Ashra
New Age of Earth
Recorded from March to June 1976, 'New Age of Earth' was not released until the following year. So, what else was happening in the wonderful world of music at this time? In December 1976 the Sex Pistols made a name for themselves through their behaviour on the 'Today' show. And while one musical trend was being born another was facing extinction. In early 1977 Alan 'Fluff' Freeman's Saturday Show on BBC Radio 1 was essential listening for most devoted rock fans. Ignoring the punk trend, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Rory Gallagher et al still had extensive airplay. One Saturday, in amongst the prog rock, heavy metal and R'n'B, was a little gem of music, 'Deep Distance' by Ashra; a light, delicate five minutes of peace in danger of being blown away by the flatulent wind of punk or trampled under the feet of prog dinosaurs stampeding to the Stateside stadium circuit. It would appear there were musicians other than Froese/Franke/Baumann and Schultze playing top quality electronic music. The CD opens with 'Sunrain'. If asked, "What does Ashra sound like?", this is the track to play as an answer. Little surprise that Ashra's 'Best of ...' album was titled 'Sunrain'. Multi- layered sequences backing an almost sing-along melody. Once heard, never forgotten. Seven and a half minutes of delightful, unmistakable Ashra. It is impossible not to like this track.

As most electronic music is instrumental there is always the danger of letting the imagination run amok when giving a piece a title. Some are frankly ridiculous: 'Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares', '3am at the border of the marsh from Okefenokee', 'Origin of Supernatural Probabilities' to name but three*. However, this album's second track, 'Ocean of Tenderness' could not be more aptly named. A wide expanse of synths, gently flowing for twelve minutes or more. The simplest of sequences keeps the tide moving and would be almost soporific if not for the light, airy synth leads and guitar parts. It is very difficult to find a word better than "tender" to describe this track. The aforementioned 'Deep Distance' follows and is shorter and gentler than the live versions. Don't overlook this piece. Despite what Renault would have us believe, size doesn't necessarily matter. This is a mini masterpiece. Göttsching manages to say in under six minutes what many musicians would take sixty to express far less eloquently.

The CD closes with the mighty 'Nightdust'. It begins quietly, gently, with smooth textured background synths and a delicate, growing lead line. Effects move in and out of the picture, creating an increasingly restless feel to the piece. After eight minutes or so further tunes develop and more instrumentation is introduced. Eleven and a half minutes and the sequences begin to bubble behind the introduction of the main theme. Increasing intensity is almost tangible over the next few minutes before a return to peace just beyond the sixteen minute mark. Most musicians would have probably left it at that and gone down the pub for a well earned pint, but not Göttsching. After a brief reprise of the opening we are treated to a delicious guitar solo, which, like the previous five to ten minutes, increases in intensity as Göttsching takes his Gibson off into the stratosphere and beyond. One of Ashra's finest moments.

It is worth noting that this is really a solo album from Manuel Göttsching, no other musicians being credited. If you like 'Early Water', Göttsching's collaboration with Michael Hoenig from autumn 1976 (especially the second half), then you should like this. File under very easy listening. (Mike Smith)

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