Springtime in Nagasaki

I gave this CD away as a Christmas gift.

First, the essential information:Title - Springtime In Nagasaki (Part I in "The Five Atomic Seasons")Composed by - Edgar Froese and Thorsten QuaeschningNumber of Tracks - 6Running Time - 54:04Produced by - Edgar FroeseWhat we have here is an album that is certain to attract Tangerine Dream fans of all generations and partialities. As I've listened to this album more often over the past few months, I've noticed that the music is a clever blend of the so called "Classic Era" TD and the material they've been releasing for the past decade or so. Indeed, the first half of the record is quite suggestive of the albums released in the early 80's. Those who enjoyed the music on "Tangram", "Logos Live", "Hyperborea" and "Poland" will surely be satisfied by the first 3 sections of this album. If you prefer the albums of the 90's and early 2000's, on the other hand, I think you'll be thoroughly impressed with the second half of this album a bit more. In any case, a true fan of Tangerine Dream will discover an abundance of music to enjoy here.The music plays continuously for slightly over 54 minutes and not a moment is wasted. This is the most inspired and ambitious projects TD has produced in the last decade. The six "movements" fallow each other so well, I'm curious to know if this was conceived as one symphonic-style work or if this was an after thought during recording. Although the album has six tracks, the liner notes indicate only two compositions: "Navel of Light" and "Persistence of Memory". This is a result of these two compositions being divided into three movements each, hence, six total tracks.I genuinely enjoyed the way Froese and Quaeschning took their time in introducing each motif and progression with the music. Like many of TD's early albums (i.e. Rubycon, Phaedra, Stratosphere) there is no hasty attempt to amaze the listener. Instead, they begin with gentle and sparse synthesizer patterns with minimal percussion, repeated in mid tempo and gradually build from there. In the liner notes it is stipulated that Edgar Froese composed the first half of the record, while Thorsten completed the second. I think this explains why the first three movements contain many of the same characteristics as the TD albums of three decades past and why the second half sounds far more modern in its sound and structure.The first half of "Springtime in Nagasaki" reminds me of music one might hear in a documentary about the Japanese wilderness and vast mountain ranges. I can just picture the views one might have from atop mount Fuji or mount Inasa, staring at the landscape thousands of feet below. I can imagine wide aerial views of the crystal clear streams and the dark green forests that are so prevalent throughout the northern and southern regions of Japan. Those are the feelings and mental images I get when listening to the first three movements of this album. TD capture the essence of Japanese scenery and culture without ever sounding as if they're trying to be artists they're not. There are no overtly Asian-sounding instruments, motifs, sound effects or any other embarrassing gags that other Western artists are guilty of in trying to create Eastern- influenced music. No, TD simply employs all of their tried and true techniques in creating an authentic and unique musical design that bares all the classic hallmarks of an exceptional album from Tangerine Dream, all the while being able to create musical quotient that successfully conjures up images of old Japan.The second half of the album is composed much more like recent TD releases, as well as sounding quite a bit more international. In fact, only a few of the Japanese/Eastern themes are retained during the final three tracks of the album. The remaining music sounds not entirely unlike the kind one may here in any European nightclub or lounge cafe. The instrumentation is also considerably different. Thorsten Quaeschning introduces some sparse, though intoxicating, guitar chords along with a small horn section to accompany the already pulsating beat and sequenced keyboard rhythm that leads off the second half of this record.In relation to everything discussed above, I really think Springtime in Nagasaki is a delightful edition to the long and varied musical catalogue Tangerine Dream have accumulated during a career that is swiftly approaching the 40- year milestone. This isn't anything I can think of to criticize here. Froese and Quaeschning obviously delivered full attention to this project and didn't take their stellar reputation for granted. I also feel that this is a stunning debut in what is a five- album project TD has termed "The Five Atomic Seasons". That TD is even attempting to create such a large undertaking is a very revealing indication of the vast creative forces that Tangerine Dream still posses. Being the proud owner of four out of the five albums in this entire project, I can safely say that the installments that are to come will not disappoint you. This album reflects all that I have come to love and respect about the music of Tangerine Dream over the years. For those of you that have been fans for even longer than I, there's no question you will listen with fond memories of past albums, as well as with curiosity for what will come in the future.

Tangerine Dream have done it again here. Gone are the days of cherry picking through the majority of tracks to find a small gem here and there. Finally, and since the release of Mars Polaris, the jagged line of the ups and downs has crested and is moving further upward.I don't know if it is entirely because of the change in line up, where Jerome Frose has departed and Thorsten Quaeshning has stepped up and has been taking compositional credits, but Tangerine Dream are again the outfit worthy of their namesake.Springtime in Nagasaki is incredible. It is neither Phaedra, nor Rubycon, but instead better and is obviously the work of accomplished artists not trying to fit into the world of our expectations, but rather those of the Japanese businessman who commissioned the work.The opener, Navel of Light (pt.1) is bold and yet odd, a pounding taiko drum with a quick swelling base in a shuffled beat of almost orchestral measures that paint a majestic picture of a proud city. It then unfolds with soft and resonant pads and eventually tells something more open and personal via a sampled voice and a koto as the piece seamlessly ramps up to the rhythmic patterns that hypnotize throughout the 14:00 minutes of Navel of Light II. Navel of Light Part III, not quite as thoroughly mind blowing as part II, is not bad. At points I wince at aimless arpeggios and the keyboard stabs that seem filler to me, having no real melodic purpose, but no sooner than having that thought does the second half of the album come to the rescue and begins with the three pieces credited to Thorsten Quashning.Persistence of Memory, parts I - III are shimmering and glossy, three ambient gems that melt the walls. Part II is reminiscent of Giles Reeves' Sea of Glass in which the perfect amount of a single chord, in total reliance of the quality of the tone, does the job of calling the attention to subtle energies and the wonder of stillness. Part II gives way to a moving piano piece before ultimately being lifted off to the heights of the colorful short and sweet finishing piece (pt.III).The album is very patient, and almost seems an agreeable blend of what worked in Inferno with all that was The Seven Letters of Tibet.

I thought twice about committing myself to buying the five CD's that would complete this set but after reading some of the reviews and listening to the Amazon clips (and waiting for prices to come down), I went for it. I'm very glad I did because although I've only listened to 'Springtime' and 'Summer' so far, there is plenty here to enjoy. Some 'Japanese' sounding instrumentation in places, but predominently core sounds that TD fans will feel at home with. As well as good characterisation sounds, there are several tracks where the underlying rhythm elements are relatively simple but taught and provide a good foundation. The digipack comes with a small insert which gives some information on the initial request by Mr. H.T. for TD to write and record this series and tells a bit of the background story. An appalling time in human history has been captured well.

Great Completes the five atomic album set

Normal grangerise dream standard

Part of my TD collection

After a lot of listens it is still growing on me. It's okay but I don't feel sufficiently excited to give it a strong recommendation compared to other TD releases.