Recommended Listening
Christopher Franke Solo Albums
Obviously, if you’re looking for music similar to what we love on Babylon 5, try out some of Franke’s solo albums. Klemania is my most recommended listen. Its sound is extremely similar to the music of Babylon 5. In fact, a small portion of Klemania was used in the season one episode “Chrysalis”. His other albums are also very well done, although they are more New Age in style.
Recommended albums: Klemania, Pacific Coast Highway
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is the next sensible choice to make if you are trying out similar music to Franke’s. He was a member of Tangerine Dream for sixteen years and some considered him the “heart” of the group. His signature rhythms and electronic soundscapes were responsible for that unique sound that made Tangerine Dream famous. Very highly recommended.
Recommended albums: Hyperborea, Ricochet, Stratosfear, Exit
Klaus Schulze
One of the best electronic artists alive today, Schulze has deep roots in Krautrock and electronic music and was a drummer for Tangerine Dream in 1970. His music ranges from ambient soundscapes to rhythmic trance. He has released over 40 solo albums and many other compilations and collaborations. My highest recommendation if you are looking for music from the same roots as Christopher Franke.
Recommended albums: Are You Sequenced?, Body Love, The Dark Side Of The Moog Series
Ash Ra Tempel / Ashra
Another great German electronic group. Co-founded by Klaus Schulze as Ash Ra Tempel in 1970 (eventually shortening the name to Ashra in 1977), this group has a great sound.
Recommended albums: Friendship, @shra: Volume 2
Steve Roach
As a pioneering cornerstone of ambient-atmospheric-electronic music, internationally-renowned artist Steve Roach has dedicated four decades to exploring myriad soundworlds that connect with a timeless source of inspiration. (Biography from his Bandcamp page.)
Recommended albums: Spiral Revelation, Bloom Ascension, Groove Immersion
Redshift
Redshift came into existence in 1994, initially as a solo project by Mark Shreeve. Shreeve had already established himself with his own more “structured” style of electronic music, along with pop songwriting, film score, TV and Library music output. The idea behind Redshift was to create a darker, organic style of electronic music using mainly, though not exclusively, old analogue synthesisers. (Biography from their Bandcamp page.)
Recommended albums: Ether, RW Three, Colder
Node
Node are Flood (U2, PJ Harvey, Warpaint), Ed Buller (Suede, Pulp, White Lies), Dave Bessell, and Mel Wesson. Pooling their talents, these musicians create atmospheric, Tangerine Dream-like soundscapes using an array of vintage modular synthesizers.
Recommended albums: Node Live, Node 2
Ulrich Schnauss
German producer of ethereal electronic music which calls to mind such diverse influences as Chapterhouse, My Bloody Valentine and LFO. Schnauss has been a member of Tangerine Dream since 2014.
Recommended albums: Far Away Trains Passing By, A Strangely Isolated Place