"A message stated, 'Return, for your work has entered the Top 20.' Peter Baumann pondered, 'Which Top 20 are we referring to?' He found the oddity mysterious."
Peter Baumann Returns with New Album 'Nightfall'
After a hiatus spanning several decades, synth maestro Peter Baumann, a former member of Tangerine Dream during their imperial 70s phase, is making a comeback with a new album titled Nightfall. The instrumental album, rich in atmosphere and mood, is a series of endlessly mutating soundscapes that continue Baumann's exploration of the human condition.
Baumann's creative strategy in the studio involves working on a track, stepping back, and returning to it for a fresh perspective. This method, honed over the years, has resulted in a body of work that is both unique and consistent in style.
Baumann's solo career began in earnest after he left Tangerine Dream in 1977. He released albums such as Romance 76 while still a member of the band and continued afterward. However, he faced challenges with promotion and label support, particularly with his album Life Is A Grand, which he considered unfinished business but later gained cult status and positive reevaluation.
Post-Tangerine Dream, Baumann's work was characterized by direct expression, unconventional melodies, and experimentation. His collaborations and other musical projects beyond Tangerine Dream are less detailed in the available search results, but his post-Tangerine Dream works reflect a thoughtful and experimental approach consistent with his electronic music background.
Baumann's return to music in 2014 was marked by the release of his first solo album for decades, Machines Of Desire. More recently, he collaborated with Paul Haslinger, a former member of Tangerine Dream, resulting in the album Neuland in 2019.
Reflecting on his time with Tangerine Dream, Baumann recalls the best concerts as those when they became lost in a track and lost track of time. This sense of immersion and exploration is evident in his latest work, Nightfall. Baumann finds value in instrumental music because it offers a unique experience each time it's heard.
Baumann's work with Tangerine Dream was instrumental in advancing the Berlin School of electronica, creating avant-garde music that was influenced by more obscure sources, such as Ligeti's compositions. One of their most notable collaborations was the soundtrack to William Friedkin's 1977 action-thriller Sorcerer, Baumann's final album with Tangerine Dream.
The release of Nightfall coincided with a belated 50th-anniversary edition of Tangerine Dream's groundbreaking album Phaedra. Baumann recalls receiving a telegram from Richard Branson informing him that Phaedra was in the UK Top 20, an unexpected achievement at the time.
After Tangerine Dream, Baumann preferred to operate in the margins, making music on his own terms and in his own time. This independent spirit is evident in his latest work, Nightfall, a testament to Baumann's unspoiled creative drive that remains uninfluenced by notions of commercialism.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Baumann set up the Baumann Foundation in 2009, a think-tank exploring "the experience of being human in the context of cognitive science, evolutionary theory and philosophy."
For fans of Baumann's early work and those discovering his music for the first time, Nightfall offers a compelling listen, a testament to Baumann's enduring talent and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of electronic music.
- Peter Baumann's latest album, Nightfall, is a series of endlessly mutating soundscapes, serving as a continuation of his exploration of the human condition.
- Baumann's solo career saw the release of albums like Romance 76, and he faced challenges with promotion, particularly with his album Life Is A Grand, which later gained cult status.
- In 2014, Baumann returned to music with the release of his first solo album in decades, Machines Of Desire.
- Baumann's work with Tangerine Dream was influential in advancing the Berlin School of electronica, and their collaboration on William Friedkin's 1977 action-thriller Sorcerer was one of their most notable works.
- Aside from music, Baumann also established the Baumann Foundation in 2009, a think-tank exploring the experience of being human in the context of cognitive science, evolutionary theory, and philosophy.
- Nightfall, an instrumental album rich in atmosphere and mood, offers a unique listening experience, reflecting Baumann's unspoiled creative drive and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of electronic music.
