Uploaded September 2013 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
Recorded At -- Panne-Paulsen Studios
Mixed At -- Panne-Paulsen Studios
Performer, Producer -- Klaus Schulze
Subtitled "Eine elektronische Winterlandschaft".
Recorded and mixed at Studio Panne Paulsen, Frankfurt/Main, Jan 77.
Dedicated to Hans Dieter Schulze.
Mirage is one of Klaus Schulze's best albums. It is certainly among the eeriest e-music sets ever. He created it as "an electronic winter landscape dedicated to Hans Dieter Schulze." It has somewhat of a symphonic structure. There are two main pieces: "Velvet Voyage" and "Crystal Lake." Each piece has six separate movements with experimental sounds serving as the recurring themes. The album has cold and icy textures that take listeners to the brink of the winter solstice. The experimental timbres give the set a sci-fi feel. This is vital space music. It will appeal to fans of Kevin Braheny, Richard Burmer, and Mychael Danna.
Recorded At -- Panne-Paulsen Studios
Mixed At -- Panne-Paulsen Studios
Performer, Producer -- Klaus Schulze
Subtitled "Eine elektronische Winterlandschaft".
Recorded and mixed at Studio Panne Paulsen, Frankfurt/Main, Jan 77.
Dedicated to Hans Dieter Schulze.
Mirage is one of Klaus Schulze's best albums. It is certainly among the eeriest e-music sets ever. He created it as "an electronic winter landscape dedicated to Hans Dieter Schulze." It has somewhat of a symphonic structure. There are two main pieces: "Velvet Voyage" and "Crystal Lake." Each piece has six separate movements with experimental sounds serving as the recurring themes. The album has cold and icy textures that take listeners to the brink of the winter solstice. The experimental timbres give the set a sci-fi feel. This is vital space music. It will appeal to fans of Kevin Braheny, Richard Burmer, and Mychael Danna.
![Michael Hoenig - Departure From The Northern Wasteland [1978]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Di5GGKv7_00/mqdefault.jpg "Michael Hoenig - Departure From The Northern Wasteland [1978]
Lets go straight to the point: If you are fond of mid 70s Tangerine Dream, you will enjoy for sure this album. Departure From The Northern Wasteland is crafted in the same stone than Ricochet and Encore, minus the guitars. With this record, Michael Hoenig offers beautiful, contemplative and inspired electronic music dispatched in four pieces, mostly instrumental.
The title track is undoubtly the highlight of the disc. Perfectly sequenced, synthetizers themes evolve slowly and superposing mellotron waves reveal magic and crystalline landscapes. The song fades away softly during its final part. The tune could have well figured on a Tangerine Dream release. The next track, Hanging Garden Transfer, displays a much faster, colder and more robotic sound. There are truely very trippy and catchy passages in it. Voices Of Where arrives as a surprise, as it features no rythm and hardly no sequencing at all, mainly mellotron and backing vocals. The tune is relaxing but is also the weakest of the album, as it tends to be repetitive by moments. This is easily catched up with the ending track, Sun And Moon, which brings the sequencer back. It is at first glance reminiscent of Ashras New Age Of Earth. Then keyboards become more energic to offer a quite enchanting and spacey futuristic conclusion.
Not terrificly new but very inspired, Departure From The Northern Wasteland is quite similar to the albums from the classic Tangerine Dream line up with Baumann. It was released the same year the band tried to change their sound, to create something else. However, this album proves that Michael Hoenig can rank among the best electronic progressive german musicians. Its a pity he hadnt recorded more albums (the next one, Xcept One, is rather deceiving). Highly recommended to TD fans !
(Review by Modrigue on progarchives.com)")
