BLACKOUTS

When I first got into the German "komische music" I was more into Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze than Ash Ra. However, by 1998 as the total synth/sampler sound rainbow had been unfurled with GREAT 90's electronica (Future Sound of London, Orb, Sun Electric, the Irresistible Force) I became more interested in hearing a music that was dominated by synthesizers and sequencers but had the steady presence of non synthesizers instruments.... Ive had this Blackouts by Ash Ra (along with all the others from this period: New Age of Earth, Correlations, Belle Alliance) for 20+ years but never found it as brilliant as TD and KS... I feel very differnently now.. This record is very good.. Manuel Gottsching on this record uses a basic sequencer set-up, some simple type of rhythmn device, a few synthesizers and his brilliant guitar playing. Ive always thought that the one man sequencer( or studio) band was a very pure art form, In the sense that it is one mans vision like a painting is, and not the diluted vision of 3-7 people ( and not to say that is flawed, but speaking as an individual musician who has a lot of vision and has worked in both a band and solo , I can tell you i love the latter the most).. Manuel Gottsching is an absolute brilliant musician, one of the best in my opinion.. I mean listen to the beautiful layers of unison guitar parts and melodic guitars,,, and im talking here about melodic leads that have been pain stakingly doubled and tripled, I think this guy is better at it than David Gilmour ( who i also admire in similar ways).. Manuel Gottsching never over plays like a lot of Prog Dept people, just one beautifull sound painting after another... if ur into beautifull color music like me ... get this.. if your at all serious about guitar and what can be done with a guitar beyond whats been done over and over again.. Manuel Gottsching to the best of my knowledge is the only one that does it quite like this ; Manuel's guitar playing is VERY signature like that of Carlos Santana or Jerry Garcia ( meaning: you hear just 3 notes and you know who it is..)...get this.....Hybrid.. if you like the idea of very hybrid music that is balanced with keyboards AND guitar , because more prog is dominated by one or the other, RARELY is there a perfect balance.. I consider only Ozric Tentacles to come under this area also