Search - Ashra :: Tropical Heat

Dancealong-a-Gottsching

Cartimand | Hampshire, UK. | 06/27/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This has to be my least favourite Ashra / Ash Ra Tempel album. It is hard to believe that this collection of what could be classed as intelligent disco tunes came from the same inspired genius who gave us Schwingungen, Amboss, Blackouts, Freak n Roll, E2-E4 etc. The cosmic muse is nowhere in sight on the fidgety and repetitive Mosquito Dance or the rather bland and forgettable title track. Things improve a little with the inventive sounds and sequencing of Pretty Papaya and the heavily atmospheric Nights in Sweat. It's only on Don't Stop the Fan that we get an all-too-brief glimpse of the guitar work that ART fans will know and love. This track rings faint echoes of Cosmic Tango or Bring Me Up and is easily the highlight of the album. Monsoon closes the collection with some Tangerine Dream style sequencing overlaid with.. well... monsoon noises.If you have ever experienced the high that Gottsching's earlier material could provide, then you will certainly want to add Tropical Heat to your collection, but please don't set your expectations too high. I don't want to be too critical though and comparing Tropical Heat with earlier masterpieces is probably a tad unfair. It's just about worth buying for Don't Stop the Fan alone."