Features Disc of the day
Ashra
New Age Of Earth
(Virgin, 1976)
Manuel Göttsching’s post-Tempel mood piece, rehabilitated by MOJO messageboarder.
Manuel Göttsching's Ashra outings have been unfairly overlooked. Perhaps he was used to it, with his previous Ash Ra Tempel incarnation having helped put the burgeoning Krautrock scene on the map without winning the plaudits scored by Can, Neu! and Amon Düül. And when Göttsching ditched most of his musical partners and concentrated on electronic-based music in the latter part of the ’70s he again found himself in the right movement only to find him playing second fiddle to Jean Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk, Vangelis and Tangerine Dream. And yet, New Age Of Earth – with its warm sounds and sweeping strings – stands its ground against Oxygene et al. Opener Sunrain’s synth strains melt seamlessly with riffing organ and melodic arpeggios. Ocean Of Tenderness is just that - powered on by a submarinally low bass it envelops the listener like a warm bath. It's not until 22-minute closer Nightdust that Göttsching straps on his guitar and recalls the original Tempel – though so sparing is he with the rock riffage that an amazing tension is maintained throughout the piece.
Göttsching wouldn't repeat these ambient antics on any subsequent albums. He allowed his guitarplay freer rein but couldn't get the balance as right as he did here. New Age may be a much-maligned term these days but back in '76 it was just that – an attempt to make a wholly new music that gave birth to groundbreaking albums. New Age Of Earth may perhaps not get the recognition but very few of Göttsching’s contemporaries could better this effort.
Maarts
Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 11/05/2008
Further Listening
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene (Dreyfus, 1977)
Klaus Schulze - Timewind (Blue Plate, 1975)
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra (Virgin, 1974)
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