For me, Hyperborea is Tangerine Dream's underrated masterpiece. Oft-ignored (certainly least mentioned) among the Virgin albums, Hyperborea is probably the group's most daring work of the 1980s. Whilst the gradual change towards melodic instrumental pop music is evident in the progression found through Exit, White Eagle and Le Parc, via the two live albums Logos and Poland, Hyperborea exists on its own, appearing out of leftfield and sounding entirely unlike anything the band have recorded before or since.Opener No Man's Land is an electronic raga of sorts, based around a single droning chord, and tabla and sitar samples. The typical Schmoelling-era tropes are there - twinkly sequences, drum machine beats - but are employed in such a way that makes the piece sound entirely unique. The intertwining melodies are both enchanting and catchy, and the piece is one of the most uplifting, joyous compositions I've ever heard. In stark contrast, the title track is slow and atmospheric, with reverbed drums and mysterious synth pads. One of the rare Tangerine Dream tracks to not be based around a sequencer line, the piece instead builds on stately melodies and an enigmatic mood. Cinnamon Road marks the return of the sitar, utilised in a poppier piece somewhat akin to White Eagle's Midnight in Tula. The album closes on Sphinx Lightning, which is occasionally criticised for being 'boring' - however, this seems to be largely due to its absence of driving solos. Instead, the improvisation atop the layers of sequences is much more textural, giving the piece a certain allegiance with the band's '70s works like Rubycon. After a moody first half, the piece picks up in mood, leading to a jubilant and celebratory outro, which mirrors the uplifting mood of the opening piece.Hyperborea is very much an anomaly in this era of Tangerine Dream, being more based around suggestive mood pieces than simple pop pieces or extensive synth solos; it is perhaps this that makes it somewhat forgotten, yet it is this that makes it my favourite album of theirs. An understated work of quiet genius, and one of all-time favourites by any artist.