Conversation so far:
What led Tangerine Dream to go independent?
Tangerine Dream wanted artistic freedom with their music that wouldn't be possible outside of going independent.
What happened when Tangerine Dream went public?
Thought Tangerine Dream wasn't overtly popular during their debut era, they helped pave the way for other musicians of the same or similar genre.
Did Tangerine Dream have any successful albums?
The Tangerine Dream's 1973 album Atem was named as Album of the Year by British DJ John Peel.

Question: What was the music like during this time?
Self-contained rewrite: What was the music like during the 1980s?