The straightest face in German rock
D. Hamilton-Smith | Merrye Olde Engelond | 07/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Out of all the localised "scenes" in rock music history, I think it's safe to say that Germany's 1968-1974 era is my favourite. I simply cannot think of a more intensely creative and groundbreaking period of time - not even the California of the mid-sixties matches it. Where other scenes, upon retrospective listening, have been expanded, improved, crossed over, worn out and bastardised, leaving only a vague sense of sadness that the "scene" is over, the Krautrock movement seems different. Listening to it is still a massive experience because nobody has been able to dilute its integrity by adapting it. And, on top of that, I don't think it has dated in the slightest in the way that English prog rock has. The vast majority of it retains its impact on the listener even after thirty years of musical evolution.
I chose to begin my review like that because I think, on those terms, Ash Ra Tempel suppass even the likes of Can. This album is unmistakeably one of the most intense and straight-faced I've ever heard in any field. Many old psychedelic albums, no matter how revolutionary they appeared at the time, have become dated and typical in some way over time, but this one just hasn't at all. If a new band released this, I would still be stunned and call it the most engagingly intense album of the 21st century. Manuel Gottsching has to be one of the most impulsive, technically impressive and soulful guitarists in the history of guitar solos (especially ones that span entire sides of vinyl), and what could easily slip into self-indulgence never even comes close. What really makes 'Ash Ra Tempel' such a great album, other than the fire of the perfornances from the guitarist and Klaus Schulze on the drums, is Schulze's synth work. It swamps this record with dark, resonating ambience, creating a depth of sound quite unknown to albums of this time. The eerie ambient piece 'Traummaschine' is led by it, whereas the 'rock' song 'Amboss' is augmented with it, turning an already pretty damn scary piece of improvised music even scarier. However, good as this is, and prophetic as it turned out to be considering Schulze's post-ART career, I find myself wishing he'd just stayed on the drums for a few more albums. The man is a monster. He turns these jams into whirlwinds.
Ash Ra Tempel's debut album is dark, effective and absolutely timeless. Every instrumental touch is perfectly weighted towards forcing the momentum of the piece forward (whatever the momentum may be) and it's even, at times (i.e. at very stoned times), too much for the brain to cope with. Their third album featured guest vocals from Tim Leary, and the connection is clear - this is very much music to "Turn On, Tune In and Drop Out" to. The only difference is, this record is so otherworldly, listening to it sober will still prove to be a visionary experience."
Heaviness taken to a whole new level
B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 02/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the world of 70's rock you have outrageously influential guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapon, and Duanne Allman who were much much different (and heavier) than anything else at the time.
A band like Ash Ra Tempel is surprisingly extremely heavy and *absolutely amazingly* underrrated as far as guitar playing goes.
It's almost impossible to believe more people haven't heard THIS album or why Ash Ra Tempel hasn't found any success in America. We're talking about guitar playing that's almost impossible to believe how heavy and fast it's being played. Just a complete mystery to me why more people aren't aware of these guys.
Maybe America just didn't like this kind of rock and roll back then, who knows. Or maybe America already had more than enough awesome guitar players and there wasn't any room for more, but it's the kind of guitar playing that's *so* powerful you really can't believe something like this came out in the early 70's.
Put away your Van Halen albums and all your beliefs that they revolutionized the way guitar playing was done by the time 1978 came around. No no, the guitar player for Ash Ra Tempel is absolutely terrific and was doing it years before Van Halen popped on the scene."
Track Listings (2) - Disc #1