4 1/2 Stars for Gottsching's career highpoint
01/05/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This may also be listed as an "Ashra" or "Ashra Temple" CD. It's really Manuel Gottschings all solo and was originally recorded in 1977, shortly after his best (and best-known album worldwide "New Age Of Earth", also 1977). This one took until 1991 to be released. A shame really, since it ranks up there with Gottsching's other 1977 classic "New Age of Earth".
This is really a companion piece to "New Age" and these 2 recordings feature guitarist Gottsching playing more keyboard synthesizers than guitars. This ranks up there with Gottsching's friend, synthesist Klaus Schulze's material of the time (which was also Schulze's best period). This CD runs just over an hour and the 3 pieces range from 8 1/2, 23, to 30 minutes. The music is almost like another take on his material from the earlier "New Age of Earth" recording and is almost as good. Now that's hardly a bad thing since Gottsching hasn't been able to make anything nearly as good as these 2 recordings in all the years since then, even when he brings in other musicians (as he often does in projects using the "Ashra" or "Ashra Temple" name). This music is keyboard-based, there are some light sequences, but thankfully no drum-type sounds that would have dated the material noticeably. Of course since this wasn't released until 1991, it is possible that Gottsching remastered and remixed the recording, taking out any dated-sounding parts, since it really doesn't sound like something recorded in the late 70's. "New Age" also sounds great considering it was also done in 1977, though in that recording (released right after it was originally recorded)it's sound is a bit more noticeably late 70's. A great place to start and if you like the wonderful "New Age of Earth" at all, this is a must-have. I don't know why they can't seem to make them like this anymore."
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1