Is Heartbreakers – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack a good place to start with Tangerine Dream?

Yes, Heartbreakers – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is recommended as a starting point for new Tangerine Dream listeners. A lush tapestry of synth-driven melodies that evoke a cinematic dreamscape filled with emotion and nostalgia. Released on April 1, 1985, Heartbreakers marked Tangerine Dream's transition into film scoring, following their notable contributions to the soundtracks of films like Sorcerer and Thief. At this point in their career, the band was exploring more accessible melodic structures while maintaining their pioneering electronic sound. This soundtrack underlined their ability to create atmospheric music that complemented visual narratives.

How many songs are on Heartbreakers – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack?

Heartbreakers – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack has 11 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

Heartbreakers – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Tangerine Dream · 1985

38 min · 11 tracks · electronic music

A lush tapestry of synth-driven melodies that evoke a cinematic dreamscape filled with emotion and nostalgia.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Heartbreakers Start here — The title track opens the album with sweeping synth layers that set an emotional tone, encapsulating the film's themes of love and loss.
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Rain in N.Y. City — This track features intricate melodies that evoke the feeling of urban solitude, perfectly matching the film's narrative atmosphere.
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Desire — A standout piece where dynamic shifts in tempo and tone reflect the complexities of yearning, making it one of the most memorable compositions on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong composition and craft, with cohesive tracks that evoke a cinematic atmosphere.

What we noticed

The album features long, flowing tracks that often build gradually, layering synth melodies and textures over time.
Several tracks utilize a recurring motif that evolves throughout the piece, creating a sense of continuity.
The final track concludes with a gentle fade-out, leaving a lingering atmospheric quality.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing with ethereal tones
cinematic soundscapes for reflection
gradual emotional peaks throughout
for evening relaxation

Maybe skip if you

seeking fast-paced entertainment
prefer upbeat, energetic tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Heartbreakers solidified Tangerine Dream's status in electronic film scoring.
Themes: cinematic nostalgia· melodic yearning
Moods: Ethereal· Introspective
Career context: Released on April 1, 1985, Heartbreakers marked Tangerine Dream's transition into film scoring, following their notable contributions to the soundtracks of films like Sorcerer and Thief. At this point in their career, the band was exploring more accessible melodic structures while maintaining their pioneering electronic sound. This soundtrack underlined their ability to create atmospheric music that complemented visual narratives.
Stylistic neighbors: Klaus Schulze· Jean-Michel Jarre· Vangelis