TANGERINE DREAM
50 YEARS OF PHAEDRA: AT THE BARBICAN (2CD)

“the best synth band in the world” THE NEW YORK TIMES

In 1974, ‘Phaedra’ redefined the landscape of electronic music. What began as an experimental session at Richard Branson’s Manor Studios in Oxfordshire became a seismic event in modern sound. Using the Moog sequencer for the first time, Tangerine Dream - then comprised of Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke & Peter Baumann - crafted ‘Phaedra’, an album that shimmered with innovation, mystery & a palpable sense of discovery. 

Half a century later, Tangerine Dream returned to London’s Barbican to honour that landmark work - reimagining it for a new era. ‘50 Years of Phaedra: At The Barbican’ captures this transcendent live performance, in which the current line-up - Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane & Paul Frick - revisit the spirit of ‘Phaedra’ with the very tools that Froese & his collaborators helped pioneer.

Part of Phaedra’s magic lay in its imperfections: the original sequences were never truly quantised, their timing drifting unpredictably through the Moog’s analogue circuitry. That subtle instability became part of its charm – a human pulse within the machine - yet it long left current bandleader Thorsten Quaeschning intrigued by what a fully realised version might reveal. Now, fifty years later, Tangerine Dream have revisited the work with the precision that technology once denied them. ‘50 Years of Phaedra: At The Barbican’ is the first time ‘Phaedra’ has been performed fully quantised, each motif beautifully aligned with a crystalline precision previously unheard. 

For over five decades, Tangerine Dream have stood as pioneers of electronic sound, shaping the evolution of ambient, film & synthesiser music. Founded in Berlin in 1967 by Edgar Froese, the group became synonymous with the “Berlin School” of electronic composition, influencing generations of artists from Jean-Michel Jarre & Depeche Mode to Radiohead & M83. Their vast catalogue spans over a hundred albums, including acclaimed film scores for ‘Sorcerer’, ‘Risky Business’ & ‘Firestarter’ & countless live performances that redefined what electronic music could be on stage. Universally recognised for their visionary approach to texture, atmosphere & technology, Tangerine Dream remain one of the most innovative & iconic forces in modern music. 

This 2CD edition of ‘50 Years of Phaedra: At The Barbican’ is presented as a CD digipack & includes a 12-page printed booklet with liner notes from bandleader Thorsten Quaeschning & reflections from band manager Bianca Froese-Acquaye.