Tangerine Dream
Dream Mixes 4
Compact Disc / 10 tracks / 69.39 mins

The album opens with a short piece which contains vocal dialogue obviously from a film and obviously tying the album together because it closes in similar fashion - the underlying point is not so obvious to me however. 'World of the Day' is a great track, driving rhythms (which you'd expect of a 'Dream Mixes' track) and some nice melodic touches. 'Perplex Parts' opens with a collage of familiar sounds which toy with the brain in an attempt to pin down their origins, for me thoughts of TD's 'Wavelength' soundtrack came most prominently to mind. Once it gets going the theme is firmly 'Tangram' with many references all pulled together within the framework of an insistent beat. Can't pick up the origins of 'Cosmic Merriment' but it's a good track, then onto 'Messenger' which utilises the merest snatches of themes from the closing section of 'Livemiles Part 2' and weaves them into a busy, almost skiffle, beat. Compared the the purity and melodic brilliance of the original, it is quite difficult to see the wood for the trees. But is is an interesting re-interpretation.

Track 6 'Rebound 03' is an not-very-subtle way of indicating that it's 'Ricochet' which is next in line for the 'DM' treatment. Seems to be 'Part 2' by and large with hints of sequence here, sound effects there. This is probably the best track so far in my opinion, the drums don't completely smash everything in their path, some of the treatments are quite subtle. 'Floating Higher' is another great track, and to me the mix treatment here is spot on - much more of the original essence is there allowing us to feel the original while appreciating the new aspects and in some cases enhancements. Brilliant.

'From Kiew with Love' is another fine re-interpretation, this time of 'Kiew Mission' from 'Exit'. Again it's all the better because the original's DNA is still clearly there, and the extra rhythms and touches provide a new and refreshing perspective on a classic track. 'Meta Morph Magic' continues the form. Famously causing one reviewer to describe their head as like "the inside of a blacksmith's shop" after hearing this, 'Thru Metamorphic Rocks' from 'Force Majeure' proves to be classic remix material and to be honest I actually like this version better then the original. It's a Blitzkrieg of a track and totally awesome! Finally we get 'The Metropolitan Sphere' which I can't quite put my finger on so it must be something post 80's. Can someone tell me what it is because the melody is great?!

For me 'Dream Mixes 3' was the best thing TD had done for a long time and 'DM4' carries on the form. Revisiting what many feel is Holy Ground in this way is a 'Risky Business'. If you dabble with the original too subtly, adding extra pads and endings for example, people cry "tangentization". If you throw it in a shredder and use whatever you scrape off the blades, you get accused of desecration. Though on tracks like 'Messenger' I do find the 'DM' treatment hard going, on many other occasions especially the latter half of this album the reworking provides a fascinating new insight. Overall this is one I'll play regularly and with a sense of nostalgic pride. (GG)

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