Installation view of Tangerine Dream: Zeitraffer in the Barbican Music Library, London

Electronic Music Studios’ equipment first came to Tangerine Dream’s attention when they used an EMS VCS 3 analog synthesizer on their second studio album Alpha Centauri in 1971. This ground-breaking instrument, produced by Peter Zinovieff in London was added to over the next few years, with the band purchasing several (suitcase) Synthi-A and AKS models, these were used extensively on stage from 1972 onwards. The VCS 3’s unique bubbling modulations can be heard on Edgar’s first solo album Aqua (released 1974) as well as Tangerine Dream’s first two Virgin Records albums Phaedra (1974) and Rubycon (1975)