Ashra (band)
Encyclopedia
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
. The name was changed as Gottsching's music became less psychedelic
and more oriented towards electronica
.
played their last concert in February 1973, their final album Starring Rosi
was recorded later that year (featuring future Ashra member Harald Grosskopf). At the demise of Ash Ra Tempel, Göttsching remained musically inactive until 1975 when he released his debut solo album Inventions for Electric Guitar. This album introduced the effects he would later make use of in his work as Ashra, but in a much more basic form. Later that year Göttsching was commissioned to record a film soundtrack. The resulting album was released in 1993 as Le Berceau de Cristal under the Ash Ra Tempel name, despite the fact that none of the original members of that band feature. Instead, Gottsching was backed by formed Agitation Free
guitarist Lutz Ulbrich, who would go on to collaborate with Gottsching as Ashra.
The following year Göttsching made his debut as Ashra, releasing New Age of Earth
on Isadora Records
. This would become perhaps Ashra's most popular album. All instruments are played by Göttsching. A second Göttsching-only Ashra album was released in 1977: Blackouts.
In 1979 the third Ashra album was released. Correlations featured Lutz Ulbrich on guitar and keyboards as well as ex-Wallenstein
and Cosmic Couriers
drummer Harald Grosskopf who had played drums on Ash Ra Tempel
's final album. The band released one further album (Belle Alliance) with this line up.
In the mid-1980s the trio recorded Tropical Heat
although the album would only be released in 1991. In 1990 the duo of Göttsching and Ulbrich released Walkin' the Desert. The band's next album is 1998's Sauce Hollandaise, a live album released and recorded in The Netherlands, now out of print. For this album the trio of Göttsching, Grosskopf and Ulbrich were joined by Steve Baltes who would also feature in the @shra series, the first of which was also released in 1998. This series embraces a more techno
-oriented sound. , @shra is the band's last new recording to be released.
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...
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
Ash Ra Tempel
Ash Ra Tempel are a German krautrock group of the 1970s, and are an example of cosmic or space rock.-History:The group was originally founded by guitarist Manuel Göttsching, keyboardist/drummer Klaus Schulze, and bassist Hartmut Enke in 1971. All three founding members had previously played...
. The name was changed as Gottsching's music became less psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
and more oriented towards electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
.
History
Ash Ra TempelAsh Ra Tempel
Ash Ra Tempel are a German krautrock group of the 1970s, and are an example of cosmic or space rock.-History:The group was originally founded by guitarist Manuel Göttsching, keyboardist/drummer Klaus Schulze, and bassist Hartmut Enke in 1971. All three founding members had previously played...
played their last concert in February 1973, their final album Starring Rosi
Starring Rosi
Starring Rosi is an experimental rock album in the Krautrock genre by Ash Ra Tempel. It was recorded at Studio Dierks, Stommeln by Dieter Dierks...
was recorded later that year (featuring future Ashra member Harald Grosskopf). At the demise of Ash Ra Tempel, Göttsching remained musically inactive until 1975 when he released his debut solo album Inventions for Electric Guitar. This album introduced the effects he would later make use of in his work as Ashra, but in a much more basic form. Later that year Göttsching was commissioned to record a film soundtrack. The resulting album was released in 1993 as Le Berceau de Cristal under the Ash Ra Tempel name, despite the fact that none of the original members of that band feature. Instead, Gottsching was backed by formed Agitation Free
Agitation Free
Agitation Free was a German experimental krautrock band. The band was formed in 1967 with Michael "Fame" Günther , Lutz "Lüül" Ulbrich , Lutz Ludwig Kramer and Christopher Franke . They were initially called Agitation, a name they chose at random from a dictionary...
guitarist Lutz Ulbrich, who would go on to collaborate with Gottsching as Ashra.
The following year Göttsching made his debut as Ashra, releasing New Age of Earth
New Age of Earth
New Age of Earth is an album by proto-electronica group Ashra. It was released in 1976 on Isadora Records. Although released under the band's moniker, it is a solo album by Ashra member Manuel Göttsching.-Track listing:#Sunrain – 7:32...
on Isadora Records
Isadora Records
Isadora Records is an independent record label started and operated by Hawksley Workman. The first album released was Workman's own debut, For Him and the Girls, in 1999. The label has been releasing albums online since 2004...
. This would become perhaps Ashra's most popular album. All instruments are played by Göttsching. A second Göttsching-only Ashra album was released in 1977: Blackouts.
In 1979 the third Ashra album was released. Correlations featured Lutz Ulbrich on guitar and keyboards as well as ex-Wallenstein
Wallenstein (band)
The band Wallenstein, founded in Viersen in Lower Rhineland, later based in Mönchengladbach, was a German rock band from 1971 to 1982, which was later ascribed to the so-called Krautrock of the 70s.-History:...
and Cosmic Couriers
Cosmic Couriers
Cosmic Couriers was a German experimental/space-rock label set up by Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser in 1973 following his association with Ohr and Pilz...
drummer Harald Grosskopf who had played drums on Ash Ra Tempel
Ash Ra Tempel
Ash Ra Tempel are a German krautrock group of the 1970s, and are an example of cosmic or space rock.-History:The group was originally founded by guitarist Manuel Göttsching, keyboardist/drummer Klaus Schulze, and bassist Hartmut Enke in 1971. All three founding members had previously played...
's final album. The band released one further album (Belle Alliance) with this line up.
In the mid-1980s the trio recorded Tropical Heat
Tropical Heat
Tropical Heat was a Canadian TV series produced in cooperation with Mexico and Israel that aired between 1991 and 1993 ....
although the album would only be released in 1991. In 1990 the duo of Göttsching and Ulbrich released Walkin' the Desert. The band's next album is 1998's Sauce Hollandaise, a live album released and recorded in The Netherlands, now out of print. For this album the trio of Göttsching, Grosskopf and Ulbrich were joined by Steve Baltes who would also feature in the @shra series, the first of which was also released in 1998. This series embraces a more techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
-oriented sound. , @shra is the band's last new recording to be released.
Studio albums
- 1976/1976 - New Age of EarthNew Age of EarthNew Age of Earth is an album by proto-electronica group Ashra. It was released in 1976 on Isadora Records. Although released under the band's moniker, it is a solo album by Ashra member Manuel Göttsching.-Track listing:#Sunrain – 7:32...
(re-released in 2008 under Gottsching's name) - 1977/1977 - Blackouts (re-released in 2008 under Gottsching's name)
- 1979/1978 - Correlations (5 disc expanded edition (Correlations Complete) including The Making Of released in 2008)
- 1980/1979 - Belle Alliance (2 disc expanded edition (Belle Alliance Plus) released in 2008)
- 1990/1988 - Walkin' the Desert
- 1991/1985-1986 - Tropical Heat
Live albums
- 1998/1997 - Sauce Hollandaise (live album)
- 1998/1997 - @shra (re-released in 2008 along with @shra Vol. 2 as @shra + @shra Vol. 2)
- 2002/1997 - @shra Vol. 2 (re-released in 2008 along with @shra as @shra + @shra Vol. 2)