AMG Review of Nebulous Dawn: The Early Years

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

Simply put, this box set is a reissue of Tangerine Dream's first four albums. Nebulous Dawn: The Early Years includes Electronic Meditation (Ohr, 1970); Alpha Centauri (Ohr, 1971); the double-disc Zeit (Ohr, 1972), and Atem (Ohr, 1973). Also enclosed in the three-disc package are the A- and B-sides of the single "Ultima Thule" (in two parts), released in February of 1972, and lastly, the very beginning of Edgar Froese's first band the Ones. Their only single, "Lady Greengrass" b/w "Love of Mine" from Star Club Records was released in June of 1967. It's forgettable. Packaged and sold by Sanctuary, the editions of these albums -- none of them split-up, thank goodness -- are the remastered ones from 2002. They do not contain original artwork, but there is a booklet in the set with a lengthy essay by David Wells that makes them well-worth the purchase price. If you've ever wondered what this band sounded like during their most adventurous stage, the way they developed their sound, and the sheer sonic paranoia, terror, and beauty they were capable of, this is a very wise investment indeed.