Ash Ra Tempel
Encyclopedia
Ash Ra Tempel are a German krautrock
group of the 1970s, and are an example of cosmic or space rock
.
, keyboardist/drummer Klaus Schulze
, and bassist Hartmut Enke
in 1971. All three founding members had previously played together as part of the short-lived group Eruption
founded by Conrad Schnitzler
. Prior to that Schnitzler and Schulze had worked together in Tangerine Dream
.
A short-lived project Manuel Göttsching had in 1970 was the Steeple Chase Blues Band, which also included Hartmut Enke, Wolfgang Müller, and Volker Zibell.
Ash Ra Tempel released its self-titled debut album in June 1971. This release is considered by critics to be a classic of the genre; Schulze temporarily departed for a solo career shortly after its release. Schwingungen (1972), Seven Up (with Timothy Leary
) (1972), and Join Inn (1973) are all considered key works from the band. The pop-oriented 1973 album Starring Rosi was thus named because it featured lead vocals by Rosi Mueller.
Their music is widely characterized as cosmic and atmospheric. The early albums were more psychedelic
-oriented and all had one lengthy track per side: one more powerful and dramatic, the other of a more atmospheric nature. Instead of writing English lyrics, since German language was not popular in rock music at the time, Ash Ra Tempel more or less decided not to have lyrics in their songs.
Ash Ra Tempel's last concert performance took place in Cologne in February 1973.
Later, after recording the soundtrack Le Berceau de Cristal (1975; unreleased until 1993) Ash Ra Tempel shortened its name to Ashra
, making a more melodic, synthesizer-based music. In 2000 the band was reunited in the line up of Manuel Gottsching
and Klaus Schulze
. The pair had previously worked together on Schulze's album In Blue
.
and Hash Jar Tempo
named themselves in reference to Ash Ra Tempel.
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
group of the 1970s, and are an example of cosmic or space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
.
History
The group was originally founded by guitarist Manuel GöttschingManuel Göttsching
Manuel Göttsching is a German musician and composer.As the leader of the group Ash Ra Tempel or Ashra, one of the most notable German groups of the 1970s and 80s, as well as a solo artist, he is one of the most important guitarists of the Kosmische Musik genre. He also participated in the Cosmic...
, keyboardist/drummer Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...
, and bassist Hartmut Enke
Hartmut Enke
Hartmut Enke was a German musician, best known as the bass guitarist in Ash Ra Tempel.Hartmut Enke formed his first band with Manuel Göttsching at his 15th birthday party in 1967...
in 1971. All three founding members had previously played together as part of the short-lived group Eruption
Eruption (German band)
Eruption was a short-lived German krautrock or experimental music super group founded by former Tangerine Dream member and then current Kluster member Conrad Schnitzler.- Core Members :* Conrad Schnitzler * Wolfgang Seidel...
founded by Conrad Schnitzler
Conrad Schnitzler
Conrad Schnitzler was a prolific German experimental musician.Schnitzler was born in Düsseldorf. He was an early member of Tangerine Dream and a founder of the band Kluster. He left Kluster in 1971, first working with his group Eruption and then focusing on solo works...
. Prior to that Schnitzler and Schulze had worked together in Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
.
A short-lived project Manuel Göttsching had in 1970 was the Steeple Chase Blues Band, which also included Hartmut Enke, Wolfgang Müller, and Volker Zibell.
Ash Ra Tempel released its self-titled debut album in June 1971. This release is considered by critics to be a classic of the genre; Schulze temporarily departed for a solo career shortly after its release. Schwingungen (1972), Seven Up (with Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
) (1972), and Join Inn (1973) are all considered key works from the band. The pop-oriented 1973 album Starring Rosi was thus named because it featured lead vocals by Rosi Mueller.
Their music is widely characterized as cosmic and atmospheric. The early albums were more psychedelic
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
-oriented and all had one lengthy track per side: one more powerful and dramatic, the other of a more atmospheric nature. Instead of writing English lyrics, since German language was not popular in rock music at the time, Ash Ra Tempel more or less decided not to have lyrics in their songs.
Ash Ra Tempel's last concert performance took place in Cologne in February 1973.
Later, after recording the soundtrack Le Berceau de Cristal (1975; unreleased until 1993) Ash Ra Tempel shortened its name to Ashra
Ashra (band)
Ashra is a project begun by Manuel Gottsching in 1976, initially to facilitate his solo career although other members were included later on. The band's name is an abbreviation of the name of Gottsching's previous band, Ash Ra Tempel...
, making a more melodic, synthesizer-based music. In 2000 the band was reunited in the line up of Manuel Gottsching
Manuel Göttsching
Manuel Göttsching is a German musician and composer.As the leader of the group Ash Ra Tempel or Ashra, one of the most notable German groups of the 1970s and 80s, as well as a solo artist, he is one of the most important guitarists of the Kosmische Musik genre. He also participated in the Cosmic...
and Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...
. The pair had previously worked together on Schulze's album In Blue
In Blue
-Special edition:-The band:*Andrea Corr - lead vocals, tin whistle*Caroline Corr - drums, bodhran, vocals*Jim Corr - guitar, keyboards, vocals*Sharon Corr - violin, vocals-Guest musicians:*Ronan Dooney - trumpet*Paul Duffy - saxophone...
.
Influence
Ash Ra Tempel has exerted a relatively large influence on later space rock and krautrock bands. The psychedelic bands Acid Mothers TempleAcid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is a Japanese psychedelic band, the core of which formed in 1995. The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career featured many musicians, but by 2004 the line-up had coalesced with only a few core members and frequent guest...
and Hash Jar Tempo
Hash Jar Tempo
Hash Jar Tempo is a collaborative musical project between the members of Philadelphia-based psychedelic band Bardo Pond and Experimental guitarist and composer Roy Montgomery...
named themselves in reference to Ash Ra Tempel.
Studio albums
- Ash Ra TempelAsh Ra Tempel (album)Ash Ra Tempel is the eponymous debut album by the Krautrock band Ash Ra Tempel. It was recorded in March 1971 and released in June 1971 on Ohr.- Personnel :* Hartmut Enke - Gibson bass* Manuel Göttsching - guitar, vocals, electronics...
(1971) - SchwingungenSchwingungenSchwingungen is the second album by the Krautrock band Ash Ra Tempel. It was released in 1972 on Ohr. It has been re-released three times, most recently in 2004 on Arcangelo Records.-Personnel:* Uli Popp – bongos* Wolfgang Müller – drums, vibraphone...
(1972) - Seven Up (1972, with Timothy LearyTimothy LearyTimothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
) - Join Inn (1973)
- Starring Rosi (1973)
- Le Berceau de Cristal (soundtrack) (1975)
- Friendship (2000, with Klaus SchulzeKlaus SchulzeKlaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...
)
Compilations
- The Best of the Private Tapes 2xCD (1998) (rare demo recordings)
- Schwingungen/ Seven Up (1998) (Two original LP's on one CD)
- Join Inn/ Starring Rosi (1998) (Two original LP's on one CD)
External links
- Official website
- Unsung: Ash Ra Tempel
- Myspace
- The Making Of Seven Up from April 2003 issue of Mojo magazine: