Edgar Froese Ambient Highway Vol 1

Over half of the tracks on Volume 1 are from 'Beyond the Storm', 4 tracks being completely new from what I can see, and one track from 'Pinnacles'. The opener 'Sahara Child' is also track one on the 'Introduction to…' CD and it's not bad actually. The beat is chugging and a little pedestrian, but the melody is alluring especially the electric guitar treatments. Track 2 is listed as 'Walkabout Abora' but is actually 'Walkabout' from 'Pinnacles'. Not a track I've revisited many times, it's steady and atmospheric but not inspiring.

The next 3 tracks appear on 'BtS' starting with 'Santa Elena Marisal' which has a distinct flavour of 'Livemiles' about it, the sonics being contemporary with that album. Fair to say if it was on that album it wouldn't have been a high point however. 'Carneol' features plenty of sequences and rhythms and is a strong piece. 'Bobcats in the Sun' is another decent track, good sequencing, some nice thematic touches, and again it's entertaining to spot the TD album on which similar sounds were being employed at the time.

Track 6 'Afternoon on the Nile' is a new track, with a bright sparkling opening and more complex sequence/rhythm lines. There's plenty going on, and this time 'Canyon Dreams' comes to mind. 'Magic Lantern' is a pleasing laid back affair with a strong theme which builds drama through the piece, and the electric guitar work is excellent. Another new piece is next in the form of 'Crane Routing', opening with choppy chords the sequences then develop into an appealing concoction. 'Tierra del Fuego' has a beautiful theme, perhaps too lightweight for some but actually one of my favourites so far. 'Dome of the Yellow Turtles' will again be admired by any fan of commercial uptempo synth music. The album ends as it began with another new track, the strangely titled 'Car Dreaming' which glides along on a shuffling beat with more electric guitar vox and sumptuous pads.