with electronic or ambient music. 2. **Pacing**: - The slow, evolving nature of the music may require patience and repeated listening to fully appreciate, which could be a drawback for those seeking more immediate gratification. 3. **Randomness in Sequencing**: - The semi-random nature of the Moog sequences can sometimes lead to moments that feel less controlled or cohesive, which might be off-putting to some listeners. 4. **Homogeneity**: - While the album's cohesive sound is a strength, it can also be seen as a weakness, as the lack of distinct variation between tracks might make the album feel monotonous to some. ### Conclusion "Phaedra" by Tangerine Dream stands as a landmark album in the history of electronic music. Its innovative use of synthesizers, sequencers, and Mellotron created a new sonic landscape that has influenced countless artists and genres. The album's atmospheric and immersive qualities offer a deeply engaging listening experience, though its experimental nature and lack of traditional structures may present challenges for some listeners. Despite these potential drawbacks, "Phaedra" remains a timeless and influential work that continues to captivate and inspire nearly five decades after its release.

Maybe music to fall asleep to? Boring.

Это первый чистый эмбиент-альбом в списке для меня, кажется. Был какой-то неоклассик пис, который можно было бы описать как эмбиент, но, эмм, нет. Я бы ожидал Ино далее, но эмбиент андеррепресентед определенно! (и можно было бы вырезать альбомы Адель и кучу устаревших альбом групп, которые уже имеют десяток альбомов, в пользу, скажем, Stars of the Lid или William Basinski). Вероятно это первый альбом Tangerine Dream, который я послушал. И это серьезная музыка для 74-ого года. Лучшая песня - Movements of a Visionary.

Excellent cosmic space music. Not something I would listen to all the time as it requires a certain mood.

Unusual and captivating

I can understand how this would’ve been a very interesting album back in the 1970s. It doesn’t personally do much for me, but it’s not bad.

I don’t get it

I didn't care for it

Yea this is what I am here for. weird, trippy soundscapes. I'm in.

Haunting in a scary way

I really dig this... 4/5

Nuts, incredible work

fine

boring as hell, nothing happened, doesn’t belong on the generator

Thought this was really good, very dreamy. It did stretch it out over the course of a day though. Would have been hard to do in a oner

Felt like I was in a spaceship for a while. Enjoyed it!

Clean W for team continental. Twenty years later a bunch of brits who grew up with this kind of music would start making a lot of drum & bass techno albums, then 30 years after that, I would get very bored by most of those while listening for this project. For some reason, the French and the Germans are just extremely good at making this kind of thing.

Science center ambiance sounds. 1/10

Not awful, just wholly unnecessary.

great music for a doctor’s office that hates it’s patients!

Pretty chilled out ambient music. It's pretty good and I will definitly listen to this again. Going to be great as background music for other activities.

A cool listening experience and the most strange album so far in this list

Meh

I've tried Tangerine Dream before but it does nothing for me. Just boring droning noises.

Hated every minute of this

Väldigt före sin tid. Det lät iallafall som typ 90-tal. Det hände dock inte så mycket och visst kan den vara bra om man ska typ sova eller så men annars är det nog inte så kul och lyssna på. Jag blev ju då chokad för jag hade glömt att det var 70-tal så för det så får den pluspoäng.

Of its time

This sounded like horror movie ambience. Not much to say. 1.5

This was a lot more ambient than I expected for 70’s electronic music.

Often times a bit too abstract and minimal for me, as if it's simply noises without creating any sort of atmosphere or soundscape, but at other points it does this quite well and makes for a very nice listen. Not my favorite ambient record I've ever heard but certainly decent and probably very influential since it's such an early release in the genre. 6/10

My opinion hasn't changed in all this time. Still boring, self-indulgent, synth noise.

Recognize the influence and innovation, but just not my kind of thing for casual listening.

My life became a loading screen that was stuck for around 40 minutes.

Pointless, pointless sythy, windy, oceany whispers -- the kind of music that would make heaven hell.

Tangerine is great and has put out a ton of excellent music over the years. This album is arguably their best and it's just a mood and vibe to get in to. Enjoyed revisiting it for sure.

For the early 70's this electronic music was doing something alright, not really my vibe though

When Pink Floyd stopped writing 20-minute soundscapes, Tangerine Dream must have started. Title track gives good psych-era Pink Floyd vibes.

Don't like that much. It's better Vangelis or Jean Michel Jarre.

Thanks, I hate it

Not my thing, but I’ll grade on a curve since this sound had to be pretty new in 1974

Phaedra is the fifth album by German electronic music group Tangerine Dream. It marked the beginning of their international success as the first album selling well enough for gold records and the album in which they began relying on their sequencer sound. This electronic, ambient album helped influenced Krautrock which began developing in Germany around the same time. Tangerine Dream made an important album of artistic, electronic sequencer music and it's their best known album. I loved this album and its collection of epics - songs which encompass a wide range of movements and feelings. This was a great album of progressive electronic music that I would recommend to most listeners.

If you love dark soundscapes, this album will be for you. If, like me, you prefer to not question your sanity repeatedly over the span of 2+ hours, give this album a pass. I won't argue that it's not quite brilliant. This was academic synth soundscape heading into mainstream. And it's incredibly well done. But it's (to me) just not enjoyable.

Not my kind of music, but I actually enjoyed the melodies for some songs.

Was aware of band but thought they were a jazz/new age category. So the electronic music surprised me and not a good one.

Electronica's baby steps, so to speak. Froese, Franke, and Baumann created a unique experience for this time, the early '70s. No wonder this was their commercial breakthrough.

First song has a lot of annoying ASMR. Might be better on headphones? Ok. I did not realize that this was just two songs in ten minutes. I was really enjoying song three, only to find it was an entirely different band.

"Phaedra" by Tangerine Dream is a pioneering electronic music album that helped shape the genre. Released in 1974, it features a mesmerizing blend of ambient textures, hypnotic rhythms, and innovative soundscapes. While "Phaedra" is undoubtedly influential, its repetitive nature and lack of dynamic variation may not appeal to all listeners. The album's long, meandering tracks can feel directionless at times, making it a challenging listen for those seeking more conventional song structures. Despite its shortcomings, "Phaedra" remains a significant album in the history of electronic music, showcasing Tangerine Dream's innovative approach to sound. It receives a 2 out of 5 rating for its historical importance and experimental nature, but its limited accessibility may limit its appeal to a broader audience.

It was ok. Kinda sounded like a demo of synthesizer sounds

April 18th, 2024 HL: “Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares”, title track, “Sequent C” A challenging listen does not mean bad. In this case, ‘challenging’ means ‘too repetitive for a close listen, too spooky to be in the background’. Yet I’ve now listened to Phaedra twice, and I have their followup Rubycon queued up, so I think I love this. If you wish the “weird part” in a Pink Floyd album (Atom Heart Mother, Meddle, DSOTM) was its own fully-realized album, then you might too Upon finishing Rubycon, there are very similar vibes but I actually preferred Phaedra’s more sinister overtones. Rubycon was a chiller experience though (or am I just getting more used to Tangerine Dream?)

I mean, I like the 80s. And I like movies from the 80s. But that doesnt mean I want to hear an album of music from 80s movies. Why in the world would anyone say to anyone else, "oh man youve got to hear this album" about THIS album? Like, not the worst thing Ive heard on this list, but still highly questionable. 2/5

Lovely experimental electronic music

Experimental and flowing but not super memorable

A repetitive swirling adventure that sometimes drifts to something darker. The title track certainly tells a strong story.

I don’t think this was produced by humans. It’s well produced but how far can you go with space and laser sound effects really. Favorite: Least favorite: all of them 2.8/5

Pure Electronica - not for me.

Just not my thing. Pretty forgettable

Eh, the only times this album struck me was when it was very discordant and anxiety-inducing. Probably won't listen to this one again.

Awful, and not all songs available on Spotify

efectivamente ambiental y etéreo, interesante experiencia

Just starting with the lengthy opening track, I feel like I was warped into the soundtrack of an 80s sci-fi/horror flick. I swear I was hearing tracks like this in Stranger Things or something. Very mystifying and ominous music, but not something I think I would come back to.

Hated it

I thought I was finally going to get another good electronic album. But no. This wasn’t offensively awful like some others I’ve heard, but it was just so boring to listen to. Very atmospheric, which is nice I guess, but it’s too much. And not enough at the same time. No electronic album I’ve heard here has yet surpassed Cross. I wonder if any ever will. 5/10 Top 1: 1. Phaedra

I really don't know what to think of this album. It would be very easy for it to be the most pretentious wank-fest of a muso album, but it honestly doesn't feel like it - it feels like they couldn't give a shit if anyone listened to how fucking clever they are being, they are just super happy to have done it. I don't think I'll ever seek the album out as one to actively listen to, but I can absolutely see myself just passively zoning out in the woods with this on headphones.

Shrooms.

I liked this album more than I thought I would. For some reason I associated this band with other German outfits like Can and Kraftwerk. As someone who likes some ambient, moody electronica for working, it surprised me by being more in this vein. I was struck at times by the feeling of being enveloped by the sound. Not for every situation, but good stuff.

I mean, it was kinda cool. I still think most of this type of electronic instrumental music just sounds like a PS2 selection screen for a sports game. The first one did feel like flying through space rather than floating. Kinda neat

Ok - but there are better stuff from Tangerine Dream

This was ok overall, not something I would actively seek out, but decent enough as background noise.

Orange snooze.

great build-up but where was the drop

Interesting kind of ethereal/outer space/time travel music. Maybe there's something there? Maybe a different album?

Crazy that these tunes were made back in the 70s!

Only two songs on Spotify so didn’t hear much but liked what I heard

Nice for a chill Sunday around the house. Decent variety between tracks considering the genre.

This one is interesting. Didnt listen to the whole thing, but seems entirely instrumental, no vocals, almost the early innings of electronic music. Certain parts made me think of Tool and some of their elongated, instrument-only sections. I appreciate what this is, especially given the release year, but overall not interested in hearing more.

Ufff

Day80 - sounds like the background music at a wellness store

Admittedly couldn't finish this one. Didn't even finish the first song. I can't sit and patiently listen to ambient noise.

14 songs, 2 hrs and 35 minutes. Synth.

Found the original version of this album on "In Search of Hades: The Virgin Recordings 1973-79, including the detuning on the title track that made me interested when I read about it. I might have been a little more dismissive based on its very simple sound had I not read about how difficult it was to even make music like this in the 70s. Well done!

Really interesting and unique. It feels like watching a movie that doesn't actually exist. Very cool usage of the Electronic medium.

Each song took me on a journey. It’s amazing when a song can make you stressed out, but the title track did it. Favorite songs were Phaedra and Movements of a Visionary

Origin of electronic music

Suddenly have the urge to buy some crystals and incense. Then pop a video cassette of Risky Business into the Betamax.

Great music to nothing and everything too. Chill and explorative. I’ll probably check out more from them

Good music to listen to on the tube

Made me sleepy Good to study to

A haiku: Whoo-hoo, the Germans! Laid the land for this music I’m … a little bored

Ollut kyllä tosi edelläkäyvää musiikkia jos tämä on oikeasti julkaistu 1974. Siistiä ambienttia. Nimensä mukaisesti aika tausta musiikkia että ei silleensä mitään erikoista. Futuristista.

Wowsers, this was a blast. Can't imagine how hard this would have been to make with such cutting edge technology. I played this every day I for a week working out how to rate it. There isn't a 'killer track' on there but it but there is so much to explore. I'll keep it on rotation.

Did I just listen to something? I guess I did. Tangerine Dream's "Phaedra" doesn't really feel like an album to me. It feels more like 40 minutes of ambience. But hey, it's some damn good ambience. The production of this thing is immaculate. The sound makes for some decent background noise at times. I feel like I would enjoy this album a lot more if I just laid in bed and zoned out for 40 minutes. Perhaps then I would "get it". For now, I guess the best thing I can say about this album is "it has a purpose that it succeeds at." It kind of makes me feel like I'm in space. Fortunately, that's more so in the "drifting away in nothing" way and not the "lack of oxygen boiling my blood" way. It doesn't do much for me, but perhaps it will at another point in my life. I'll give this thing the benefit of the doubt. Light 3/5.

Weird, but I like it. It's like a musical story.

Whoever put this list together's intent is for me to commit suicide

Relaxing electronica. Understand the historical significance, but I'm not a big fan of 10 minute electronica. 3/5.

Nearly 18 minute title/opening track, and the enhanced edition of the album is nearly 3 hours. While that track was busy ruminating I was surprised to see it's 50 years old with that kind of spacey sound. Then I heard almost a Pac-Man like noise and realized they had some electronics back then too. I can't imagine the amount of people that probably freaked out during a trip while listening to this as it does build up some anxiety. The rest of the album kind of has this same feel so it wouldn't work as a background noise album to fall asleep to. I checked on the mythology of Phaedra to see if that gave any clues to why it has this feel, and that's more of a Jerry Springer story than anything else. At any rate, my favorite thing about it he album was that it came out 50+ years ago, so I'll give it an extra star for that. No real favorite track as they all are super long and similar. 2/5

I just found some great work music. Very relaxing.

Actually pretty good for when you're working or exploring an alien spaceship. 3.5

I try to listen in relationship to when albums originally came out sometimes. When this came out in 1975 synthesizers were relatively new to rock music. So maybe this was groundbreaking then, but now it just sounds uninspiring or original. Maybe it just hasn’t aged well.

It is nice background music for other tasks, akin how you'd use lofi. Pretty unique

Listened to it—good ambient music. More melodic than a lot of the early electronic music I heard back in the 70s. Interesting suggestion—surprised it made it on this list, but hey, it’s supposed to broaden our musical exposure, and this one certainly did.

Its not that I cant die without listening to it. Its that I almost died listening to this crap.

This album wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t good either. They produced a variety of interesting ambient sounds mixed together well, but they didn’t take the mixes anywhere. I was bored after about five minutes. This would probably work well as the sound track for an astronomy documentary. I don’t see myself ever seeking this out to listen again…not unless I’m smoking a joint and looking at the stars.

Surprisingly enjoyable. Much more so than more modern electronic music I've heard.

tangerine dream's phaedra is something very different! we've heard other electronic, ambient, or space-like albums before, but nothing quite like this. the music wasn't in-your-face loud but it envelopes you completely. it alternates between a bit of a thriller or calm stretches. truly a fascinating listen. as a side note, listening to this album on a walk outside was quite the adventure! the music came off as so surreal that it almost felt like i was in a virtual reality with this as my soundtrack.

I can understand and see why this album was so influential for electronic music. I can imagine this album and albums like this were a huge influence for works like Daft Punk's Tron Legacy soundtrack. But again, this particular album is a prototypal sound that is relevant to music history, but isn't all that enjoyable to actually listen to.

Relaxing beats

I think my head would explode if I heard this back when it came out

I actually really like this. There were only 2 tracks on Spotify though. Not sure I would listen to a bunch of their stuff though. Can totally see why they are popular on soundtracks though

You wait months for an experminental German album to come along, then boom 3 in four days. This one was a bit of a bore-fest, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Background noise. Literally. How do you score that?

Ambient. Spacey. Not bad.

Couldn’t make it all the way through. Darn it. Maybe another day

I don't get it

Pioneering music

I remember the name Tangerine Dream, I think a friend's brother had one of their albums (back in the mid 70's). But I don't know that I've ever listened to them. Wikipedia notes the album features Tangerine Dream's "now classic sequencer-driven sound", and this site tags this as electronica which is one of my worst rated genres (123 reviews in). This is very ambient, background-y, kind of random. Instrumental, and mostly keyboard / synthesizers. No drums. Shades of early Pink Floyd meets Kraftwerk. None of that is necessarily bad. But after the 17 minute title track, I'm still waiting for this to do SOMETHING. It's pleasant enough, but doesn't really have any discernable melodies, and seems to sort of meander around between motifs. Another quote on Wikipedia calls it "Layer upon layer of futuristic sounds piled one on top of the other until the whole thing climaxes in some interstellar void". That actually is a good summary. Except 50 years later, it is not so futuristic. Definitely background music, might seem really "deep" if you're stoned. But I'm not. This is rated 2.7/5 on the site, I think that's probably good. Since I can't give it 2.7, I'll have to round. I'll go 3/5 because it's at least a bit different, not like the generic 90's Brit-Pop that comes up too often. That's being really generous, but 2 just seems overly harsh. Side note: only 2 of 4 tracks are on Spotify, representing just over 25% of the album's playing time. I listened via Youtube, where I was able to pull up the entire album.

Has an uncertain feeling that holds up well 50 years later.

2.5

I had trouble believing this album was as old as it is. Seems the lineup has changed a lot over the years, but they have been really prolific. I'll listen to this group more for sure.

Very nice, spacey ambient album from the early 1970s, it must've been revolutionary at that time. I enjoyed it quite a lot and I'd like to listen to other albums by this band.

First listen Saved 0/4

Wel aardig

I feel like I really need to be in the right headspace to listen to this one. I know of Tangerine Dream work that I actually don’t mind, but this didn’t hit for me. Also not sure if we listened to the right album, as the one that came up was only the 2 tracks, but I definitely like the eery elements of these tracks.

I hate Trance music I hate anjunabeats. i CANT STAND THIS EVEN IF IT IS ELECTRONIC COULD NOT FINISH AND DID NOT CARE

They all sound the same.

Esoteric incense-smelling beepy boopy short 2 track album that would send you to a different dimension while stoned. Doesn't necessarily feel like a mere random jumble of sounds and instruments, but it certainly isn't conventional. A peculiar piece to add to my musical collection, which might come in handy in the time of future need.

Ein Kanon aus Klangexperimenten mit Hubschrauber, Wassertropfen, Flöten und verschiedenen Facetten der Elektronik. Dieses Trance-Projekt der Band aus Deutschland zeigt interessante Ansätze. Leider verlangen die über 2 Std dem Hörer sehr viel Geduld und Ruhe ab - wenn diese fehlt wirken die z.T. Sehr langen Tracks eher langatmig als inspirierend ohne konkreten Zusammenhalt. Gibt man dem Werk aber die Ruhe und Zeit sich darauf einzulassen erlebt man eine faszinierende Klangreise durch Raum und Zeit in einer anderen Welt, die zu einer Wiederholung einlädt.🎶😊

Ein Hoch auf die Anfänge der Synthesizermusik. Tiefenentspannung pur.... einschläfern

Not for me.

Muy tranquilo. No es mi hit.

I do not wanna listen to this album, so here’s me just getting the review out of the way. DNF/5.

Absolutely terrible, had to lower the speaker volume to avoid embarrassment, how do I even explain listening to these random noises... It's not even background noise, it's worse.

Giving this a 2 only because it came out in 1974, so historical relevance and all that.

Nice spacey sounding electronic album. I wasn't excited when the first song was 17 minutes, but was surprised by how much I liked this.

Shit

Not my style.

Die beiden ersten Tracks kommen in meine "Soundtrack" Liste. Wie hier schon einige bemerkt haben, ist es gute Begleitmusik für's Arbeiten. Das verlinkte Album hat nur die beiden letzten Tracks freigeschaltet aber die Deluxe Version hat alle Songs.

Pretentious piffle

* When I saw the album was only four songs, I was pretty surprised and very relieved as well not having a whole lot of songs to rank. Then I saw how much time it would take to finish the album and how long the songs were... had a wtf moment. Still should be a good bit easier not having a dozen songs to figure out their placement amongst each other. * Only about 2 minutes into the first track but it's a very sci-fi-esque number. Quite ear piercing at times to say the least. * I'll give it this, it's a very atmospheric album. * I didn't hate it... the fact an instrumental only album isn't a one star is miraculous. Leaning towards two stars but part of me wants to place it in the three star category because it was decently calming background music. But I don't think it's something I'd intentionally look for were it not my daily album. Hmm... -- Album Rankings -- 1. Movements of a Visionary 2. Sequent C 3. Phaedra 4. Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares

Yea, this is not for me. I can appreciate it for what it accomplished and inspired in others, but it just wasn’t an enjoyable listen for me. I think a lot of the sounds and sequencing were nice, but I desired more musical movement. I didn’t really receive any closure, and it seemed to be devoid of any dynamics that required closure in the first place.

Not really my thing, but enjoyable enoigh to listen to

I'm sure when this was released this seemed like what they thought the future would sound like. Sequencer-driven, synth sounds has the makings of a sci-fi film soundtrack with upbeat, swirling, electronica sounds that had my head spinning, stunned and left me feeling drone-like. Fast forward almost 40 years and the future isn't what it was it cracked up to be. Music we listen to is either classic rock from 1974 or "modern music" with machine driven beats interrupted with drone-like "singers" whose voices are electronically altered and auto-tuned, maybe Tangerine Dream was onto something. Considering all that, I would much prefer Phaedra to what's popular on the radio now! Let's live in the past to live in the future present.

Super weird atmospheric music. I'd heard about this group on the Prog subreddit but it didn't really feel like prog, more like ambient or electronic - no rock instrumentation. Like Marconi Union.

Berlin Techno before the kick drum was discovered 4+/5

Weird spacey anxiety inducing album, but I also didn’t hate it?

Not my style.

Very good, not the easiest to listen to in one sitting

Found it hard to engage with the emotion depth of the music

Appreciate the work but it’s not for me.

This wasn’t my style but I also listened to the revisited version so maybe that is why

Definitely ahead of its time... but not particularly good as a listen now. 2 stars

I can haz synthezzizizzer? Sea gulls? Robot sea gulls? Flock of seagulls? (No that comes later). The eventual impact of electronic sounds is huge as can particularly be seen with Radiohead's Amnesiac which uses everything here and much more. There is a sense in this album and other early ones like it that people didn't really know what to do with things yet nor do they have a really good set of tools to start working with manipulated sound. This is interesting in the way that watercolor washes are and ambient sound in general is. It is interesting historically as well in terms of what musicians found they could start to do with things. But nothing particularly groundbreaking seems to be happening here yet. Huzzah for being on the cusp of something new. But meh for fully figuring out something awesome to do with it yourselves. Not a bad album but plenty of room for growth.

6.1/10 i mean ig

Peaceful

wat

Some sounds.

Interesting early moog stuff. I definitely think that later bands did it much better, but obviously the influence from here was probably tangible in a lot of them. Still a cool chill ambient release.

Not completely terrible but don't understand the appeal. Ethereal. Good yoga music probably.

Only reason I'm not giving this a 1 is because it would sound alright if you slapped a 140bpm beat over the top of it and called it euphoric trance. Without that, it's just Ross Geller playing the keyboard to everyone in Central Perk.

I actually rather liked this this morning (I think it's good for a sleep-deprived brain!). Not loads going on, but a really nice, dreamy soundscape with pretty strong dollops of sci-fi synths. Would not have said this was from the early seventies without checking. That said, once you've listened to it for about 5 minutes then you don't get much more out of it really. If we combine that with it not being properly on Spotify, then it probably relegates it to a high 2.

Not my jam

Sequencer-driven epics that feel cinematic, shifting between eeire and calming. Hypnotic loops blast you off to the cosmos; kinda feels like the soundtrack for being at the planetarium on a field trip and watching the timeline of the universe.

Not for me. And that's ok!

feel like i'm going on an adventure, excellent stuff

I swear I tried. Tried to appreciate the significance of it, the groundbreaking nature, but I was switching between being bored and anxious. It’s probably good background music for some documentaries about space, but other than that it’s just bloopadedoop for me.

A bit dull…

Generic sound space soundscaping, probably revolutionary at the time.

Kan tycka det är ganska bra med elektronisk ambient ibland men hela album kan bli lite tradigt i längden.