Manuel Göttsching (1952 - )
Related: new age music - guitarists - minimalism in music - electronic music - German music - musician - 1952
Influential to: ambient music - techno - trance
Tracks: E2 E4 (1981-1984)
E2 E4 (1981-1984) - Manuel Göttsching [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Biography
Manuel Göttsching (Berlin, September 9, 1952 - ) is a German musician.
As the leader of the group Ash Ra Tempel or Ashra, as well as solo artist, he is one of the pioneers of a music style that would later be called electronica. His 1984 album E2-E4 has been influential in the development of techno music, house music and ambient music.
In 1981 Göttsching played with Klaus Schulze on the latter's European tour. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_G%C3%B6ttsching [Aug 2005]
Biography
Ash Ra Tempel were one of the most notable German Krautrock groups of the 70s and 80s. They were led by guitarist Manuel Göttsching, and also included former Tangerine Dream drummer Klaus Schulze at various points.
The group was originally founded by Manuel Göttsching and had its first release Ash Ra Tempel in June 1971.
Their music is widely characterized as spacey and psychedelic. The early albums all had one track per side, one more powerful and dramatic, the other of a more atmospheric nature.
Ash Ra Tempel's first release is a classic of the space/cosmic genre but Schwingungen (1972) and Join Inn (1973) are supposed to be the essential works from the band.
Later, after recording the soundtrack Le Berceau de Cristal (1975 unreleased until the 90's) Ash Ra Tempel changed name to Ashra, making a more melodic synthesizer based music. In the year 2000 the band was reborn. Joined by long-time colleague Klaus Schulze, the appropriately titled Friendship was released.
Manuel Göttsching has also recorded several New Age Music albums under the name Ashra including the New Age Music pioneering album, New Age of Earth. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Ra_Tempel [Aug 2006]