Tangerine Dream Live Preston 1980 (Bootmon 9) Double CD / 7 + 7 tracks / 47:15 + 62:09 mins

Some of the earlier criticisms do appear to have been addressed. My copy came in a proper CD tray, not those horrible card sleeves. The production is, on the whole pretty good (apart from some high end distortion early on disc one), but the sleeve design and the notes are, alas terrible.

Whilst I count 3 live CD's from their European tour of 1981, what interests me is how little the "Set list" changed from 1980 to 1981. What is different is the sheer panache and abandon of this music. The arrival of Schmoelling undoubtedly helped concentrate their minds away from the lack of direction evident in the release of Cyclone, and this, together with the increasing levels of investment in cutting edge musical technology, clearly catapulted TD into another stratosphere (pardon the pun). Live, they also became quite a different proposition. It was also the first tour in which their concerts had a clearly defined "structure", with, gasp, shock, and horror, even tracks from their studio albums being played.

You would never use the adjective dull to describe this. A glorious sequencer fest from start to finish, and if you were lucky enough to see them on this tour, you will undoubtedly remember Schmoelling ducking and weaving from behind his banks of synthesisers as the sequencers rolled on and on.

Disc 1 gets us underway with Undulation Part 1. Initially it's just electronic effects water sounds etc, the lull before the storm if you like. A frantic sequencer run then starts up, very Risky Business, and lots more effects. It segues straight into Objective II, yet more effects heralding what initially appears to be something from the Thief soundtrack, before a somewhat clunky rhythm starts off, with I guess both Edgar and Johannes soloing around it. It's much better than it sounds.

Franke soon gets tired of this, the sequencer dies away, and a brief Rick Wakeman sounding - like chord sequence gives way to Calymba Caly. This is surely the greatest piece this trio ever put together, and it is noticeably different than the later versions most of you will be familiar with. Those pounding drums are there, even in this embryonic form, but the solos are particularly impressive, and dynamic, and you'll be playing air synths before too long I promise! There is the now familiar and rather abrupt chord change about the 8 minute mark, with yet more excellent soloing, and elements of the later live versions that this became are more clearly identifiable. Stupendous.

A (very) brief respite follows and we are into Undulation Part 2. That frantic sequencer makes its reappearance, but again for me, it's what's going on around it, that impresses.

Grange Park is a piano piece from Johannes, but the electronic intro to it is great. An all too brief, but tantalising glimpse of Force Majeure follows, before leading into The Price, which is Logos in all, but name, and excellent it is too.

After listening to this, I thought, well that's good...but nothing prepared me for what was to follow.

Disc 2 kicks off with Silver Scale. Initially some gentle synths whilst everyone is still getting into their seats, and then the music starts to shimmer, and the sequencer starts. Early on, there is what sounds like a brilliant solo from Schmoelling, which fades away slowly before putting in a re-appearance and really this is just so fantastic. The sequencers then take off, and as I type this, my feet are tapping away madly and I am trying to keep up!!! Ever heard of the word restraint? You can forget it here. This is what Berlin School EM is all about - the ability of several tons of electronic hardware to make you jump up and down like a madman. It also made me laugh actually. Tangerine Dream music can occasionally be too serious for it's own good, but how those people at Preston remained in their seats whilst all this was going on is beyond me.

Horns Of Doom follows after 22 breathtaking minutes. A very welcome respite, and gorgeous it is too. Five minutes of this, and we are into Phase Change, and now I'm in seventh heaven as it sounds uncannily like something from Thief, with some really great swirling synth sounds, and that Logos like drum sound. This gives way to Diamond Duster and as the sequencers kick in Edgar and Johannes are again soloing like mad as they strive to keep up with the pace. And then... there is Edgar on his guitar, and this I do remember very well. For many, this will be the highlight of a disc already crammed full of them. Play it loud. No, that's not right, ...play it VERY loud. It makes Cool Breeze of Brighton sound like a vicar's tea party. Diamond Diary follows and still Edgar marches on. Edgar's guitar work has been captured live plenty of times, but this has to be up there as one of his best workouts.

Two encores follow and what can I say about Choronzon, (somewhat unfortunately misspelled on my CD) that hasn't been said elsewhere? A stonking great tune that is just crying out to be played live, stretched out over 12 glorious minutes here, and last and not least The Football Museum (presumably because they didn't know what else to call it - I am sure it wasn't around back then). It starts off as Calymba Caly, and then Edgar reappears with his guitar, and ends in a squall of feedback, sounding for all the world like that eighties group The Jesus and Mary Chain!