Thorsten "Q" Quaeschning, keyboarder at Tangerine Dream



PicturePalace music - Somnambulistic Tunes
(2007, Manikin Records MRCD 7081)

music inspired by Robert Wiene's 'Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari'

Synth Music Direct (UK)

Thorsten Quaeshning has played on many a Tangerine Dream album as well as being part of the band's live performances. Some of this album was even recorded at Edgar's Eastgate Studio. The CD was inspired by Robert Wiene's 'Das Cabinet des Dr Caliga'. I believe that the music here could be thought of as a soundtrack to the film. 'Overture' does have something of a TD feel, dramatic stabs setting the scene whilst a little melody shimmers over the top. Drum flourishes build a feeling of tension. Sawing strings materialise giving proceedings an appropriately cinematic feel. A good opener. A sequence emerges as we transcend to the second part. Moody electric guitar and harpsichord type lead line join it. This is all rather stripped down stuff where subtlety creates the atmos. A more energetic forceful rhythm starts up as we enter the next stage. A real groove is developed helped by a really nice bass line with faint melodies weaving between the beats. Angelic vocal colouring can be heard from time to time which continue through to the title track. The vocals overlay each other creating a quite beautiful serene atmosphere. Near the end a sequence bubbles to the surface but then quickly decays again. As we move to the next section a more prominent sequence emerges accompanied by lovely guitar licks.

Things become more symphonic again as we move through to the next part. It's all quite nice I suppose, though rather soporific but as the title is 'Night, Night, Night' that is to be expected. More rhythms kick things back to life, propelling us through the next scene, TD stylings showing once more. For the eighth part, slow drums create a very effective moody atmos, the sparseness of the backing making things even more effective. The following part features nice brooding symphonics which create a lovely melancholy feel. As you would expect 'The Funeral Night' is all rather tranquil with a slow melancholy sax lead. A sedate sequence emerges in support of the melody. Things wind down through a short bridging section before crashing drums energise proceedings for 'On the Run'. Strange growling animal noises can be heard as the intensity of the rhythm grows. We transcend to eerie nightmarish electronic effects for the next section and very effective they are too. Next up is (at thirteen minutes) by far the longest track. A repeated piano melody shimmers from the speakers accompanied by dreamy lead line with just a hint of melancholy. Once again this has quite a TD feel. Fresh leads come and go but the mood remains the same. The pace quickens slightly as things become more syncopated.

Piano returns as we go with the ebb and flow. Little percussive guitar licks hit the spot perfectly. We pass through a short symphonic bridging section then vast drums pulse out like the hammering of some Hellish mallet. More strings swell underneath as malevolent hissing noises rise from the depths. The album comes to a mellow close with more strings. Even though this album does show Tangerine Dream influences on quite a few tracks, Thorsten also takes things off in different directions letting the film that influenced the work lead him where it will, giving the project an identity of its own. (DL)

Dave Law, Synth Music Direct, 2008