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All Music Guide:
The only continuing member of the pioneering synthesizer group Tangerine Dream, Edgar Froese also proved to be one of the most ambitious in releasing solo albums alongside the voluminous output of the band. Considered a master of the Mellotron, the early keyboard device (made famous by the Moody Blues) that produced its sound through key-activated tape loops of actual recordings of orchestras, choirs and other acoustic sounds. Though it still drew from TD's trademark sequencer sound, Froese's solo recordings have a more direct and personal quality, and often feature his penchant for rock-style guitar work.
Even while Tangerine Dream was releasing career classics Phaedra and Rubycon during 1974-75, Froese began his solo career with the two records Aqua and Epsilon in Malaysian Pale, quite similar in style to contemporary work by Tangerine Dream. During the rest of the '70s, Froese released four more solo albums during TD's breaks, followed in 1983 by Pinnacles. By that point, Froese was the undisputed leader of Tangerine Dream and could release material which would have appeared as solo work during the previous decade. The 1995 Virgin collection Beyond the Storm summed up his solo career.
Wikipedia:
Edgar Wilmar Froese (born 6 June 1944) is a German artist and electronic music pioneer, best known for founding the electronic music group, Tangerine Dream. Although his solo and group recordings prior to 2003 name him as "Edgar Froese", his solo albums from 2003 onward bear the artist name "Edgar W. Froese".
Froese was born in Tilsit (Sovetsk), East Prussia, during World War II. He took piano lessons from the age of 12, and started playing guitar at 15. After showing an early aptitude for art, Froese enrolled at the Academy of the Arts in West Berlin to study painting and sculpture. In 1965, he formed a band called The Ones, which played rock and R&B standards. While playing in Spain, The Ones were invited to perform at Salvador Dalí's villa in Cadaqués. Froese's encounter with Dalí was highly influential, inspiring him to pursue more experimental directions with his music. The Ones disbanded in 1967, having released only one single ("Lady Greengrass" / "Love of Mine").
After returning to Berlin, Froese began recruiting musicians for the free-rock band that would become Tangerine Dream.
Froese's composition "Stuntman" has been used as the opening theme music for "Mabat Sheni" ("Second Look"), an investigative news program from Channel One television in Israel, since the 1980s.
Edgar Froese has declared himself to be a non-smoker, non drug user, and vegetarian.
Solo discography
Aqua (1974) issued in two versions with different edits and song order, both in 1974Epsilon in Malaysian Pale (1975) also issued as Ypsilon in Malaysian PaleMacula Transfer (1976)Ages (1978) note: CD edition omits one track to make this double album fit on one CDStuntman (1979)Electronic Dreams (circa. 1980) compilationSolo 1974–1979 (1981) compilation including some remixes and one new track with the same title as an older piece, identified as a re-recording, but completely differentKamikaze 1989 (1982) soundtrack for the German film starring Rainer Werner FassbinderPinnacles (1983)Beyond the Storm (1995) double CD semi-compilation with new and remixed tracksIntroduction to the Ambient Highway (2003) sampler compilation issued prior to the seriesAmbient Highway, Vol. 1 (2003) semi-compilation with new and remixed tracksAmbient Highway, Vol. 2 (2003) semi-compilation with new and remixed tracksAmbient Highway, Vol. 3 (2003) semi-compilation with new and remixed tracksAmbient Highway, Vol. 4 (2003) semi-compilation with new and remixed tracksDalinetopia (2004)Ages (2005) partially re-recorded, remixed version of the 1978 album, omits one track from the original, but not the same one omitted for CD previouslyEpsilon in Malaysian Pale (2005) partially re-recorded, remixed version of the 1975 albumStuntman (2005) partially re-recorded, remixed version of the 1979 albumAqua (2005) partially re-recorded, remixed version of the 1974 albumMacula Transfer (2005) partially re-recorded, remixed version of the 1976 albumPinnacles (2005) partially re-recorded, remixed version of the 1983 album, omits the last 1/3 of the originalOrange Light Years (2005) double CD semi-compilation with new and remixed tracksAlbums issued in 2005 are in order by catalogue number.
Lone tracks
'70 – '80 (1981) box set compilation album by Tangerine Dream includes a Froese solo track, "Baryll Blue". The track was an outtake from the Ages recording sessions.The Best of the O1/W (1992) promotional compilation album by various artists includes a Froese track, "Michiko". The album promoted and demonstrated the Korg O1/W synthesizer.Searching for Major Tom (2011) by William Shatner includes Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly" with Froese playing guitar and keyboards.Edgar Froese solo material as Tangerine Dream
Tangents was a Tangerine Dream compilation album box set of five CDs issued in 1994, compiling music from their years with Virgin Records, 1973 to 1983. Disc five consists entirely of "previously unreleased material": ten tracks, seven of which are credited only to Froese as the composer. No information is given as to where or when these tracks were recorded, or by which line-up of Tangerine Dream. Most Tangerine Dream tracks credit the line-up that recorded it as the composers, therefore these appear to be Froese solo tracks, released under the Tangerine Dream name, and may have been recorded for this album. Furthermore, five tracks on disc three are described as "re-recordings by Edgar Froese", while the remaining tracks on discs three and four are described as "re-mixed plus additional recordings by Edgar Froese". The tracks on discs one and two are also remixed and contain new overdubs, and Froese is credited as producer for the entire album.
Another compilation box set, the 6-CD I-Box (2001) contains further bonus tracks credited only to Froese: "Ivory Town", "Storm Seekers", "Cool Shibuya" and "Akash Deep". Several of Froese's tracks from Tangents are included as well.
Phaedra 2005 (2005 re-recording of Phaedra, 1974), Tangram 2008 (2008 re-recording of Tangram, 1980), and Hyperborea 2008 (2008 re-recording of Hyperborea, 1983) are Edgar Froese solo albums released under the Tangerine Dream name.
The Tangerine Dream album Views from a Red Train (2008) was originally announced as an Edgar Froese solo album. It was eventually expanded with other band members performing, but the album remains composed entirely by Froese.
Other later Tangerine Dream albums have been composed and performed entirely by Froese, including Summer in Nagasaki (2007), Winter in Hiroshima (2009) and Chandra (2009).
