Tangerine Dream - The Seven Letters From Tibet FLAC download

After returning - somewhat - to their more recognisable sound on 1999's Mars Polaris, Tangerine Dream took a completely unexpected left turn the year later with The Seven Letters From Tibet. Gone are the sequencer lines that defined the group from 1974 onwards, as are almost all traces of rhythm entirely. Certainly some synth parts are looped, helping to add structure to pieces such as The Green Land, but the bulk of the record comes in the form of rich synth washes, coupled with gentle synth or piano melodies. Start to finish, the album is intentionally soothing - most of the pieces are gently melancholic, with warmer, more uplifting strains weaving in and out. It's certainly a long way from the showy improvisation and driving beats of the band's '90s material, to the extent where it truly sounds like a different group. It is somewhat ironic that the group's time with the distinctly new age label Miramar contained their most rock-oriented material, and shortly after going completely independent, they turn in this, their most new age sounding album to date.Whether you'll like this album or not depends on how much you enjoy polished sounding electronic music. Nothing on The Seven Letters From Tibet is designed to challenge or stir - the pads are as smooth as they come, the leads still retain that digital sheen the band have favoured since the mid '80s, the chords safe and comforting. For some, the album will be the antithesis of the heavily diverting music they come to Tangerine Dream for; for those who enjoy ambient music on the overly sweet, sentimental side, this album might be the best thing the band have done in years.