Though founder-member Edgar Froese still leads a contemporary Tangerine Dream today, it is the period documented on this lavish four-CD box set that defines the classic Tangerine Dream sound and forms the basis of their reputation. Remastered and rerecorded by Froese himself, Tangents contains all the essential recordings from the groundbreaking trio"s 1973-83 Virgin recordings: Phaedra, Rubycon, Force Majeure, Stratosfear, Tangram, and Richochet. Rather than proceeding chronologically, each disc is an amalgam of the various periods, sequenced to provide an ultimate TD excursion. For it is the idea of journey that signifies the Tangerine Dream experience. Pioneering the use of early synthesizers, their pieces typically begin with rhythmically repeating sequences of notes, upon which lush and dreamy keyboard sounds are layered, slowly developing into a sense of deep space. The music is, by turns, foreboding and uplifting, majestic and cinematic. It was the ultimate "headphone" music of the time, making liberal use of stereo pans and long, receding reverberations. Though labels such as "space rock" and, later, New Age, were put on their music, Tangerine Dream have remained a world unto themselves. The music never really "rocks," and any mystical, healing aspects of their music appear incidental. Though precursors to so-called ambient music, Tangerine Dream seems more about triggering dreams and fostering inner mental landscapes. According to Froese, in a lengthy liner-note statement answering the band"s false interpreters and naysayers, "Tangerine Dream"s music has only switched on the projector of your own personal dream--nothing more." While obviously aimed at the ardent fan, complete with a sumptuously designed booklet and an extra disc of previously unreleased Edgar Froese material, this well-conceived box set serves equally well as the definitive introduction for new listeners. --Wally Shoup