When TANGERINE DREAM signed to Virgin Records in 1973, the German ensemble’s international wasn’t warranted – after all, Berlin School of electronica might seem alien to many a British, let alone American, listener – but it seemed quite likely. So while the success of the band’s first offering released on the label, “Phaedra” from the following year, could be perceived as the delight of novelty, the warm reception of 1975’s “Rubycon” felt well-deserved on the album’s own merit. The platter – one of the finest moments by the trio of Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke and Peter Baumann – grew in status over the decades, and fans should rejoice in knowing that November 28th will see the classic’s expanded reissue.
There are no studio outtakes nor surround-sound remixes this time, with the new five-CD edition simply taken out of 2019’s “In Search Of Hades: The Virgin Recordings 1973-1979” box set. The remaster of the original stereo mix, augmented with an extended introduction mixed by Steven Wilson, takes one disc, and two contemporary concerts, which give the record live context, from London’s The Rainbow and The Royal Albert Hall, the former show preceding the album’s appearance and the latter following it, get two discs each. A deep and enjoyably immersive dive in ambient history.
Rubycon
CD 1 – Rubycon:
1. Rubycon, Part One
2. Rubycon, Part Two
bonus track:
3. Rubycon (extended introduction)
CD 2 – Live at the Rainbow, London – October 27th, 1974 – Pt. 1:
1. Introduction by John Peel
2. The Rainbow Concert, Part One
3. The Rainbow Concert, Part Two
CD 3 – Live at the Rainbow, London – October 27th, 1974 – Pt. 2:
1. The Rainbow Concert, Part Three
2. Rainbow Concert. Encore
CD 4 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London – April 2nd, 1975 – Pt. 1:
1. The Royal Albert Hall Concert, Part One
CD 5 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London – April 2nd, 1975 – Pt. 2:
1. The Royal Albert Hall Concert, Part Two
2. The Royal Albert Hall Concert, Encore
