New Age of the Earth

Ashra, Ash Ra Tempel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Plate Caroline
• ASIN: B000000HU2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,701 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #42 in Music > Dance & DJ > Techno > Minimal Techno

Track Listings

1. Sunrain

2. Ocean of Tenderness

3. Deep Distance

4. Nightdust

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Kosmische' bliss, April 3, 2000

By 

DAC Crowell - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Age of the Earth (Audio CD)

There are those who claim that after Manuel Gottsching went 'solo' as AshRa, the worth of that band went down to zippo. However, I disagree, and I think that "New Age of Earth" is a good argument to support that disagreement. This is a beautiful, lyrical release, with solo guitar against tapestries of electronics, which has a much more 'human' feel than other similar 'Berlin school' works of the same period. These pieces flow and swirl, instead of tick-tocking and ominousness, and are wonderful both as listening music as well as purely ambient sound. About the only thing I can consider in a similar vein would be Steve Hillage's "Rainbow Dome Music", from which System 7 would spring some years later. Unconditionally recommended!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent electronica, December 3, 2005

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Age of the Earth (Audio CD)

This is great electronica released in 1977 by former Ash Ra Temple/Cosmic Jokers guitarist Manuel Gottsching. The four pieces on the album range from the 5'46 Deep Distance to the epic, 21'50 Nightdust and are stylistically very similar to works by electronica giants Tangerine Dream, German composer Klaus Schulze, and French composer Jean Michel Jarre. Instrumentation consists predominantly of layers of analog synthesizers in addition to soft, electric guitar (Manuel uses clean tones exclusively). Percussion is not used on this album at all. Although a listing of synthesizers used was not provided with the CD, I (think) I hear an ARP Pro Soloist, the VCS 3, and various Moog synthesizers, along with a string synthesizer. The music on New Age of Earth is generally very sedate and reflective, with subtle melodies and rhythms surfacing from time to time. The compositions are structured such that a larger, more complex ensemble is intimated, with a throbbing, sequenced bass part underlying melodies and harmonies played on synthesizers with widely varying "tone colors". This combination of timbre and rhythm provides a great deal of interest. Overall, this is a wonderful recording and is highly recommended to all electronica fans. Other albums that might prove enjoyable include Timewind (Klaus Schulze, 1975), Rubycon (Tangerine Dream, 1975), and Oxygene (Jean Michel Jarre, 1976).

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Groundbreaker, December 20, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Age of the Earth (Audio CD)

This was Manuel Gottsching's first release on Virgin Records in 1977. Previously with Ashra Temple, this was one of the first truly 'ambient' records that used synthesiser sequencers to create a lush backdrop to the spacious guitars that Gottsching used to excellent effect.

This is truly chill out music - it's a seminal recording, many have tried to emulate this type of sound, and have failed.

Buy this album - you won't regret it.