''Epsilon in Malaysian Pale'', issued as ''Ypsilon in Malaysian Pale'' by Brain Records in Germany, is the second studio album by German recording artist

Edgar Froese Edgar Willmar Froese (; 6 June 1944 – 20 January 2015) was a German musical artist and electronic music pioneer, best known for founding the electronic music group Tangerine Dream in 1967. Froese was the only continuous member of the group ...

, released in 1975.

Recording and history

''Epsilon in Malaysian Pale'' was recorded in June and July 1975, following

Tangerine Dream Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup ...

's Australian tour, and was heavily influenced by the places they had visited whilst on the tour.

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

named ''Epsilon in Malaysian Pale'' as an influence for his

Berlin Trilogy The Berlin Trilogy consists of three studio albums by English musician David Bowie: '' Low'', '' "Heroes"'' (both 1977) and '' Lodger'' (1979). The trilogy originated following Bowie's move from Los Angeles, California, to Europe to rid himsel ...

albums ''Low'', ''"Heroes"'' and ''Lodger''. "It was the soundtrack of my life when I lived in Berlin", Bowie once said. The album consists of two instrumental compositions, each originally filling one side of vinyl. The first, "Epsilon in Malaysian Pale", is a

Mellotron The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...

-based piece inspired by Froese's visit to a Malaysian jungle. The second, "Maroubra Bay", is a more synthesiser-based piece named after a place in Australia. "Maroubra Bay" later appeared on the compilation album ''Electronic Dreams'', but was accidentally recorded backwards for that particular album. In 2004, Froese re-recorded and remixed the album in Vienna, releasing it on his own Eastgate label with a new cover based on that of the original.

Critical reception

Andy Beta of ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

'' praised the album, calling it "wholly organic, subtle, and alive", and included it on ''Pitchfork'' list of the 50 best ambient albums of all time.

Track listing

# "Epsilon in Malaysian Pale" – 16:26 # "Maroubra Bay" – 17:00

References

{{Authority control 1975 albums Edgar Froese albums