Tangerine Dream Quinoa

Never thought I’d be given the chance to review this little blighter in the smd mag. ‘Quinoa’ was the limited edition (1000) CD issued by the TD International Fan Club back in 1992 just before it went belly up. Since then it has been a much sought after item, changing hands for some vicious prices over the years. Now though it’s here for everyone to savour, and I think “savour” is a phrase which is well deserved here. Such limited edition status puts a gloss on any piece of music, and undoubtedly over the years this has contributed towards the enjoyment of the piece, but in pure musical terms this is an on-form Tangerine Dream which caught them at a time when their modern rhythmical style was still fresh and focussed. Some may point out that the palette of voices - piano, harpsichord, choral, reed - are formula in the extreme but it’s all constructed and blended with consummate professionalism and the style and apparent ease with which they can knock something like this together remains impressive to this day. The lush bridging sections are every bit as enjoyable as the busier rhythmic interludes and the 28+ minutes length allows me to use the phrase “opus” which, if memory serves me right, I haven’t done for a long while.

If you already own a copy of the original ‘Quinoa’ and feel a tinge of sadness over the loss of its limited status, spare a thought for the poor unfortunate who won the unique CD offered in a website competition back in ‘96. Yesterday he had a CD which he could have sold to pay off the mortgage (a year’s interest anyway), today it’s track one here! The salubriously titled ‘Voxel Ux’ is a nifty number which TD knocked together in a coffee break one day by the sounds of it. Sound wise it’s not a million miles away from ‘Quinoa’ hence makes a good stable-mate, and overall I found it an enjoyable caper. ‘Lhasa’ rounds off the trio, the opening movement from an (as yet) unreleased ‘Tibetan Cycle’ which contains six other movements. Again this is a pleasing piece, slightly ominous at times with heavy classical overtones, and overall ‘Quinoa’ is an album I’d heartily recommend. (GG)

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