Stuntman is a relatively conservative effort from Froese at a time when he was at the peak of his creativity. Mostly a synthesizer-only based work with some guitar solos to spruce it up. Gone is drummer Klaus Kruger, so the sound is sparse compared to the albums that surround it. From a melody perspective one can hear his style at the time, and elements of Force Majeure and Tangram are apparent. Overall it remains an excellent work, though it could be considered his weakest release (including Tangerine Dream) since Atem (1973) all the way to White Eagle (1982). That's a powerful statement demonstrating just how great Edgar Froese was during this ten year period.
Ownership: 1984 Virgin UK (LP). Acquired in 1984.1984; 4/6/16; 10/19/23 (new entry)
As noted before, other than Macula Transfer, Froese's solo albums tended to mirror what he was doing with Tangerine Dream at that time. Ages very much represents the Cyclone and Force Majeure albums, though with more of an electronic focus. The difference maker here is drummer Klaus Kruger who puts in a splendid performance.
Though, to be honest, it takes a bit to get going. Album 1 of the double set could have used quite a bit of trimming. Both 'Metropolis' and 'Tropic of Capricorn' are way too long and aren't that exhilarating to begin with. Only 'Era of the Slaves' is representative of the excellence the album affords.
For an album that has 33 minutes of just OK material, it just goes to show how strong the second half is, which is among Froese's best achievements, and that's saying something given the sheer amount of brilliance he'd composed over the years. 'Nights of Automatic Women' is the most energetic piece Froese was ever involved with. The blazing sequencers are only topped by Kruger's energetic and inventive drum kit work. 'Icarus' sounds like a leftover from the Macula Transfer album with its thick Moog sequence and heavy psychedelic guitar work. 'Children's Deeper Study' is a very unique sequencer driven piece with awesome production and a melody that sticks long after. 'Pizarro and Atahuallpa' is yet another very unique piece that features mellotron, hand percussion, and funky wah wah guitar. One of those rare songs where the mellotron carries the memorable melody line. 'Golgatha and The Circle Closes' reminds me of the mournful endings of both the Stratosfear album and the Force Majeure title track. This closes off a stunning album of electronic music.
Ownership: 1978 Virgin UK (2xLP). There are two covers that you will find, one has blue lettering, the other green. This copy is the former. Acquired in 1983.4//83; 7/5/22 (new entry)
It wasn't long after I discovered Tangerine Dream in the early 1980s, that I found myself immersed in the Froese discography. And I promptly picked up every album from Aqua to Pinnacles. None were as profound to my young ears as Macula Transfer.
For me, Tangerine Dream's Phaedra and Rubycon were life changers - albums that altered the way I viewed, and ultimately listened to, music. To this day Rubycon is a Top 5 album, and probably will always remain that way. So it has seemed strange to me that Aqua and Epsilon in Malaysian Pale never resonated in a similar manner. Froese's solo albums typically represented the same style of the corresponding Tangerine Dream album of the same year. And in that way, both Aqua and Epsilon in Malaysian Pale are further elaborations on ideas set forth prior. And since they are solo albums, they do indeed sound like stripped down versions of the more fleshed out Tangerine Dream trio. I never embraced them in the same way. So last week, as I picked up a new Green Brain LP copy of Aqua, I was determined to give it one more shot. And still no emotional movement. Just so I'm clear - I think these albums are excellent. They are absolutely essential to a serious electronic music collection, and they both come wholeheartedly recommended from me. But they aren't special in the same way that Phaedra and Rubycon are. To me, that is.
So with all that out in the open, let me state now that Macula Transfer is indeed that special album. It was always the "odd album out" in the Froese catalog. It's the only album by Froese, and Tangerine Dream for that matter, that was released on Brain Metronome exclusively. No represses on Virgin. And because of the latter omission, finding Macula Transfer on CD has become quite the challenge. But before we go to that topic, let's discuss the music. Because it too is quite unique. Macula Transfer is unlike any Froese album... or Tangerine Dream album. It is not Froese's solo response to Stratosfear. Or to anything else. Even today, as countless artists try to recreate the "classic trio" era of Tangerine Dream, no one has really attempted a try at what Froese did here. Basically Froese mixed his obsession of the mellotron with an instrument that he had basically packed away for several years -- the electric guitar. And other than maybe Electronic Meditation, there is no other album from Froese that features as much psychedelic noodling as Macula Transfer. His mixing of choral mellotron with atonal fuzz soloing remains a highlight of his entire canon, and is downright chilling.
Ownership:
1998 Manikin (CD). This remains the only version from the master tape (as of 9/27/26) and is very scarce today. Acquired in 1998.
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