Ash Ra Tempel + Timothy Leary - Seven Up (1972)

Ash Ra Tempel + Timothy Leary - Seven Up (1972) [Re1993]

One of the most formidable of the German Krautrock groups, ASH RA TEMPEL were a powerful force led by guitarist Manuel GÖTTSCHING, and also included former TANGERINE DREAM drummer Klaus SCHULZE at various points. Their music is very spacy and psychedelic, in the manner popularized by early HAWKWIND and AMON DÜÜL II. The early albums all had basically one track a side, one more powerful and dramatic, the other of a more atmospheric nature.



Studio Album, released in 1973

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Space (15:55)
- a. Downtown
- b. Power Drive
- c. Right Hand Lover
- d. Velvet Genes

2. Time* (21:37)
- a. Timeship
- b. Neuron
- c. She

Total Time: 37:32

*live from the 'Bern Festival'

Line-up / Musicians

- Timothy Leary / voice
- Manuel Göttsching / guitar, electronics
- Hartmut Enke / bass, guitar, electronics
- Michael Duwe / voice, flute
- Portia Nkomo / voice dubbed during the mix
- Steve Schroeder / organ, electronics
- Dietmar Burmeister / drums
- Tommy Engel / drums dubbed during the mix
- Klaus D. Mueller / tambourine
- Dieter Dierks / synthesizer dubbed during the mix
- Brian Barritt, Liz Elliot, Bettina Hohls / voices

CD Spalax 14249 (1993 France)

extrait from progarchives;
The first classic album produced by R.U Kaiser for the Cosmic Couriers label. 'Seven up' is a medley of parodical free form rock with spacey electronic arrangements (Space) and floating psych instrumental soundscape (Time). Timothy Leary who was among others the Guru of the psychedelic philosophy added vocals parts and recitations, particularly in the first tune.Extremely rough and trippy this album is historically a must for those who are in psych rock and early days of German intergalactic music.

This album is so grossly underappreciated it's not even funny. I think this album is total genius. ASH RA TEMPEL was never known for a steady lineup, the band lost vocalist John L. from their previous album (I heard stories that John L.'s previous band, AGITATION FREE thought he was so far out there that they had to give him the boot, and apparently ASH RA TEMPEL felt the same). For an organist, they brought in Steve Schroyder, who previously appeared on TANGERINE DREAM's "Alpha Centauri" (and also Zeit, but only as a guest). And of course, it wouldn't be ASH RA TEMPEL without guitarist Manuel Göttsching, plus bassist Hartmut Enke is still here.

This album features none other than Timothy Leary, the famous LSD guru! He was in exile in Switzerland, and in fact, ASH RA TEMPEL had to record this album in Switzerland because Leary would have been arrested if he ended up in Germany. Anyway, this album really was done under the influence of LSD. Leary would spike the cans of 7-Up that the band members would drink with LSD, and then let them play. The first half of the album featured a bunch of blues songs, but never let that deceive you! After only a couple minutes, all hell breaks loose with the most relentless electronic effects that jut won't let up! Every time you think the band is starting to rock out or play the blues, it goes right back to LSD land just that fast! The second half of the album is more conventional ASH RA TEMPEL, keeping with the early '70s Krautrock sound . Grossly underrated stuff, as far as I'm concerned.

==>Ash Ra Tempel + Timothy Leary - Seven Up (1972)<==