Honey Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream, a legendary electronic music group, has been carrying on its legacy since the passing of founder Edgar Froese in 2015. The band's new album, Raum, marks a significant milestone in their journey, as they delve into Edgar's vast archives to recreate his iconic sound.

In an exclusive interview with Thorsten Quaeschning, one of Tangerine Dream's current members, we gain insight into the creative process behind Raum and the band's mission to honor Edgar's vision. 'We have an old Jupiter-8 which is unbelievable,' says Thorsten, 'plus many synths from the last decade.' However, it was clear that Edgar preferred using analogue synths for his music.

Thorsten shares a fascinating story about working with Edgar, who was known for his discipline and creativity in real life. Despite this, Edgar's hard drive often contained disorganized files, making it challenging to find the perfect melody or arrangement. 'We would often just click in a folder here and there,' Thorsten recalls, 'and the best-case scenario would be finding a nice melody that we could fit into an arrangement.'

With access to Edgar's original gear, Tangerine Dream was determined not to use emulation or digital recreations of his equipment. Instead, they relied on trial and error, pouring over 10-12 hard discs containing material from 1978 to 2013. According to Thorsten, there are approximately 160 folders filled with ideas, scales, and concepts.

One of the most striking aspects of Tangerine Dream's music is its cohesion across albums, despite changes in members and technology. 'If you listen to an album from 1970 like Electronic Meditation,' says Thorsten, 'and then exploring the possibilities of sequencers with Phaedra, Rubycon, Stratosfear, and Force Majeure through the '70s, there is a red line between one and the next album which you can hear through every album.'

The concept behind Tangerine Dream is rooted in Edgar's vision, as Thorsten explains: 'Edgar said I had to carry on and continue the plan and the concept of Tangerine Dream. So it was not even my role to say I would continue as Tangerine Dream without it being like an order or request from Edgar.'

In the 1980s, Edgar experimented with digital synths, which now seem dated compared to his beloved analogue equipment. Despite this, Thorsten believes that Edgar's plans and visions for every situation were well-prepared, ensuring a smooth transition after his passing.

Tangerine Dream's mission is clear: to carry on Edgar's legacy while honoring his vision. As Thorsten says, 'We wouldn't even be surprised to get a Dropbox link from him with material on Christmas Eve when he would say, 'here's a new idea, maybe we could work on it'.' With Raum, the band has created an album that is both a tribute to Edgar and a testament to their own creativity. As they continue to explore the boundaries of electronic music, Tangerine Dream remains true to its core concept: a red line running through every album, a legacy that will endure for generations to come.

Honey tangerine dream