Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Michael de Albuquerque — Stalking the Sleeper
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1225, 1976/2026, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-04-23

Stalking the Sleeper Cover art

After the 1971 release of First Wind by Ricotti & Albuquerque, which was recently reissued by Think Like a Key, Michael de Albuquerque went on to release We May Be Cattle But We've All Got Names in 1973 and then Stalking the Sleeper, which came out in 1976 and also featured Frank Ricotti on vibes, percussion, and sax, as well as being the arranger. De Albuquerque played guitar, bass, and vocals. Ollie Halsall (guitar) and others fill out the arrangements. The eight tracks present a soulful take on 70s pop music with hints of disco and funk. I’m reminded at times of Little Feat, though with less originality and energy. If I’d heard it when it came out, I would have certainly passed it over to focus on something more interesting in the landscape of 1976 (such as Little Feat). Halsall’s guitar solo on “Say What You Want” is definitely the most interesting thing on the whole album, and the rest ranges from unremarkable to horrid. For this reissue, TLAK has also gathered three tracks from a 1980 album by the band Violinski, which featured de Albuquerque along with violinist Mik Kaminski. That album had twelve tracks, and the three here are the ones written by de Albuquerque; the aim seems to have been to emulate Electric Light Orchestra in a sort of New Wave style. (De Albuquerque played bass in ELO from 1972 to 1974.) None of it is as mediocre as the worst tracks from Stalking the Sleeper, but it’s eminently forgettable. So while I commend Think Like a Key for preserving this nearly lost bit of musical history, I can’t say I enjoy the result. Fans with more tolerance for mid-70s pop would like it more, but that’s a part of my past I’d just as soon not revisit. As an aside, I’d like to note that de Albuquerque’s first solo album featured more of the jazz element, along with contributions from Halsall, Alan Skidmore, and B.J. Cole. It’s considerably better than Stalking the Sleeper.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases, 1976 recordings

Related artist(s): Ollie Halsall, Frank Ricotti / Michael Albuquerque

More info
http://michaeldealbuquerque.bandcamp.com/album/stalking-the-sleeper

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.