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Post by spacedog on Jul 16, 2019 13:15:02 GMT
Following on from the excellent experimental DIY project from NightMachines, I just saw the attached piece of advertising from the 1974 Tangerine Dream concert at the Rainbow in London. From further reading, it cost an amazing £70,000 back in 1974. A bit more digging unearthed a picture of one currently housed in the Grainger Museum in Melbourne. This also mentions the link to Tangerine Dream. At a time when we're contemplating the 50th anniversary of landing on the Moon, I find it interesting to consider what we can achieve now for minimal cost.  |
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Post by spacedog on Jul 16, 2019 13:21:13 GMT
Even further digging provided this review from the NME.
Quite apart from John Peel’s laconic introduction, and fancy pyjamas, Saturday night at the Rainbow promised to be special for two distinct reasons. Not only was it Tangerine Dream’s opening performance on their first British tour, they were also introducing, mixed media into their entire act, this being the Spectre Video Synthesiser’s world premiere. In addition to the Spectre (£70,000 if you want one) they incorporated cameras and oscilloscope with the group doing their own mixing on stage.
Unfortunately, the much-heralded visual/aural synchronisation wasn’t quite the cosmic gas expected. The images were certainly fascinating, sometimes stunningly impressive, but they rarely bore much relevance to the actual musical suggestion; at their worst they were hypnotic and distracting. Presumably, the Video’s purpose is to inspire private sensation, though the very scale of the experiment nullified its effectiveness; the result was more akin to being a spectator in a sterilised laboratory. Clinical detachment hung heavy in the auditorium.
One was oblivious of the musicians until their images were thrown onto the screen, each man intensely encased at the heart of his own controls; I thought this the Video’s most successful contribution to the entertainment.
Mmmm, doesn't sound like that reviewer thought the £70,000 was worthwhile - or maybe he just didn't get Tangerine Dream  |
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Post by NightMachines on Jul 16, 2019 13:26:49 GMT
Wow! That thing looks really neat with its cleanly laid out interface. I assume you’re also hunting for a video or pictures of the performance now. Would love to see it, especially after the NME article  |
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bahm
Full Member
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Post by bahm on Jul 16, 2019 13:33:43 GMT
You can still buy this at EMS Rehberg for 40k Euros. VIDEOSIZER
You can also buy the EMS Synthesizers of course. |
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Post by rockysmalls on Jul 16, 2019 13:52:38 GMT
Even further digging provided this review from the NME.
Quite apart from John Peel’s laconic introduction, and fancy pyjamas, Saturday night at the Rainbow promised to be special for two distinct reasons. Not only was it Tangerine Dream’s opening performance on their first British tour, they were also introducing, mixed media into their entire act, this being the Spectre Video Synthesiser’s world premiere. In addition to the Spectre (£70,000 if you want one) they incorporated cameras and oscilloscope with the group doing their own mixing on stage.
Unfortunately, the much-heralded visual/aural synchronisation wasn’t quite the cosmic gas expected. The images were certainly fascinating, sometimes stunningly impressive, but they rarely bore much relevance to the actual musical suggestion; at their worst they were hypnotic and distracting. Presumably, the Video’s purpose is to inspire private sensation, though the very scale of the experiment nullified its effectiveness; the result was more akin to being a spectator in a sterilised laboratory. Clinical detachment hung heavy in the auditorium.
One was oblivious of the musicians until their images were thrown onto the screen, each man intensely encased at the heart of his own controls; I thought this the Video’s most successful contribution to the entertainment.
Mmmm, doesn't sound like that reviewer thought the £70,000 was worthwhile - or maybe he just didn't get Tangerine Dream this is actually ‘par for the course’ with the NME in those days .. they were a sniffy bunch of t#@ts for another decade or so.. |
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Post by spacedog on Jul 16, 2019 14:21:07 GMT
Wow! That thing looks really neat with its cleanly laid out interface. I assume you’re also hunting for a video or pictures of the performance now. Would love to see it, especially after the NME article Aha, NightMachines, you have come to know me rather too well I think No pictures have ever emerged of that performance; however, it was used on that 1974 tour of the UK and from the gig at the NE London Polytechnic (in Walthamstow on 6th Nov 1974), one picture has emerged. It's not great, but hey...  |
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Post by spacedog on Jul 16, 2019 14:26:47 GMT
You can still buy this at EMS Rehberg for 40k Euros. VIDEOSIZER
You can also buy the EMS Synthesizers of course. I'll pass for now, at least until my fully-loaded Moog 3P arrives... but I am rather taken with the DIY project from NightMachines ... now THAT would be fun and I could pretend that I'm back in the early 70's giving it large (hopefully the slang term is well known ) on my Mellotron. |
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