Tangerine Dream – Phaedra

#TangerineDreamTuesday Week 5: PHAEDRA.

Wow. What can be said about Phaedra that hasn't already been said? Tangerine Dream's first album on Virgin Records, and their most famous...

Phaedra is an incredible album, especially given the struggles to make it. Recorded at Virgin's studio The Manor, TD grappled with equipment failure, power cuts and their temperamental new Moog, which would shift in pitch as it warmed up. "Mysterious Semblance..." was their first breakthrough, a piece by Edgar and Monique Froese on double-keyboard Mellotron, and the rest of the tracks soon followed: "Phaedra" showcasing their Moog Modular, working in tandem with their existing synths to create a journey through a landscape of sound; "Movements Of A Visionary", built on a hypnotic backbone of pulsating synths; and "Sequent C'", a final flute coda by Baumann alone.

Phaedra was the first TD album to break into the charts (reaching No. 15 in the UK) and thus became most listeners' first exposure to TD, earning them a solid international fanbase through the Virgin Years. Although having gotten into TD a few decades later, I ended up following a similar path with Phaedra as my first album, and I really can't think of a better introduction to the group. A landmark release in electronic music that, fifty-one years on, remains stunningly brilliant.

How much would my original pressing be worth in Mint condition?

You just want to hurdle through space while listening to this! Classic. The 2019 remaster is a big improvement. Glad I got to see them in concert (Radio City 1988). RIP Edgar.

Happy birthday PHAEDRA ... 50 years and one month today! I'm a late encounter of TD, although I was many years aware of their work. I dived deeper with the two boxes of CDs with their virgin years. Phaedra really is outstanding, the sequences, the choirs ... this is the first side of the medal of electronic music, with the other side being AUTOBAHN by Kraftwerk, also from 1974. So, what about the coin edge ... I leave that one for you!

I love all albums by Tangerine Dream from 70's and this one is definitley one of the best. I would like that we today have more of analog sounds like we have here and generaly in he Electronic music of 70's.

HO UNA COPIA CON LABEL COLORATE VIRGIN IT OVED 25,MA RIPRODUCE LA SECONDA FACCIATA DEL DISCO IN AMBO I LATI.ERRORE DI STAMPA? PUO' ESSERE UNA RARITA?

My copy is a french pressing with black and white label, gatefold, i need to create a new entry

Listening to this, so many years later, it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I bought this when it was released as it was known as perfect tripping music. Certainly with a tab, it all suddenly made sense. Nowadays I don't need any assistance and it is still magical.

i feel strangely cold whenever i listen to this album. Phaedra is just so haunting.
MSATSON is gorgeous and somewhat angelic.
moments of visionary is a somewhat scary and ominous tune but becomes more energetic and upbeat halfway in.
sequent c is just plain hypnotic.
overall, lovely album!

I can't believe how beautiful Phaedra track is !!!