Edgar Froese Ambient Highway Vol 4

Volume 4 has another half a dozen new tracks on it, starting with 'Colorado Dawn' which again had me doing a double-take with 'Canyon Dreams' on which there is a track of the same name – but this is a totally different track, and a very good one too – over nine minutes, plenty of sequencing and melody. 'Great Barrier Reef' is a great cut, with biting sequences and strong themes imparting an almost anthemic feel. 'Bourbon Street Parade' is another fine new track notable by the relatively fresh synth voices. 'Descent Like a Hawk' and 'Juniper Mascara' both feature on 'BtM', the latter especially is a stand-out track with great sequencing and an edgy nature, all picked out on older style voices making a real blast from the past. 'Pinnacles' (yes, you've guessed it, 'Part Two') duly takes centre stage and what an epic sequencer fest this is. To an unfamiliar ear some of the synth stabs may sound like later additions when actually they were on the original, though subtle tangentization is at work here nonetheless.

'Vulcano' is another new piece and is another worthy sequenced outing with film soundtrack overtones. Next we get just under 6 minutes of 'Metropolis' from 'Ages', which is a striking contrast to the modern harpsichord stabs on the opening of the next piece 'South Dakota'. 'Year of the Falcon' from 'BtM' follows leaving a final new track 'Raindrops on Black Skin' to end in suitably low key fashion, a masterful piano/synth excursion.