In 1974, ‘Phaedra’ redefined the landscape of electronic music. What began as an experimental session at Richard Branson’s Manor Studios in Oxfordshire became a seismic event in modern sound. Using the Moog sequencer for the first time, Tangerine Dream - then comprised of Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke & Peter Baumann - crafted ‘Phaedra’, an album that shimmered with innovation, mystery & a palpable sense of discovery.

Half a century later, Tangerine Dream returned to London’s Barbican to honour that landmark work - reimagining it for a new era. ‘50 Years of Phaedra: At The Barbican’ captures this transcendent live performance, in which the current line-up - Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane & Paul Frick - revisit the spirit of ‘Phaedra’ with the very tools that Froese & his collaborators helped pioneer.

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.

This 2CD edition of ‘50 Years of Phaedra: At The Barbican’ is presented as a CD digipack & includes a 12-page printed booklet with liner notes from bandleader Thorsten Quaeschning & reflections from band manager Bianca Froese-Acquaye.