Edgar Froese - Aqua (1974)

Recorded in Berlin, on either side of the Phaedra sessions in England, Edgar Froese's debut solo album was released a few months after that TD breakthrough landed.  The two records make a great listening experience together, with this one isolating Froese's interest at the time in eerie atmospheres and alien burbling synth experiments.  The fact that he recorded it primarily as a fundraiser for TD equipment doesn't diminish its lasting brilliance.

The German release of Aqua (never digitally reissued) switched the sides and had a different mix in places; anyone heard it/know if it's substantially different?  Anyhow, this standard Virgin issue is an otherwordly experience in its own right - few albums sound more endlessly pleasureable on headphones.  The water sounds on the title track (recorded by Froese in his home), the landing aeroplane sound effects on NGC 891 (recorded in "artificial head" surround-sound) and much more add to the transportive magic.  Next week: a Bowie-approved mellotron paradise.

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Previously posted at SGTG:
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Phaedra (scroll past main post)
Encore
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Tangram
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