Album Review: Tangerine Dream - From Virgin To Quantum Years: Coventry Cathedral 22 (2025, KScope)
- Stuart Ball
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Written: 21st June 2025
The first voice heard on From Virgin to Quantum Years: Coventry Cathedral 22 is that of a cathedral employee, expressing his love for Tangerine Dream and asking if anyone attended the 1975 concert there. It is a striking introduction, immediately reminding us of the location’s historical significance. That original concert, performed by Tangerine Dream’s iconic Virgin-era lineup of Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann, and Christopher Franke, has long been legendary. Nearly fifty years later, in 2022, the band returned to that same sacred space, with the lineup of Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane, and Paul Frick delivering a performance that honoured the past while standing firmly in the present. This live album captures that moment perfectly.
For full disclosure, I have been a fan of Tangerine Dream since the mid-1980s, first captivated by the expansive textures of Force Majeure, the mysterious sounds of Phaedra, the tighter, sleeker tones of Exit, and their vast range of soundtrack work. I have also enjoyed their recent studio albums, with Quantum Gate and Raum providing some of the most rewarding Tangerine Dream material in years. What stands out about this performance is not only the setlist, but how beautifully it flows in the order presented, carrying the listener across decades with a deliberate, immersive sense of progression. Here, I am reviewing the three disc edition.
Opening with Stratosfear - one of their defining Virgin-era moments - the set draws the audience in immediately with familiar, melodic sequences resonating through the cathedral’s acoustics. It is an inspired start, met with the enthusiastic reception it deserves. When Betrayal follows, it sparks a genuine rush of excitement. The Sorcerer soundtrack remains one of the band’s most important works, and hearing Betrayal here, with its creeping menace and measured build, is spine-tingling. A great piece from a wonderful film, its inclusion is everything one could hope for; hearing it in this space brings those cinematic images vividly to life.
Next comes Continuum, handled with assurance and linking past to present, before The Dream Is Always the Same appears. First heard on the Risky Business soundtrack in the 1980s, it carries that unmistakable shimmering Tangerine Dream mood and has become a firm favourite among listeners who discovered the band through cinema. Raum builds gradually afterwards - patient and expansive - reaching a beautifully judged melodic sweep. It Is Time to Leave When Everyone Is Dancing adds a different energy, slightly more rhythmic, sharpening the set’s contours.
Love on a Real Train appears as expected, remaining one of their most widely recognised pieces outside the core fanbase. Here, it serves as a familiar access point for those who came to Tangerine Dream through film rather than albums. Hoshiko Yamane’s violin is utterly sublime, adding a new dimension to the piece. You’re Always on Time sharpens the mood, with Choronzon cutting through next; its urgent sequences remind me why Exit has always been one of their most direct, purposeful albums and a personal favourite.
Disc two brings more variation. Los Santos City Map connects with fans familiar with the band from Grand Theft Auto V, sitting neatly here as it bridges decades effortlessly. An excerpt from Tangram brings elegance and a reminder of how melody has always shaped Tangerine Dream’s best work. Portico then leads smoothly into Ricochet, preceded by its delicate Piano Intro, and the flow continues effortlessly. Everything that follows feels part of one continuous statement.
White Eagle opens reflective spaces before Phaedra returns the set to darker territory, its pulse slow but insistent. Kiew Mission - another highlight from Exit - is elevated by the thoughtful playing of special guest Steve Rothery of Marillion. His guitar lines thread carefully through the texture, adding colour without distracting from the electronic framework. It is a measured, expressive contribution, integrated rather than standing apart.
Cloudburst Flight, from Force Majeure, becomes something more here. Always one of Tangerine Dream’s finest pieces, it is enriched by Rothery’s playing. His additions glide gently across the existing melodic structure, drawing out extra emotional layers without disturbing the balance. His role is not to decorate but to extend the composition’s reach, bringing a different kind of lyricism to one of the band’s most powerful live tracks. It stands as one of the set’s defining moments.
Disc three is devoted entirely to the Coventry Cathedral 22 Session, split into six parts showcasing Tangerine Dream’s signature blend of improvisation and control. The soundscape unfolds gradually, layering themes with careful pacing rather than haste or flashiness. Rothery’s subtle guitar work adds emotional depth without disrupting the flow, weaving in and out to enhance rather than dominate. The Session stands out for its logical, structured progression - from delicate atmospheres to richer, more dynamic textures before gently returning to quiet - bringing the concert to a coherent and satisfying close. It is a perfect balance of improvisation and restraint, highlighting why Tangerine Dream’s work remains vital and compelling.
Reflecting on the performance, Thorsten Quaeschning described it as, “a key moment in reconnecting different parts of Tangerine Dream’s story with the present.” That is precisely what this set achieves. This is not nostalgia; it is development. Edgar Froese’s vision remains central, but Tangerine Dream in this form are not simply preserving his work - they are continuing it, expanding it, finding new ways to express their legacy - they are clearly not remaining stuck in the past.
Some fans once questioned whether Tangerine Dream should have continued after Edgar Froese’s passing, but that question has long since been answered. Quantum Gate and Raum gave the clearest response in the studio, and this live recording provides further proof. The band have not stood still. They have moved forward with integrity, commitment, and intelligence. What makes From Virgin to Quantum Years: Coventry Cathedral 22 such a rewarding release is the unity of purpose across the entire set. The early classics sit naturally alongside the strongest of their modern work, and Rothery’s contributions to Kiew Mission, Cloudburst Flight, and the Session add expressive detail and sensitivity at key points. Nothing is overstated; everything earns its place. It reflects a band confident in their history, still driven to create, still finding meaning in the spaces between melody and abstraction.
From Virgin to Quantum Years: Coventry Cathedral 22 is released on 27th June 2025.
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