Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream is a music group.

They use machines to make sounds. They make music for movies too. They even made music for a video game.

Their songs can sound like space. This is because they use tools called synthesizers. These tools make new sounds. They have made over one hundred albums. It is fun to hear their music. Do you like music made by machines?

Tangerine Dream is a famous music group from Germany.

They were started in 1967 by Edgar Froese. He was the only member who stayed the whole time. The band is known for making electronic music. They were pioneers in this style. This means they were among the first to do it.

They use many tools to make their sounds. They use synthesizers, which are machines that make music. They also use sequencers to play repeating patterns. In the 1970s, they used a tool called a Mellotron. This tool can make many different sounds.

The band makes a lot of music. They have made over one hundred albums. They also make music for movies. They have written over 60 scores for films. They even made music for the video game Grand Theft Auto V.

Their live shows changed over time. Early shows were very simple. The band members often sat still. They sat near large boxes with many wires. Later shows used bright lights and lasers. Some early shows were even held in the dark.

Tangerine Dream is a famous German music group. They are pioneers in electronic music. This means they were among the first to explore these sounds. Their music helped start a style called kosmische Musik. This name means "cosmic music." They have made over one hundred albums in their long career. Most of their music does not have singing. Instead, it uses instruments to tell a story. This style has influenced new types of music like electronic dance music.

The band uses many cool tools to make their sounds. They use synthesizers, which are machines that create electronic tones. They also use sequencers to play repeating musical patterns. In the 1970s, they used a special tool called a Mellotron. They used four of these machines at once. They even made custom tapes for the Mellotron to play different sounds. One famous song, "Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares," was played entirely on this instrument.

Edgar Froese started the band in 1967. He was the only member who stayed from the beginning until his death in 2015. The name Tangerine Dream came from a mistake. The band misheard a line from a Beatles song. They thought the lyrics said "tangerine trees" instead of what was actually sung. In the early days, Froese even built his own instruments. He used tape recorders to collect sounds for his music. This helped him create new patterns before modern technology arrived.

During the 1970s, the band became very successful. They signed with Virgin Records during their "Virgin Years." Their album Phaedra reached number 15 on the UK charts in 1974. This album was special because it used sequencers. The band also wrote music for movies, called film scores. They have created over 60 scores for films. They even made 35 hours of music for the video game Grand Theft Auto V. Their music has appeared in many famous movies like Legend and Thief.

Watching Tangerine Dream perform has changed a lot over time. Early concerts were very simple and quiet. Sometimes, the three band members just sat still for hours. They sat next to huge electronic boxes with many wires. One show in 1975 was performed in complete darkness. Later shows became much more exciting and bright. They began using lasers, colorful lights, and even pyrotechnics. These big shows helped people see the magic of electronic music.

Tangerine Dream is a pioneering German electronic music group. They helped shape the sounds of modern electronica. Their work was vital to the development of kosmische Musik, or "cosmic music." This style emerged within the German musical scene. The band has been incredibly prolific throughout its long history. They have recorded over one hundred different albums. Most of their music is instrumental, meaning it lacks singing. Instead, they use complex textures to create atmosphere.

To create their unique sounds, the band uses various electronic tools. In the early years, they relied on tape loops. These are repeating sounds made by looping magnetic tape. This technique was a precursor to the sequencer. A sequencer is a device that plays musical patterns automatically. During their "Virgin Years," they used the Moog synthesizer extensively. This machine creates electronic tones through oscillators. However, the Moog was sensitive to temperature changes. As the equipment warmed up, the tuning would drift. The band also used the Mellotron, a keyboard that plays sounds from tapes. They used four Mellotrons at once to create rich textures. One track, "Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares," used only the Mellotron.

The band's history is marked by many different lineups. Edgar Froese founded the group in 1967. He remained the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The mid-1970s featured a famous trio. This group included Froese, Christopher Franke, and Peter Baumann. Later, Johannes Schmoelling joined the group in 1979. Since Froese's passing, Thorsten Quaeschning has led the band. Quaeschning is the longest-serving member, having joined in 2005. He is currently joined by violinist Hoshiko Yamane and Paul Frick. The group's name actually came from a misunderstanding. They misheard the Beatles' lyrics "tangerine trees and marmalade skies." This led to the surreal name Tangerine Dream.

Different eras of the band are defined by their record labels. The early period is often called the "Pink Years." This refers to the pink ear logo of the Ohr label. During this time, they released Electronic Meditation in 1970. This album used tape-collage techniques rather than heavy synthesis. Next came the "Virgin Years," named for Virgin Records. This era produced major hits like Phaedra in 1974. Phaedra reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart. It was one of the first commercial albums to feature sequencers. Following this, the band entered the "Blue Years" after moving to the Jive Electro label. This shift occurred after they released the live album Poland in 1983.

One major part of their career involves composing film soundtracks. Tangerine Dream has created over 60 film scores. Their music has appeared in movies like Legend, Thief, and Risky Business. They also expanded into the world of video games. They composed 35 hours of music stems for Grand Theft Auto V. Their ability to create atmosphere made them perfect for visual media. Some of their studio tracks were even reworked for films. For example, the track "Igneous" resembles their studio song "Thru Metamorphic Rocks." This connection shows how their studio experiments fed their cinematic work.

Live performances by Tangerine Dream have evolved significantly. Early concerts were very minimalist and quiet. Sometimes, the musicians sat motionless for hours. They performed next to large electronic boxes with many patch cords. In 1975, they even performed a show in complete darkness at York Minster. As technology improved, the shows became much more spectacular. By 1977, their North American tours used Laserium effects. Modern shows include lasers, pyrotechnics, and projected images. These visual elements complement the complex electronic sounds they produce.

The influence of Tangerine Dream reaches into many musical genres. Their mid-1970s work helped develop new-age music. It also laid the groundwork for electronic dance music. They were early adopters of digital technology in the 1980s. This revolutionized how synthesizers sounded. They worked alongside other pioneers like Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. Even today, the band continues to release new material. They released the album Quantum Gate in 2017. Their latest studio album, Raum, was released in February 2022.