Tangerine Dream | 50 Years of Phaedra: At the Barbican

Part of Phaedra’s magic lay in its imperfections: the original sequences were never truly quantised, their timing drifting unpredictably through the Moog’s analogue circuitry. That subtle instability became part of its charm – a human pulse within the machine - yet it long left current bandleader Thorsten Quaeschning intrigued by what a fully realised version might reveal. Now, fifty years later, Tangerine Dream have revisited the work with the precision that technology once denied them. ‘50 Years of Phaedra: At The Barbican’ is the first time ‘Phaedra’ has been performed fully quantised, each motif beautifully aligned with a crystalline precision previously unheard.

For over five decades, Tangerine Dream have stood as pioneers of electronic sound, shaping the evolution of ambient, film & synthesiser music. Founded in Berlin in 1967 by Edgar Froese, the group became synonymous with the “Berlin School” of electronic composition, influencing generations of artists from Jean-Michel Jarre & Depeche Mode to Radiohead & M83. Their vast catalogue spans over a hundred albums, including acclaimed film scores for ‘Sorcerer’, ‘Risky Business’ & ‘Firestarter’ & countless live performances that redefined what electronic music could be on stage. Universally recognised for their visionary approach to texture, atmosphere & technology, Tangerine Dream remain one of the most innovative & iconic forces in modern music.