Tangerine Dream — Zeit
The albums four tracks or four movements ("Birth of Liquid Plejades", "Nebulous Dawn", "Origin of Supernatural Probabilities" & "Zeit") saw the project slowing down & focus their sound on a more darkened, deep and often dense space type vibe. I guess you’d say this is one of the first true dark ambient releases. “Zeit” tracks were built from a drifting yet focused & deeply atmospheric mixture of Moog( Played by Florian Fricke of Popol Vuh), EMS VCS 3 analogue synthesizers, various synths, sound generators, Vibraphone, cymbals, cello & guitar. Each track here has its own distinctive feel, yet there is a feeling of flow & connection between all four tracks, so one really does feel like their going on a dark yet heady intergalactic trip. I won’t go into track by track break down as I think that would spoil the effect of the album on first time listener…but trust me this is a dark, heady & epic work that has to be heard by anyone who has even a passing interest in any form of moody/ atmospheric music.
The second disc with this release brings together the complete Klangwald Performance- this was a live show recorded in February 1972 at Cologne's WDR Sendesaal Hall. The disc is made up of two tracks “Klangwald(Part One)” & "Klangwald (Part Two)". Part One comes in at just over the thirty seven minute mark, and Part Two at just under the forty one minute mark. Each track finds the band in great creative jam type form, as the tracks ebb, drift & morph along. Each track nicely mixes together more free-form/ abstract “Zeit” like compositions with more divined early electronica /ambient moments. These recordings have never been commercial available before, and only have appeared on Tangerine Tree fan CDR collection- which was highly ltd.
Finishing off this reissue we have 14 page inlay booklet which features a new six page essay on the albums creation, its scope and it legacy. Also included are archive pictures from the time, and the albums originally artwork ect.
I've reviewed the double CD version of this release, but it’s also available in a very plush looking double vinyl box set edition. This features: gatefold double LP edition on blue vinyl with the rare Ohr label insert, a lavishly illustrated deluxe 7" x 7" book with essay, Three postcards, and the double CD edition too. The box is an ltd numbered edition, so I’m not sure if you can still get hold of it…but surely it’s worth a try if you’re a collector.
For me “Zeit” has always stood as one of my most favourite, inspiring and at times difficult TD albums- I’ve returned to it many, many times over the years, and each time it’s felt as timeless, alien and darkly beautiful as it always was. This new reissues it clearly the ultimate version, and with the extra disc of unreleased Klangwald performance this is a must have item for both fans of the album, and those who have never heard it before.