Original albums of a pioneer

First of all: In this four-CD box contains the original albums by Edgar Froese from 1974 to 1983 - a period in which he stood as his group Tangerine Dream with Virgin under contract. This appears important because Froese has re-released a few years ago his solo albums revised from this period. Mostly he walked away with this modernization but rather significantly from the original version. Personally, I prefer the original versions of the plates - also because you can learn so one on one, which pioneered Froese has accomplished in the 70 years in the field of electronic music with sequencers, mellotron and synthesizers.

Qualitatively and the listening experience here can be the Froese solo albums with the publications of TD compare. In detail:

- Aqua (1974): The name already suggests: water is the central motif of the plate. Cleverly Froese connects bubbling and splashing with eletronischen sounds. Mostly remembered the still at the experimental phase of TD, partly can be admired here already complex Klanngebilde a la "Phaedra".

- "Epsilon in Malaysian Pale" (1975): Wonderful soundscapes in the vein of "Rubycon" and "Phaedra" - unfortunately not nearly as well known as the two TD classics.

- "Ages" (1978): change of style: Froese moves to shorter, more compact structures. There are indications already in the style of the following TD-albums "Cyclone" and "Force Majeure": It goes towards prog rock. Electric guitar and drums appear on equal footing with the electronics. Overall, a little indecisive, sometimes aimlessly drifting album with light and shadow.

- "Stuntman" (1979): Here the Berlin launches into the digital age. Compared to its predecessor and most other TD-plates playful out of time and marked by a rather mild mood.

- "Pinnacles" (1983): As is often inspired by landscapes (here: Australia). Spherical, with a slight ethnic touch, sounds a bit like the little brother of "Hyperborea" (but does not come close).

- Extras: there are still alternative versions that Froese has been published to Virgin times on various pieces from the 70s. Real added value but they do not offer.

So meritorious is the re-release of the original solo albums Froese: This box also has weaknesses. So the albums are distributed on four CDs. In order for the albums except "Aqua" and "Pinnacles" are fragmented, a continuous listening experience is not so. In addition, the soundtrack to "Kamikaze 1989 'is missing from the year 1982 (a bizarre sci-fi thriller with Rainer Werner Fassbinder in the title role). "Not featured" says succinctly in the CD booklet. That's too bad, because this album is very successful and long since out of print.

This tarnishes a little joy. Nevertheless - solely because of the music - there is full marks here.