Alpha Centauri

Track Listings

1. Sunrise in the Third System

2. Fly and Collision of Comas Sola

3. Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri,Tangerine Dream,Relativity,Electronic,Kraut Rock,New Age / Meditation,Prog-Rock/Art Rock

Alpha Centauri

Tracks:

Sunrise in the Third System
Fly and Collision of Comas Sola
Alpha Centauri

Album Description

2002 reissue of 1971 album that's unavailable domestically. Includes the bonus track 'Ultima Thule Part 1 (single)'. Slipcase. Sanctuary Records.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Reissue of the Group's 1971 Album that Saw them Moving Towards a More Synthesized Sound Resulting in What Would Become Known as "Space Rock".

Customer Reviews:

I guess it's an interesting piece of work..........2007-06-22

Tangerine Dream were in their extremely experimental infancy when this album was released. It's interesting work, considering when it was recorded and what the music scene was like in Germany at that time.

For today, however, the music seems like a mish-mash of instruments that are played simultaneously with the sole purpose of just making noise. Most of these songs seem formless and without structure (maybe that was the whole idea?). This album, however, IS a slight improvement over the band's previous release, "Electronic Meditation", which was their first official album.

The album does succeed in giving the listener the feeling of witnessing the birth of the cosmos; order out of chaos and all that, but it's hardly music that would be easily accepted by the mainstream public. In fact, upon hearing this album, a freind of mine stated "Were these guys on drugs when they did this?"

Maybe, maybe not.

For die-hard TD fans, this album holds interest because it allows you to hear how the band evolved to become one of the de facto electronic bands in history.

«Kosmische Musik» Classic.......2002-09-20

The TD line-up at the time of "Alpha Centauri" was Edgar Froese, Christoph Franke (his first appearance) and Steve Schroyder (almost his last), with guest performers Udo Dennebourg (flute and voice) and Roland Paulyck (synthesiser). This remastered release on CD provides a whole new perspective on music that is as refreshing today as the day it was released, with nuances of the original now rescued from the obscurity of the muddy old black vinyl pressing.

If you're unfamiliar with Tangerine Dream's early «Kosmische Musik» period, then this disc may come as something as a shock. It is, however, a good place to start an exploration of their early music. It contains an excellent cross-section of the styles of playing which characterised TD's early years, having meditative pieces with long drawn out organ chords over gurgling VCS3 oscillators, flighty flute lines woven through Christoph Franke's jazzy, often improvised drumming and, of course, a general other- or out-of-this-worldliness pervading everything. 'Sunrise in the Third System' is a short (4 mins) opener, which sets the scene for the music to follow. 'Fly and Collision of Comas Sola' is a longer (13 mins) epic, with more soaring, cosmic synthesiser sounds and organ chords over Froese's guitar strummings eventually being drowned out by a veritable battle between guest flautist, Udo Dennebourg, and Franke's increasingly frantic drumming -- a true masterpiece! The main work on the disc is the 22 minute title-track, featuring some fascinating dialogue between flute, electric guitar, organ, various warbling electronic devices (mostly spacey-type VCS3 settings but also including such non-musical sources as coffee machine) and finally human voice, in the form of wordless chant and (heavily processed) dialogue! This is an exquisite precursor to the follow-up album, "Zeit".

As I mentioned earlier, this release has been remastered, allegedly from the original master tapes in TD's own Eastgate Studios. Be warned, however, that these tapes sound to be in a pretty dire state and one of the problems inherent in such remasterings is that as well as some details of the music being clearer, many of the defects become more exposed too! The opening moments of the disc, for example, have some appalling amplifier hum laid bare for all to hear and there are other moments throughout the disc when the original tapes sound to have saturated quite badly. That said, the sheer brilliance of this music soon drives such technical shortcomings from mind. (It helps to play the disc at a quieter level than normal too.)

Tracks:

Sunrise In The Third System
Fly And Collision Of Comas Sola
Alpha Centauri

Customer Reviews:

A very good 2nd effort.......2002-05-09

In their early years (1969-1973) Tangerine Dream never failed to produce works that were COMPLETELY WEIRD, while at the same time sounding totally awesome. Take the title track on this CD, for instance. Lots and lots of organ and pastoral flute, with the occaisonal synthesizer wash, and right when you're about to fall asleep, this voice comes in and a choir ends the work! Where'd they get that!?
Or take the track "Fly and Collision of Comas Sola" (fabulously cool title!). This is my 2nd favorite TD piece ever, next to Phaedra. The piece sounds like another drawn-out kosmische space track, but then at around 9:00 some drums start to creep up through the mix. At 10:38 they blast out over everything else with all the fury of a King Crimson jam.
I would recommend this disc to anyone who is familiar with TD's later, mid-70s work so they can hear the "other side" of the band. Or anyone who likes really spacey, ground-breaking stuff. Or anyone who likes really heavy organ pieces. A very good 2nd effort from an innovative band.

Tangerine Dream enters deep space.......2001-12-25

With Electronic Meditation, Tangerine Dream blew people's minds by intense guitar and drum jamming, making them easily categorized as a rock band. Then Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler abruptly left, replaced by Steve Schroyder (later briefly of Ash Ra Tempel) and a teenaged Chris Franke. With Alpha Centauri, the band abandoned most of the rock found on their previous album in place of deep space explorations. And you know you'll get something spacy when songs bears titles like "Sunrise in the Third System" and "Fly and Collision of Coma Solas". Most of rock's convention's are abandoned here with the sound of what sounds like a pipe organ and lots of spacy electronic effects. The only drums you'll find is near the end of "Fly & Collision" and that's as close to rock as you'll get here. The album then ends with the side length title track which is truly the ultime excurion in to deep space. I just love this stuff and I wonder why so many people these days listen to Jewel. For me, I feel Tangerine Dream's early material from the Ohr label (1970-1973) represents the band at their most interesting, even though it's not for everyone, like Alpha Centauri. Certainly if you're expecting some of their later, more upbeat electronic albums, you probably won't like this, but if you love unconventional space music like me, you're sure to like this.

Voyage beyond unconscious worlds !.......2001-11-06

Another great TD album, from the early years. Some people dislike AC, but this album is definitively the birth of the spacial-relaxing-dark sound that TD recorded after.
The formation is very interesting, Froese's guitars interruptions and noises are very creative and atipical. Franke's drums on Fly and collision... are something out of this planet, including the oriental-greek-like flute that appears in the middle of this track and in the last song, the title-track.
Schroyder's organ, specially Farfisa organ gives a relax sensation, like a medieval time, but not in planet Earth !It's interesting, rustic, experimental, but more linear than Zeit, the next album that is more apocalyptic, dense, visceral, everything in a VERY slowly dose... if it's possible !
Alpha centauri is an interesting point to start TD discography. And a final commet: 80's and 90's are pure pop-synth thing... a few things interesting....the early years are much more intense and creative, many people on new age stuff heard TD... there's no doubt !

Pompous symphonic schwung.......2000-10-31

After Froese and Schulze parted company in 1970, the band was lucky to find a replacement in Christopher Franke, an extremely talented musician, who will be one of the first people on earth to explore the power of synthesizers and translate technology into musical notes. From 1970 Franke and Froese will constitute a nucleus of the Tangerine Dream band, accompanied by more or less important temporary members. Unfortunately, after 18 years, their cooperation ended abruptly, with no particular benefit for what remained of Tangerine Dream.

Alpha Centauri, their second album, is a significant step forward in their career. The first change one notices immediately after turning the album on, is the quality of the sound. Unlike its predecessor, this album was not recorded in an old factory warehouse, but in a studio. Guitar is not a dominant sound anymore - it is messed into the musical texture that in turn consists of landscapes created by VCS3 synthesizer performed by Franke and "church-like" organs maneuvered by both Froese and Schroyder, the latter having a very temporary adventure with Tangerine Dream. Still, there is lots of experimental stuff in this recording. One does not have to look far - the whole "side B" of vinyl consists of a single, title track that does not possess a musical leading line. It is hard to digest only at the first trial or for "unaccustomed ears". Do not give up, however. Come back to Alpha Centauri every now and then and maybe, as I certainly hope, you will find a fly in a collision with Comas Sola somewhat attractive, even if pure historical reasons are not convincing for you at this time.

The second track is the most structured, which seems to be against their hitherto worshipped motto of complete freedom. Under heavy stratum of organs, we can dig the buried neoromantic tune - trying to catch it is by itself a pastime. Then they slowly progress with pompous symphonic schwung that culminates in hysteric looping of the tune and organs and blasted altogether with acoustic percussion solo by Christopher Franke. The whole album ends with German recitative. I love this language, although I understand as much as from Eskimo.

SUMMARY: buy if you like to experiment or if you are more and more into Tangerine Dream.

A form of communication...........2000-08-03

Only for the educated listener that his ear has been trained to "difficult" music. Everybody else will not be able to appreciate it.

This album has a place to the history of space music. It reminds me of Vangelis' "Heaven and Hell" and certainly belongs to this category of music that is inspired by extragalactic civilizations.

Tracks:

Sunrise in the Third System
Fly & Collision of Comas Sola
Alpha Centauri
Ultima Thule, Pt. 1
Ultima Thule, Pt. 2

Album Description

Japanese remastered reissue combines the influential German instrumental act's 1971 album & 1972 single, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Union. 2004.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Stoic

Manufacturer: The Alpha Centauri
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAE4SC
Release Date: 2003-07-08

Tracks:

Handshakes and Smiles
Worrier
Nights
Earthworm
Candour
Mouth
Out There
Quietude
Scarlet
Supernal
Cryogenics

Average customer rating:

Pre-synthesizer Dream

Alpha Centauri
Tangerine Dream
Manufacturer: Castle Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Phaedra
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Rubycon
Electronic Meditation

ASIN: B0007TFI8S
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Sunrise in the Third System
Fly and Collision of Comas Sola
Alpha Centauri
Ultima Thule, Pt. 1 [Single][*]

Customer Reviews:

Pre-synthesizer Dream.......2007-04-13

For people familiar with the synth-heavy later Tangerine Dream, this album is quite different. Preceding even the Mellotron, the album features mostly good old-fashioned electro-acoustic instruments, with a lone VCS synthesizer used only to generate weird sound effects that are not particularly connected to the music. Nevertheless, the overall impression is atmospheric, reminiscent of early Pink Floyd experimentation (which of course is what they were aiming for), heavy on the echo, guitars and drums adding up to a monomental wall of sound on track 2. An essential TD recording, though not quite as good as Atem, their magnum opus from the early synth/mellotron era.

George Crumb: Zeitgeist; Celestial Mechanics / Earle Brown: Corroboree - Piano Duo Degenhardt-Kent

Average customer rating:

George Crumb: Zeitgeist; Celestial Mechanics / Earle Brown: Corroboree - Piano Duo Degenhardt-Kent
George Crumb , Earle Brown , Jovita Zahl , Fuat Kent , and Jovita Zähl
Manufacturer: Mode
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000NYE
Release Date: 1995-01-30

Tracks:

Celestial Mechanics I: Alpha Centauri
Celestial Mechanics II: Beta Cygni
Celestial Mechanics III: Gamma Draconis - Peter Degenhardt/Fuat Kent/Jovita Zahl
Celestial Mechanics IV: Delta Orionis - Peter Degenhardt/Fuat Kent/Jovita Zahl
Corroboree - Peter Degenhardt/Fuat Kent/Jovita Zahl
Zeitgeist I: Portent
Zeitgeist II: Two Harlequins
Zeitgeist III: Monochord
Zeitgeist IV: Day of the comet
Zeitgeist V: The realm of Morpheus ('... the inner eye of dreams ')
Zeitgeist VI: Reverberations

Average customer rating:

Tangerine Dream Heads Into Space!!
alpha centauri
Tangerine Dream - 'Alpha Centauri' (Castle)
The First Space Music Album In History!
really beautiful.

Alpha Centauri (Dlx)
Tangerine Dream
Manufacturer: Sbme Castle Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000077SWT
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

SUNRISE IN THE THIRD SYSTEM
FLY AND COLLISION OF SOMAS SOLA
ALPHA CENTAURI
ULTIMA THULE PART 1 (SINGLE)

Customer Reviews:

Tangerine Dream Heads Into Space!!.......2005-09-05

"Alpha Centauri" is Tangerine Dream's second album (released in 1971) and is one of important significance for the band. Between their first album "Electronic Meditation" and this one, the band's personnel had shifted with Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler departing and Chris Franke and Steve Schroyder coming in to take their place with founding member Edgar Froese being the only holdover.
With the new band members also came a new musical direction. Unlike the free-form acid rock of "Electronic Meditation", "Alpha Centauri" adopts an ethereal darker experimental approach. More importantly, the album is also Tangerine Dream's first to feature synthesizers (which are played by Franke and guest musician Roland Paulyck). The synthesizer would eventually come to the forefront of the band's sound in later years when they would create some of their most innovative and pioneering electronic work.
"Alpha Centauri" includes three pieces that are musically similar yet different from each other. The opening track, "Sunrise in the Third System", is its shortest track clocking in at only 4 minutes. It begins with quiet strummed guitar harmonics from Edgar Froese which gives way to layered gothic organs, oscilating synthesizers and a high-pitched wail created on a slide guitar. While the style of the piece is largely experimental, it is still highly melodic and is almost classical sounding.
The 13-minute "Fly and Collision of Coma Sola" begins with a shrieking oscilating synthesizer. As the synth wavers and pulsates, the main motiff of the piece played on guitar and organ begins to slowly appear in the mix. When the synth oscillations disappear, the haunting motiff is exposed and begins to gradually crescendo until the sound fills the room being enchanced by flute (courtesy of guest Udo Dennebourg), thick layers of organ and a low-rumbling industrial synth. The highlight of the piece is its closing climax in which Chris Franke comes in with a thundering echoed drum figure which carries the track to a dynamic yet somewhat abrupt finish.
The album closes with its epic 22-minute title track, a tour-de-force of experimentation and spaced-out excursions. The piece begins with slow cymbal rolls and a quiet organ drone. As it progresses, the music becomes more strange with its echoed organ, freaky synthesizer noises, wandering flutes and melodic fragements drifting in and out of the mix. The piece moves into a completely different direction for its finale which consists of a haunting funeral-like organ phrase accompanied by a spoken German recitation and the band mimicing a dark mass choir. The slow fade-out of the piece is a very affective ending to this long epic.
While some parts of the album sound rather dated, "Alpha Centauri" is still way ahead of its time. The album displays Tangerine Dream's unashamedness to experiment with different sounds and the end result is undoubtedtly a classic of early Space music. After this album, keyboardist Steve Schryoder left the band and was replaced by Peter Baumann. Chris Franke would trade in his drum kit for a wall of synths and keyboards. This would become Tangerine Dream's first classic line-up which would begin with "Alpha Centauri's" follow-up "Zeit".
The Sanctuary reissue includes a new essay on the album and features a bonus track, the ultra-rare TD single "Ultima Thule Part 1". While it is a nice addition to the original album, it should be noted that the version of "Ultima Thule 1" included here is a remix and not the original version. The remix includes extra reverb on the drums and additional keyboard chords in the background. This version first appeared on the 2000 rarities compilation "Antique Dreams" and is the same version included on this reissue.

alpha centauri.......2005-09-04

Awfull. Sorry I bought it. Worse than I thought Tangerine Dream capable of.

Tangerine Dream - 'Alpha Centauri' (Castle).......2005-07-07

Originally released in 1971,as 'Alpha...' was the band's second album.Tangerine Dream has all too often been tagged as 'krautrock',but I thought they were more like electronic progressive."Sunrise In The Third System" featured some nicely done organ work as "Fly And Collision" had some good mellotron vibes going for it.The title cut,twenty-two minute "Alpha Centauri" employed some way-out-there sound effects,synth and flute improvisation.Of course,the original line-up is here,Edgar Froese-guitar&mellotron,Christopher Franke-keyboards and Steve Schroeder-organ.

The First Space Music Album In History!.......2005-01-21

Alpha Centauri is believed to be the first space music album ever made.This is Tangerine Dream's 2nd album.Released in 1971,this release sees TD abandoning their rock sound from their previous,debut album and swapping it for a much more,mellow,almost ambient,style of music,and I am glad to say it worked.Tangerine Dream had found their stride,thanks to a new band member,namely Christopher Franke,who would end up contributing to Tangerine Dream albums for about 16 years before leaving.Needless to say,his contributions greatly affected the band's sound,and improved it for the better.Chris Franke also was the one who first introduced the synthesizer to the band,which would end up becoming TD's most loved and permanent musical instrument.However,because it was only 1971 when this album was first released,the band's synths at the time were of the primitive,VCS 3 model,and if you would never had read the liner notes in the album,you would never notice the strange sounds heard on the album were coming from actual synthesizers,albeit primitive ones.In terms of description,Alpha Centauri is a space/experimental album,containing both beautiful and eerie music and soundeffects,that are so dominant and well-used in this album,that you could actually swear this is what outer space would sound like,if sound actually existed in space,that is.While the album opens with the haunting,Phantom Of The Opera style organ and eerie,wailing synth heard on "Sunrise In The Third System",this is not a preview of the rest of the music on the album,because as soon as the short opener is finished,it immediately turns over into the mellower,hauntingly beautiful piece,"Fly And Collission Of Comas Sola",complete with organ,synths,and beautiful flute,still with a touch of spaciness and eerieness.Only Tangerine Dream knew how to do that perfectly without ruining the space experience.The title track,"Alpha Centauri",is a long,epic journey into the mysterious depths of the universe and back.In my opinion,it is the best piece on the entire album,and best captures the feeling of floating in space,without actually doing it.A truly amazing piece of early ambient art.

Note:This re-release of Alpha Centauri comes with a tagged on bonus track,the early TD single,"Ultima Thule",which is not from this album,but is an early TD single from their rock days,and is not a big addition to the disc,even though it is rare,because it ruins the space atmosphere created by the real album,and therefore,ruins the experience.It was a stupid decision to add this to the disc.My advice is to play the disc until the end of its original content,so when the title track,"Alpha Centauri",is finished,stop it there,that way,you can enjoy the album the way it was meant to be.Other than that,this album is great.Don't let that bonus track deter you from this wonderful work of space/early ambient music.Trust me,this album is a must-have for ambient/space fans.Enjoy.

really beautiful........2003-10-03

This album proves that you can make powerful, amazing music without being the best virtuoso, having the best equipment, or the most theoretical knowledge. Music is about sound and the feeling that creates lasting impact. _Alpha Centauri_ emphasizes these factors with its stunning, primitive space rock.

The synthesizer equipment on this album is totally old-school. Although primitive and limited, these tools are powerful in the hands of Tangerine Dream. In some ways it reminds me of the composers Riley and Stockhausen, and minimalist classical music in general. The overall feeling is far more "narcotic" and "cosmic," however. This is very definitive psychedelic-space music. It's pretty hard to describe each piece. I'm stuck mostly with the lasting images they inspire. "Sunrise in the Third System" is like the force of Creation descending upon Nothingness...all in under four minutes! "Fly and Collision of Comas Sola" rises from distant, softly-strummed electric guitar and heavy organ into shrill analog synths, exotic flute, and rumbling, stormy drum rolls amidst the omnipresent crush of organ. On "Alpha Centauri", at first wailing synths move in and out of a shimmering fuzz of sustained electronic sound. Some flute brings a touch of "worldliness" to the entwined chords of synths, the sounds of which are becoming increasingly more "unworldly." Then there is this low-moaning oscillator stretched and it sounds like a soul being torn between the physical and ethereal. The music continues on, with the flute reappearing from time to time with different melodic motifs, and synthesizers becoming more light and airy. It's quite a great piece, with an amazing ending (at around the 18:00 mark). A monotone voice begins to speak in German, with a dramatic church-like scale progression on the organ. The German monologue dissipates, replaced with these strange disembodied choir-like sounds and laserbeam synths blipping randomly as it fades out. The bonus track, "Ultima Thule Part 1", is okay.

Tracks:

Sunrise in the Third System
Fly and Collision of Comas Sola
Alpha Centauri

Average customer rating:

Bonjour la France Retro, Vol. 3
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Alpha Centauri Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0007KUIUK
Release Date: 2005-01-17

Tracks:

Le Piano Du Pauvre
JAime Paris Au Mois De Mai
Le Bastille
Moi Je Sais
Le Jour Ou La Pluie Viendra
Plus Blue Que Tes Yeax
Quand JEtais Petit
La Priere
LHomme En Habit
Je Pense A Toi
Quand Je Monte Chez Toi
LEtranger Au Paradise
Proser
CEst La Vie De Boheme
Quand On SPromene Au Bord De LEau
Le Dormeur Du Val
Mets Deux Thunes Dans L Bastringue
Mon Reve CEtait Vous
Bambino
Chanson Pour LAuvergnat
La Foule
Elle Me Donne
Gondolier
Un Nouveau Printemps Tout Neuf
La Haine
JAi Troque
Route Nationale 7
Sur Ma Vie
Mon Pot Le Gitan
Mes Jeunes Annees
Si Tu MImagines
Le Gamin De Paris
Tweedle Dee
Tant De Fois
Ah ! Si Vous Connaisiez Ma Poule
QuEst-Ce Que Tu Dis DCa ?

Album Description

Two CD collection of classic French artists and the songs that they made legendary in their homeland. Features performances from Yves Montand, Jean Gabin, Henri Salvador, Dalida and others. 35 tracks including 'Le Piano Du Pauvre', 'Le Bastille', 'Moi Je Sais', 'La Priere' and more. Hot Town. 2006.

Average customer rating:

Praise of Tangerine Dream's ALPHA CENTAURI

Alpha Centauri
Tangerine Dream
Manufacturer: Ziriguiboom Brasil
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000006JQT
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Customer Reviews:

Praise of Tangerine Dream's ALPHA CENTAURI.......1998-11-02

Needless to say, Tangerine Dream early 70's surrealist album, ALPHA CENTAURI, is a cosmic masterpiece, taking music to new mind-bending depths and bringing the listener's mind along for a joyride. The skillful use of synthesizers was admirable for the time the album was recorded, but the feel of the album deserves the most attention, given that the emotional impact of the music is powerful and startling. Not only does the surreal music tear away the listener's preconceived notions about what music should be by experimenting with new sampler sounds, rhythms, etc., but it can also open the listener's mind to new worlds, making it an excellent album for meditation and other forms of mind expansion. Along with ELECTRONIC MEDITATION and ZEIT, ALPHA CENTAURI is one of Tangerine Dream's best albums to date, embodying the early spirit of Edgar Froese and his associates with stunning results.

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