Tangerine Dream - Melrose

A somewhat disappointing release from Tangerine Dream, Melrose, their last studio release for Private Music, was certainly targeted to capture the "adult alternative" market. The trio essentially take the rhythm-driven approach of Optical Race and make it more palatable and radio-friendly, as evidenced by the lackluster sax melodies on the title track. The album features many instrumentals that have a similar feeling--relatively energetic and upbeat, but also a bit fluffy. There are some grittier moments to be found, foremost on the haunting "Three Bikes in the Sky," a slow-moving, atmospheric piece with searing electric guitar work, while the lively electro-rock of "Dolls in the Shadow" and "Yucatan" also stand out. Tangerine Dream have never shied away from the obvious synthetic sounds of their work--it's a big part of their raison d'etre, after all--but here the machines seem to exert just as much influence as the humans behind them. Given Melrose's even-keeled nature, however, this album does make for agreeable background listening. --Bryan Reesman Amazon.com

The magic is back.....

After 1989's slightly disappointing "Lily On The Beach", Tangerine Dream came back the following year (as a trio once again with Edgar's son Jerome joining the fold) with a stunning piece of work.

Unlike the robotic and often cartoonish "Lily", "Melrose" delivers warm, passionate and exciting music. Hubert Waldner provides a saxophone for the title track while the guitars on Yucatan and Electric Lion are just simply amazing.

The final track, "Cool At Heart" is a piano lullably that one would not ordinarily identify as a TD song. This song serves as a calm, soul-soothing finale to a great album.
June 22, 2007

T.D.'s "Melrose" their most haunting

I listen to this c.d. about three times a week, and have since I purchased it 15 years ago. I think this one along with most of their work since 1985's "Hyperborea" is their greatest work. Talk about haunting!And the piece entitled 'Electric Lion' is one of their most energy-driven, with an awesome use of electric guitar near the end that ultimately gives it a hard rock sound. While "Melrose" is not their #1 best c.d. it is definately in the Top 5 in my book. I highly recommend this c.d.if you enjoy haunting electronica with a hard rock overtones.
October 6, 2005

Just what you want: Mellow, top-quality new age music,

A wonderful disc to relax to, and at the same time listen carefully to. You can put it on and set the volume for background levels, and you'll be peacefully conveyed to a place where all is calm, tranquil and, in fact, harmonious. At the same time, if your mind demands more stimulation all you have to do is lift your eyes and listen more closely, and you'll be stimulated by top-flight musicians, exploring new worlds of emotional expressiveness.

This is a wonderful album, no doubt about it. If you'd like music that soothes you at the same time as stimulating you, this is right up your alley. Energetic, dynamic and yet mellow -- no easy feat -- by three of the best in the business. This is an excellent album and a fine purchase. I'm still playing it, and enjoying it, frequently after nearly fifteen years.
February 1, 2005

Another creative, high-energy album from Tangerine Dream!

Jerome Froese joins Edgar Froese and Paul Haslinger for another intense foray into the world of electronic music. Up-tempo tracks such as "Melrose", "Yucatan" and "Rolling Down Cahuenga" predominate, fiery, percussive and minor in tone with structures that build and stirring percussive beats that drive ever-forward. The interspersed slower tracks are a nice compliment to all of this, gentle and really very pretty (especially the wistful closing selection, "Cool at Heart"). Saxophonist Hubert Waldner, who also played on the group's previous release, "Lily on the Beach", joins the core trio here as well, wailing away to great effect on the opening track. What I like about Tangerine Dream's work is that it is unapologetically electronic, making full use of synthesizers by playing to their strengths--variety, volume and modernity--rather than trying to use the keyboards to emulate the sound of, say, string orchestras or folk instruments (which they really can't match ...yet...). By taking this approach, Tangerine Dream creates vibrant, new music--richly textured, intelligently structured, and all their own. Try their next release, "Tyger" for some creative departures. January 1, 2004

Melrose: On the Road

Although many TD fans seem to be divided into two camps, pre-'83 and post-'83, I confessedly like pretty well all of it. There are times when a good book and an album like "Zeit" go together, or there times when a long highway drive finds "Melrose" and some of it's likenesses more appealing. Favorite tracks "Dolls in the Shadow", "Art of Vision", and "Rolling Down Cahuenga" are good driving music, that you can still converse to with a passenger. This CD being the culmination of what TD's website calls, "The Melrose Years", they are characterized by prominent use of electronic percussion, to drive fairly simple yet memorable melodies along the way. The only thing that prevents me from giving "Melrose" a 5-star rating is the use of the electric guitar. Unlike almost everything else they do, I find the guitar solos a bit too abrasive for my middle-aged tastes. As a final note, if you want soemthing to travel with, "Melrose" is a good companion, along with "Optical race" and "Lily on the Beach". February 14, 2003

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