Sunrain
by Ashra
“While I was writing the article about Manuel Göttsching’s first album, Inventions For Electric Guitar, I was surprised by the modern approach of his compositions. ”
Considering that the album was released in 1975, I was pretty impressed by its modernity and the use of guitar, which was very unconventional for its time.
It felt like a new way to compose and to relate to music, inspired by the minimalism of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, and by the approach and musical landscapes experiments of the Kosmische Musik that was echoing throughout all German music scene of the 70s with bands like Tangerine Dream, Cluster and Harmonia.
All the influences of classic blues, rock, and jazz guitar playing, were reduced to the essential, focusing on a more modern way to use the instrument, highlighting the possibilities given by the new gears then available like delays, filters, and effects in general.
One year after the release of Inventions For Electric Guitar, in 1976, Göttsching started working on his new solo project Ashra. The name is an abbreviation of the name of his previous band, Ash Ra Tempel. The name was changed as Göttsching's music became less psychedelic and more oriented towards electronic music, ambient, and minimalism.
The guitar was always a crucial part of his compositions but not anymore its leading force.
“With Ashra, Göttsching became one of the first electronic acts ever. What we nowadays could call a “producer.””
The project later evolved into a full band when in 1979, he was joined by Lutz Ulbrich on guitar and keyboards and by 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.
Göttsching worked and produced the first Ashra album, New Age Of Earth, by himself. In 1976 they were initially released under Göttsching's name and Ash Ra Tempel. The releases that followed in 1977 and onward were under the name Ashra.
As said before, the guitar wasn't anymore the main instrument he used. The album was recorded using an ARP Odyssey, a Farfisa Syntorchestra, an EMS Synthi A, and an EKO Computerhythm.
When you press play with Sunrain, the opening track of New Age Of Earth, you are finally entering modern times of electronic music. It is the first album we review in this electronic music history journey, in which the year of its release transcends time and space.
“Sunrain could be easily found in any Four Tet, Caribou, Jon Hopkins, or Floating Points album.”
The song begins with the EKO Computerhythm fading in and lasting for the whole song. The Farfisa Synthorchestra starts with a piano sound that is played staccato. After about a minute, strings are added to the piece.
New Age of Earth has been cited as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Ambient Albums ever, and in 2016, Pitchfork ranked it #31 on their list of the 50 Best Ambient Albums of All Time.
