Search - Tangerine Dream :: Madcap's Flaming Duty

40 Years And Still Relevant!

Imsimplyhere | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been a long-time TD fan (25+ years), discovering lyrics was initially disconcerting (in particular having listed to "Tyger" many years ago) and I opened this CD up with little in the way of expectations. I was also leery of a CD that was to be dedicated to Pink Floyd's Syd Barret, not quite sure what direction the disc would take musically. I love Floyd, but with Syd, it's all up for grabs. Imagine my surprise that, along with excellent sounds, the lyrical content was actually quite refreshing. This CD contains really good songs, built around selection number 7, Lake Of Pontchartrain, which manages to expand TD's horizons, yet maintain the same feelings of old. The best song on the album, number 5, A Dream of Death, is an amazing song that shows TD has not lost a step. I think the important thing here, concerning this CD, is that after 40 years, TD is still concerned with their long-term fans, but just might have opened the door to a more mainstream audience, which would open up wonderful music to a brand new generation. This is most definately a "must-have" for any collection."

And Now for Something Completely Different

Matthew D. Barton | St Cloud, MN | 06/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As other reviewers have pointed out, Tangerine Dream is an old and very prolific group that has put out over a hundred albums that span a wide range of musical styles. With masterpieces like Phaedra and Rubycon under their belt, sometimes it's just too easy to dismiss the rest of their work as uninspired product, ignoring quality work that doesn't fit the same mold.



Occasionally TD does a "voice" album, and, truth be told, I tend to skip the lyrical songs when they crop up in my player. They aren't necessarily bad, but they're not what draws most people to TD. Imagine a well-known comedy actor doing a "serious" role and you more or less get the picture--even if it's done well, you can't help but think it's just wrong.



However, with Madcap's Flaming Duty, I was shocked to find myself putting the album on repeat play. First off, the instrumental work here is impressive, but it's really the lyrics and the vocals that make this album work. The lead singer's voice complements the instrumentals rather than overpowering or distracting from it. Furthermore, the lyrics are some of the best I've heard (and yes, I know they're adapted from old poetry and literature).



The album reminds me at times of some diverse groups, such as VNV Nation, Peter Schilling, later Depeche Mode, and Peter Murphy. It's soulful stuff that's quite inspirational, with only the occasional "muzak" flourish to make you wince (TD seems to struggle sometimes to avoid sounding like elevator music, especially when a saxophone is involved).



"Shape My Sin," "A Dream of Death" and "Lake of Pontchartrain" really stand out to me as the best songs on the album. These are catchy songs that I've been unable to get out my head since I first heard them. I was really surprised to hear such fine voice work from a TD album; it makes me wonder if they haven't found a new direction--though I also find their new "Blue Dawn" album a new high point in their career. It's exciting to be a Tangerine Dream fan again!"

"She oped the door, she drew me in...."

Eduardo Nava | Mexico City | 05/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tangerine Dream (TD) has been with us for 40 years. Wow, that is a lot of time (man, I'm getting old). Like other fans, I have most of the CD's, DVD's, etc., etc. I recently got my 2 DVDs celebrating the 35th Phaedra Concert Anniversary and the 40th Tangerine Dream Concert Anniversary. Both DVDs are a great resume of TD history (70's, 80's, 90's and New Millennium). Then I got Madcap's Flaming Duty (MFD) CD. What can I say?. It was totally unexpected for me. The music is great but the voice, I don't know. But at the end this events are the ones that makes TD unique. Edgar Froese, as a great artist he is, is always reinventing himself and he is showing it with this new release. So, after listening to MFD few times it started to grow in me. Even my kids are already singing it. As for this moment, I think that the best track is the fifth one; "A Dream Of Death". So, just after the "Their faith the dead and living plight..." Linda Spa plays her flute and the magic starts to grow, then the guitars come along, and, wow, what a great track!!!....



Yes, definitely it is starting to grow in me...



Greetings from Mexico City."