Michael Hoenig - Departure From The Northern Wasteland

Peter Beasley · Post by **Peter Beasley** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:31 pm

2008 is the 30th anniversary of this superb album. It has been my favourite album for most of those years and is quite rightly regarded as a classic of the Berlin School genre.

Inspired by minimalist composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich, what makes this album outstanding for me is the subtle multi-layered sequencer rhythms in different time signatures, blended perfectly together and on 'Hanging Garden Transfer', Hoenig shows his musicianship skill with expressive, jazz influenced lead lines.

Anyone who loves mid-70s TD should own this album, but I wish the CD release had used the original cover with the balloons.

By the way, the UK music paper Sounds gave 'Departure' a brilliant review when it was released. Does anyone have the review and could post it here?

Pertou · Post by **Pertou** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:36 pm

I really like that LP. At first it annoyed me for it's sequencing too similar to TD, but I agree now. It is a classic.
Unfortunately I can't help with the article, but on EMportal someone made me aware of an interview with him from 1978 in Synapse Magazine.
http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm

Chris Monk · Post by **Chris Monk** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:18 pm

Departure from the Northern Wasteland is a great album and I don't think the CD version I have does it justice. I'd love to hear a fully remastered version because it was certainly better on vinyl.

bigmoog · Post by **bigmoog** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:51 am

I do recall the sounds review, not sure If I still have it tho'

DFTNW is a classic EM album

bigmoog · Post by **bigmoog** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:07 am

Ok, the thing about the vinyl Departure is the great cover art [which I always stare at when listening to the music....cos Im nutty like that], the wonderful music, which at the time was so TD it was TD.....these days I play it quite often as its another addictive, if predictable and dated yet modern, classic slice of late 70's electronic music....it aint no berlin schuul tho', more schwabische strasse stylee

epsilon75 · Post by **epsilon75** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:57 pm

Wonderful album from MH,it sure is a classic of the EM world

prophetfive · Post by **prophetfive** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:23 pm

epsilon75 wrote:Wonderful album from MH,it sure is a classic of the EM world

I play this a lot. A pure classic.

timer · Post by **timer** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:31 pm

Tis a good un, and agreed would benefit from a digital remastering .

prophetfive · Post by **prophetfive** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:42 pm

Oh, Can we have the cold air balloons back on the artwork, when it gets remastered

24db · Post by **24db** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:12 pm

Pertou wrote:I really like that LP. At first it annoyed me for it's sequencing too similar to TD, but I agree now. It is a classic.
Unfortunately I can't help with the article, but on EMportal someone made me aware of an interview with him from 1978 in Synapse Magazine.
http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm

nice interview with Edgar in the same issue (with some comments about Eno and Bowie)

timer · Post by **timer** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:24 pm

24db wrote:
Pertou wrote:I really like that LP. At first it annoyed me for it's sequencing too similar to TD, but I agree now. It is a classic.
Unfortunately I can't help with the article, but on EMportal someone made me aware of an interview with him from 1978 in Synapse Magazine.
http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm
nice interview with Edgar in the same issue (with some comments about Eno and Bowie)

there was a Bowie documentary on TV a few years ago , and i was astounded how many times he mention Edgar and his love of EIMP. The guys got taste.

24db · Post by **24db** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:11 pm

timer wrote:
24db wrote:
Pertou wrote:I really like that LP. At first it annoyed me for it's sequencing too similar to TD, but I agree now. It is a classic.
Unfortunately I can't help with the article, but on EMportal someone made me aware of an interview with him from 1978 in Synapse Magazine.
http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm
nice interview with Edgar in the same issue (with some comments about Eno and Bowie)
there was a Bowie documentary on TV a few years ago , and i was astounded how many times he mention Edgar and his love of EIMP. The guys got taste.

well, he did say he didn't like TD's music, so I think his taste has limits

HarryPotter No7 · Post by **HarryPotter No7** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:55 am

timer wrote:
24db wrote:
Pertou wrote:I really like that LP. At first it annoyed me for it's sequencing too similar to TD, but I agree now. It is a classic.
Unfortunately I can't help with the article, but on EMportal someone made me aware of an interview with him from 1978 in Synapse Magazine.
http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm
nice interview with Edgar in the same issue (with some comments about Eno and Bowie)
there was a Bowie documentary on TV a few years ago , and i was astounded how many times he mention Edgar and his love of EIMP. The guys got taste.

Is this the one where Mr Bowie kept referring to Edgar as Edward Froese, very amusing

24db · Post by **24db** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:35 am

Track one is very very good, but the rest doesn't hold my attention and hasn't been played in years

Tangerine Dream

Michael Hoenig - Departure From The Northern Wasteland

Michael Hoenig - Departure From The Northern Wasteland