Although many TD fans seem to be divided into two camps, pre-'83 and post-'83, I confessedly like pretty well all of it. There are times when a good book and an album like "Zeit" go together, or there times when a long highway drive finds "Melrose" and some of it's likenesses more appealing. Favorite tracks "Dolls in the Shadow", "Art of Vision", and "Rolling Down Cahuenga" are good driving music, that you can still converse to with a passenger. This CD being the culmination of what TD's website calls, "The Melrose Years", they are characterized by prominent use of electronic percussion, to drive fairly simple yet memorable melodies along the way. The only thing that prevents me from giving "Melrose" a 5-star rating is the use of the electric guitar. Unlike almost everything else they do, I find the guitar solos a bit too abrasive for my middle-aged tastes. As a final note, if you want soemthing to travel with, "Melrose" is a good companion, along with "Optical race" and "Lily on the Beach".

Jerome Froese joins Edgar Froese and Paul Haslinger for another intense foray into the world of electronic music. Up-tempo tracks such as "Melrose", "Yucatan" and "Rolling Down Cahuenga" predominate, fiery, percussive and minor in tone with structures that build and stirring percussive beats that drive ever-forward. The interspersed slower tracks are a nice compliment to all of this, gentle and really very pretty (especially the wistful closing selection, "Cool at Heart"). Saxophonist Hubert Waldner, who also played on the group's previous release, "Lily on the Beach", joins the core trio here as well, wailing away to great effect on the opening track. What I like about Tangerine Dream's work is that it is unapologetically electronic, making full use of synthesizers by playing to their strengths--variety, volume and modernity--rather than trying to use the keyboards to emulate the sound of, say, string orchestras or folk instruments (which they really can't match ...yet...). By taking this approach, Tangerine Dream creates vibrant, new music--richly textured, intelligently structured, and all their own. Try their next release, "Tyger" for some creative departures.

I listen to this c.d. about three times a week, and have since I purchased it 15 years ago. I think this one along with most of their work since 1985's "Hyperborea" is their greatest work. Talk about haunting!And the piece entitled 'Electric Lion' is one of their most energy-driven, with an awesome use of electric guitar near the end that ultimately gives it a hard rock sound. While "Melrose" is not their #1 best c.d. it is definately in the Top 5 in my book. I highly recommend this c.d.if you enjoy haunting electronica with a hard rock overtones.

Okay, all of the comments linked here from Amazon's database are about the original Private Music release. This is, apparently, a re-release of the title on a different music label. Or, is it another Froese mashup of the original material? It has a different title, so I assume it is Jerome Froese's 2009 take on the original 1990 release. Why else give it a different disc title? If anyone landing on this page knows the answer and would be willing to post a reply, I'd appreciate it.

Though I enjoyed two or three of the tracks (especially #6), I quickly tire of this CD after a couple listenings. As I look at it now, I consider it to be the beginning of their 90's slump which they then perpetuated with Rockoon and then Turn of Tides (that latter of which is rather pitiful).

If you don't have Optical Race or Lily on the Beach, by all means get those CD's before you buy this one. You'll be glad you did....