“As far as I am concerned, DM V is a superb surprise”
1 The Return of The Time 7:47
2 Flow Paths 7:10
3 Scope Of Mind 6:59
4 Meshwork 6:22
5 Code To Zero 5:59
6 Polar Circles 6:05
7 Alien Sitcom 7:32
8 Hinterland 6:32
9 Mombasa (Touareg Remix) 9:38
Moonpop/Eastgate 043
(CD/DDL 64:04) (V.F.)
(E-Rock, EDM, Guitartronica)
It's easy to talk about the future when you do it in the present! Let me explain. Who would have thought that the Jerome Froese Mixes collection would have survived? Who would have thought that Jerome would have become a skilled studio monster, with a very good writing sense, when he made his first steps with his father in 1989? Not many people, especially not me. Today, we have to admit that Jerome Froese has well and truly earned his place in the EM world, even if his approach is less ethereal. Over the years, Jerome has enjoyed reshaping the music of his father and the Dream. Like many fans I heard those Mixes on the tip of my ears and each time I frowned until I seriously attacked the little phenomenon that is Jerome Froese.
I'll tell you right off the start; I love this DM V. You read that right! In an era where daddy Froese is re-recording new versions of Tangerine Dream's works, Jerome's approach brings a dynamism and a whole new vision of the phenomenon that was Tangerine Dream. And the more he progresses in his mixes, the more he tackles colossal works, like Rubycon and Poland. The Return of the Time is a remix of Rubycon. A totally transformed Rubycon that keeps all the aura of its mystery, amplified by discreet layers and vocals of a sober synth while being hammered with good percussions, sometimes rolling and frenetic, sometimes heavy and pounding. Jerome makes a skilful mix between jerky and syncopated rhythms and more or less vaporous passages, as if he wanted to preserve the identity of the Dream classics. With these percussions that come out with a zest of metal in the color of the sound, with an intro that reminds surprisingly Flashpoint, Flow Path proves to be a worthy descendant of Exit, but with a clear improvement in the cadence than on the original. Here as everywhere else on DM V, Jerome uses brilliantly his panoply of percussions and heterogeneous sound effects which jump and percussion on beautiful bass lines, drawing frenetic rhythms, tinted of a mythical ethereal aura. If Jerome respects the beginnings of the original works, he does not hesitate to cram them with powerful rhythms, as on the heavy and powerful Meshwork (Das Mädchen auf der Treppe) and Code to Zero (Midnight In Tula), although less heavy, and Alien Sitcom (Mojave End Title) which at times breaks the house down. If the heavy rhythm is the factor one of DM V, we find magical and tender moments, as with Polar Circle which is a very beautiful version of Miracle's Mile Running out of Time and Mombasa (Touareg Remix) which is as banal as the version of Booster III and this in spite of the crescendo effect that Jerome tries to put in it. Scope of Minds and Hinterland are splendid versions of different segments of Horizon where JF maintains all the harmonies and sequences by accentuating the approach of sequenced percussions on structures where the rhythms adopt marvellously these new percussion incursions. On this level, Hinterland is an impressive achievement.
As far as I am concerned, DM V is a superb surprise. And I have to admit that hearing it made me discover Jerome Froese's other mixes. If the son of the father Froese had strongly impressed me with Shiver me Timbers and The Speed of Snow, he hooks me intensely with these new remakes of the works of Tangerine Dream. Obviously, I won't push the pencil as far as to say that they supplant the originals, although it is difficult to do worse than Rockoon or Lily on the Beach and other musical adventures of the Miramar years, but they bring a good wind of freshness and audacity to titles that one would never have considered in another way.
Sylvain Lupari (September 30th, 2010) ***½**