Epsilon In Malaysian Pale

by Edgar Froese

- Studio, released September 1975 -

Covers

LP release Germany 1975 Photo: Monique Froese	CD release UK 1987 Photo: Monique Froese
CD counterfeit release Russia 1997 Photo: Monique Froese	CD release Germany 2005 Artwork: Edgar Froese
Download release 2007 Artwork: Edgar Froese	CD release Japan 2009 Artwork: Edgar Froese

Tracks


		[a]
1.	Epsilon In Malaysian Pale	17:00
2.	Maroubra Bay	17:15
Total running time		34:15


		[b]
1.	Epsilon In Malaysian Pale [2005 remix]	18:27
2.	Maroubra Bay [2005 remix]	17:33
Total running time		36:00

Details


Recording date	June - July 1975
Recording site(s)	Berlin
Recording engineer(s)	Edgar Froese
Composer(s)	Edgar Froese
Musician(s)	Edgar Froese

Notes

Edgar Froese recorded his second solo album, Epsilon In Malaysian Pale after returning from Tangerine Dream's Australian tour 1975. Obviously the music reflects his impressions of south-eastern Asia and Australia. According to Edgar Froese, "Epsilon" was the synonym for a person who is completely enveloped by his environment, and the "Pale" stood for the ever-present heavy humidity.

Epsilon In Malaysian Pale was recorded in Berlin, Cologne, Bonn and Hamburg. The main instrument was the Mellotron for which Edgar Froese had recorded various tape segments in London, but also the VCS 3 synthsiser, modified organs and modular synthesiser have been used.

Backtracking with Tangerine Dream

Edgar Froese: "I don't like choosing favourite albums. It's as if you have ten children, you love them all, and someone asks which one you love most. Still, I loved doing Epsilon, because it was so simple, just took three days. I played it right away with the mellotron, no tricks, no effects, just played what I felt. The title refers to a couple of journeys I took to Malaysia and Australia, so it's very personal to me. Even a bit mystical."

(Interview with Johnny Black, thisBEAT, issue 17, April 1986)

Re-Releases

A counterfeit CD version of Epsilon In Malaysian Pale was released in Russia (probably in 1997). The outer sides of the four page booklet is actually based on the backside of the Virgin CD booklet; the catalogue number CDV2040 from the original release can still be seen. The front cover is a mirror image of the backside cover, with the catalogue number being mirrored (in the lower right corner). Therefore a new font face is placed on top of the front cover, simply saying "EPSILON IN MALAYSIAN PALE - EDGAR FROESE" compared to the original "epsilon in malaysian pale by edgar froese". The colour is also paled. The booklet inner sides, showing a photo of young Jerome Froese seem unchanged from the Virgin CD. The outer tray cover is based on the inner back cover once again. This time the cover notes have been added in small lettering, with a few typos. The spine has "Tangerine Dream" in brackets after "Edgar Froese". The sound quality of the CD is acceptable, though most probably it was mastered from an mp3 download.

In 2012 the original album was re-released as part of the compilation box Solo (1974-1983) - The Virgin Years, which was carefully remastered and provides an excellent sound quality (probably much better than the original release).

The 2005 Re-Recording

In January 2005 a reworked version of this album has been released by Edgar Froese. Both tracks have been 'tangentized', that is, remixed and partially re-recorded in a similar way like on Beyond The Storm and the Ambient Highway series, which results in an overall warmer sound. Anyway, like with similar reworkings Edgar Froese has done before, it is left to the subjective opinion of the listener whether he prefers the original or the new versions. Though the inner page of the 2-page insert clearly states that the material is re-recorded and remixed, this fact is not recognizable from the outside.

Like on all releases since 2003, the artist's name now includes his middle initial W. on the cover and in the credits. The cover artwork is completely new, using a photo that reminds of the original artwork. The order number is neither printed on the package nor the CD, but the number given below is the order number the Eastgate Music Shop lists this release. Copies sold in the UK have been found with an additional barcode sticker showing the TDP number listed below.

The Eastgate Music Shop about the 2005 CD release"Epsilon In Malaysian Pale has been composed during one of Edgar's long journeys through the jungles of Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia back in 1975. Edgar's second solo release supposed to be a pure environmental piece of music and became one of the very first ambient albums. Lots of international artists acknowledged that they have strongly been influenced by this partly new recorded and re-mixed album."

In January 2007 this release became available as MP3 download at the Tangerine Dream Download Shop.

In June 2009 the 2005 re-recording of Epsilon In Malaysian Pale was re-released in Japan as part of a series of HiQualityCDs with mini LP paper sleeves featuring a slightly changed cover artwork, changing the album title to Epsilon In Malaysian Pale 2004 and leaving out Edgar Froese's middle initial again.

Releases


Australia	1975: Virgin LP [a]: L 35677; multi-coloured labels, foc
France	1975: Virgin LP [a]: XBLY 940 510; multi-coloured labels, foc 197?: Virgin/Polydor LP [a]: 2933 732; green labels, foc
Germany	1975: Brain/Metronome LP [a]: 1074; yellow labels; titled Ypsilon In Malaysian Pale LP [a]: 1074; black labels; titled Ypsilon In Malaysian Pale 1987: Virgin/Ariola CD [a]: 258 463; identical to UK version; sticker with German number on jewel case 1993: Virgin CD [a]: 787 215-2 2005: Eastgate CD [b]: eastgate 003 CD; white/silver/red disc; matrix code: 49003 2007: Eastgate Download [b]: complete release or individual tracks as MP3
Italy	1975: Virgin/Dischi/Orrizonte LP [a]: ORL 8546; red/green labels 1975: Virgin/Dischi LP [a]: VIL 12040; multi-coloured labels, foc
Japan	1975: Virgin/Nippon Columbia LP [a]: YX-7077-VR; multi-coloured labels, foc 1975: Brain/Polystar Promo-LP [a]: 22S-31; white/black labels; album title and track 1 are misspelled Ypsilon In Malaysian Pale on cover while track 2 is misspelled Maroubra Day on labels and obi LP [a]: 22S-31; multi-coloured labels; album title and track 1 are misspelled Ypsilon In Malaysian Pale on cover while track 2 is misspelled Maroubra Day on labels and obi 1990: Virgin CD [a]: VJCP-23046 2005: Arcàngelo CD [b]: ARC-1096; obi; additional japanese insert 2009: WHD Entertainment HQCD [b]: IECP-10184; cardboard sleeve, obi; limited edition Promo-HQCD [b]: IECP-10184; same as regular release, but with additional red promo sticker
Russia	1997: - Counterfeit-CD [a]: ; silver/black disc
Spain	1975: Virgin/Ariola LP [a]: 89 580-I; multi-coloured labels, foc LP [a]: 89 580-I; red/green labels, foc
UK	1975: Virgin Promo-LP [a]: V 2040; light-brown promo labels, foc LP [a]: V 2040; light-brown labels, foc LP [a]: V 2040; green labels, foc 1984: Virgin LP [a]: OVED 22; red/green labels, foc 1987: Virgin CD [a]: CDV 2040 2005: Eastgate/TDP CD [b]: TDP CD009
USA	1987: Caroline CD [a]: CAROL CD 1625