Tangerine Dream

The contribution of Tangerine Dream to electronic music cannot be overstated. Edgar Froese formed the band in 1967, and was the single continuous member until his death in 2015. Many consider the 70s configuration of Froese, Chris Franke and Peter Baumann the ‘classic’ line-up, citing wonderfully evocative synthesiser music across albums such as Phaedra, Rubycon and Stratosfear (all from the Virgin years). Earlier albums (Alpha Centauri and Zeit for example) are more experimental and spacey, the later ones more rhythmically powered. The Dream catalogue is immense, including dozens of soundtrack albums (Sorcerer and Thief are both outstanding) and many live recordings. There are also numerous solo albums by Froese and other members. If the work of synthesiser master Klaus Schulze (briefly a member of the young TD) is included, these German musicians dominated electronic music for decades. Tangerine Dream continues post-Edgar.