Edgar Froese - Stuntman (1979)

Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese is one of the key figures in the history of ambient and the only member of the iconic Krautrock band who's been on board the whole distance. He was also their most prolific solo artist in the early days, releasing on Virgin Records seven solo albums and one compilation. That these works navigate more or less a parallel course to the changes and developments in Tangerine Dream's music of the time is no surprise. The good news is that it was Tangerine Dream's golden period (1973-83) and many of Froese's solo efforts are comparable to that band's best releases. ~ AmbientMusicGuide.com


This is one of the most helium-boosted electronic albums I have ever heard, maybe with the Tangerine Dream's "Tangram" album! Actually, this record surely gave the perfect pace for the new orientation of the Tangerine Dream's sound of the early 80's, immortalized with the arrival of "Tangram". Many floating keyboards and electric guitar solos are obviously reminiscent of the "Force Majeure" album. Absolutely DYNAMIC & progressive New Age not suited for relaxation, this record is the best of the Froese's albums. Needless to say "Stuntman" has numerous similitudes with the "Tangram" album. Shall I add "Stuntman" has some of the Jean-Michel Jarre's elements, especially on his 2 first albums "Equinoxe" and "Oxygene", like the ultra slow wah-wah effect applied on the VERY intensely floating streams of keyboards, or like the very melodic & floating keyboards arrangements for instance on the last part of "Drunken Mozart in the desert". I like the violent & sustained bottom peak + highly floating keyboards in the debut of "Dali-esque sleep fuse": this is the REAL "Tangram" sound! Notice on this track the impressive helicopter emulation! All the tracks are excellent! ~ Review by greenback @ Prog Archives





"Stuntman", recorded in 1979, is a straight continuation of ideas developed on earlier albums, "Macula Transfer" and "Ages" in particular. There is a strong link between the latter album and this one - in fact they could be considered sibling recordings. However, where "Ages" was uncombed, "Stuntman" is polished to shine; where the former's track length was often painfully stretched, the latter features compact compositions that never venture into the realm of self-repetition. One more instantly noticeable change is lack of mellotron instruments, which were still present on "Ages". I think that "Stuntman" is one and only album of Edgar Froese that can really be recommended to the widest audience possible, for the eerie atmosphere and more often than not, frivolity - should appeal to listeners outside of the narrow circle of electronic music audiophiles. Stuntman is a pleasant album, containing fresh, innovative music which will never bore the listener, quite to the contrary.

The album opens with a cheerful tune, the title track, 'Stuntman', which introduces the listener to the whole album. Since this recording is very consistent, one song (yes, these could be considered instrumental songs!) stems from another. 'It Would Be Like Samoa' is a long composition into which many tunes and impressions were woven in. In contract to Froese's previous recordings, there is a wind of change, and every minute brings something new, to our enormous relief. Halfway into the track, the guitar solo is accompanied by synthesizer passages which Froese played live with tangerine Dream a few months later, during the 'Quichotte' gig in East Berlin, on the 31st of January, 1980, later released under "Pergamon" title. 'Detroit Snackbar Dreamer' continues ideas explored on the preceding track, with a more than usual dose of melancholy thrown in. "Stuntman" as a whole is rather meditative, now and then spiced with cheerful tunes, like the opening 'Stuntman' and the closing 'Scarlet Score for Mescalero'. In-between, however, there is one serious composition, strongly hinting at Tangerine Dream's album "Tangram" of 1980. If anything, 'Drunken Mozart in the Desert' proves that Froese artistically had still a lot to say at the time, and whatever he had to say, was worth listening to. 'Mozart' features a beautiful, eerie tune with a slightly bizarre, high-tone rhythm performed on the synthesizer - an unusual background, if there was one. But so much the better! I think that 'Drunken Mozart in the Desert' is the best composition of Edgar Froese. After all these years, I always come back to "Stuntman" with pleasure, and actually can't wait for 'Drunken Mozart'. It's a masterpiece. ~ Review by A Customer @ Amazon.com


Tracklisting:
1. Stuntman (4:18)
2. It Would Be Like Samoa (10:46)
3. Detroit Snackbar Dreamer (6:33)
4. Drunken Mozart in the Desert (10:00)
5. A Dali-Esque Sleep Fuse (8:33)
6. Scarlet Score for Mescalero (4:21)

Total Time: 44:31

Line-Up:
- Edgar Froese / synthesizer, guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals
- Klaus Kruger / drums