Tangerine Dream The Hollywood Years Vol 2

After wading through 30 tracks of this material the mind does start to examine the approach rather than the music itself. The lack of melodic themes of any stature is an obvious aspect, no doubt deliberate to ensure the focus is mainly on the visuals. Then there’s the “uptempo or reflective” choice. With the former you start off a sequence and plonk a few synth doodles over it. The latter introduces plenty of textural pads and a variety of moods from classical to ominous. It’s all part of the remit which the artist has been asked to work to, and TD are such masters by now that they must be able to do it in their sleep and this is probably why, by and large, it sounds that way.

But then you ask yourself why release the music in isolation in the first place then? Well, there are great soundtracks which stand out in their own right, but the vast majority are bought, played for novelty value and to pick out the odd piece which may fit into a “best of” compilation, then filed away never to see the light of day again.

For me both ‘Hollywood Years’ albums are classic examples of this. No, they are not dire albums. The music is fair to middling in the main. Bit of a racey sequencer here, bit of sumptuous pad there. Whimsical lead line gives way to staccato classical air. Not offensive in any way, but neither album is the type you want to pour over and learn every nuance. There’s no hook, no spark, no individuality. It all merges into a synth wash which has little character or value. It just.... exists.