Tangerine Dream
Dream Encores
‘Dream Encores’ as the name suggests is a collection of concert encore recordings spanning the years 1986 to 1997. The package is beautifully presented with stunning graphics, including the CD itself. Track wise here’s the run-down:

‘Order of the Ginger Guild’ (Vienna 1997)

‘Fort Worth Runway One’ (Budapest 1997)

‘Eleanor Rigby’ (London 1996)

‘Oriental Haze’ (Montreal 1992)

‘Story of the Brave’ (Phoenix 1992)

‘Thief Yang and the Tangram Seal’ (London 1996)

‘Catwalk’ (Berlin 1997)

‘Purple Haze’ (Washington 1992)

‘The Midnight Trail’ (New Orleans 1988)

‘Rolling Down Caheunga’ (Edinburgh 1990)

‘Towards the Evening Star’ (Amsterdam 1997)

‘Dominion’ (London 1986)

Sound-wise everything sounds very dynamic and pristine and the absence of any audience noise makes it difficult to tell that the recordings were actually gleaned from a live performance. The balance of the tracks are from the later years and of those the delightful ‘Thief Yang and the Tangram Seal’ stands out with its marvellous sequencing, punchy percussion and subtle melodics. ‘Catwalk’ never fails to please but how many times have TD regurgitated this track in various forms on CD already??

As indicated the tracks have all been clearly marked as to their origins, and I’m sure that each has been picked for its note perfect attributes but how much delving TD had to do is open to question - I mean, how many of the 101 identical versions of ‘Oriental Haze’ do you pick? Fascinatingly they do plump for a version of ‘Rolling Down Caheunga’ from Edinburgh and damned fine and splendid it sounds too. But I’ll surprise absolutely nobody by saying that the further back in time you look the more interesting the sounds become and the 1986 London version of ‘Dominion’ deserves special attention because, not only is it a cracking piece of music, the fact that it actually has synth lines worthy of mention does speak volumes about the company it is keeping here.

As I started this review I convinced myself that I wasn’t going to say anything about live archive material, but I’ve a bit of space left and hearing the pristine sonics of an ‘86 recording really does make you wonder what’s going on. Has it simply become a “principle” thing with Edgar now? So many people want it, and he’s dismissed the idea so many times, that to give way would be too much to swallow.

This is a well executed package, with some gleaming gems though others are as dull as dishwater. In other words, precisely and exactly as expected. (GG)

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