Schwingungen by Ash Ra Tempel

“Schwingungen” (which in German means “vibrations”), released in 1972, is their second studio album, a true Krautrock gem.  This record marks a major turning point for the band, moving toward broader and more spiritual sounds than their debut.

The birth of “Schwingungen” brought an important lineup change, with the departure of Klaus Schulze, the drummer who decided to go solo and found great success. Manuel Göttsching (guitar) and Hartmut Enke (bass) brought in Wolfgang Müller on drums and vibraphone and enlisted outstanding musicians, such as the charismatic singer John L. (ex Agitation Free), Matthias Wehler on saxophone, and Uli Popp on bongos.

This album is a real breakthrough for Ash Ra Tempel. Forget the spacey, intense jams of their first work: here they embrace a more defined and spiritual psychedelia, seeking higher states of consciousness.  The album is ideally split into two parts, each exploring a different aspect of existence and listening.

A journey between light and shadow, between the harmony of the universe and the search for enlightenment.  This is exactly “Light and Darkness”, the first part of this record.  The second part, “Cosmic Vibrations”, leads us to discover that everything in the universe is energy in motion, pure Kosmische Musik. The listener is guided into a meditative experience thanks to vibraphones, organ, and dreamlike guitars.  There are no traditional songs with verse and chorus: here the music flows like a river, creating harmony between us and the universe.  A unique experience.

The first section of the album is built on an acid, distorted Blues, frantic and theatrical music.  John L. is the absolute protagonist, with a vocal performance that turns the jams into a kind of shamanic rite. Göttsching’s guitars are biting and dense, a real wall of sound.

“Light: Look At Your Sun” is a slow psychedelic blues, a track that isn’t exactly easy to take in, but it’s the most accessible on the record.  Göttsching’s blues riffs intertwine with John L.’s vocalizations, creating a raw blues.

“Darkness: Flowers Must Die”, instead, is pure hard rock and sonic chaos.  It’s the toughest track, with John L.’s screamed vocal performance and instrumental passages with horns and distorted guitars that create an unsettling, anarchic atmosphere.

The second section leaves behind the classic “song” structure to dive headfirst into cosmic music. The rhythm almost completely dissolves, leaving room for floating, swaying textures.  The use of vibraphone and organ creates sound carpets that anticipate by years the Ambient music we know today. Unlike British space rock, the style here is more contemplative and less reliant on special effects, aiming straight for the heart with deep emotional force.

“Schwingungen: Suche & Liebe” is a cosmic, meditative, and spiritual journey that fills the entire second side of the record.  Enveloping synths and ethereal atmospheres carry us into another dimension.  It’s a true space meditation, with stretched sounds, organ, and dreamy guitars that evoke a romantic and spiritual inner vision.

The suite is divided into two parts:

“Suche” (Search), which begins in a minimal and ethereal way, dominated by vibraphone, organ, and spacey sounds reminiscent of early Tangerine Dream.

“Liebe” (Love), the final section, brings in drums and celestial choirs, taking the record to a harmonious and solemn conclusion.

Schwingungen is a visionary work, a must for anyone who wants to understand how German electronic and psychedelic music was born and evolved.  It’s a perfect mix of intensity and cosmic abstraction, with a central message that stands out on the original cover: “What lives in you, in us, our vibrations, is in everything: the paradise called life”.  This Krautrock masterpiece stands out for its unique sonic structure, blending different genres into an engaging sensory experience. Excellent! But only for fans of the genre.

My Version

Label: MG.ART – MG.ART 612
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold, 180g
Country: Germany
Released: Nov 2021

Tracklist

Light And Darkness    
A1        Light: Look At Your Sun    6:20
A2        Darkness: Flowers Must Die    12:20
Schwingungen    (19:00)
B1.a        Suche    
B1.b        Liebe

LineUp

 [Equipment] – Uli Popp, Ulli Scheffler
Drums, Vibraphone [Vibron] – Wolfgang Müller (2)
[Sound Engineer] – Dieter Dierks
With the participation of Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Matthias Wehler
With the participation of Bongos – Uli Popp
With the participation of Vocals, Jew's Harp [Jaw Harp], Percussion – John L.
Guitar, Bass, Electronics – Hartmut 'Indra Rogér' Enke
Guitar, Organ, Electronics, Choir – Manuel Göttsching

Listening links on the main streaming platforms at the following links:

Spotify: The full album is available in the Schwingungen (Mixed Tracks) version

• YouTube:
  • You can find the whole record uploaded by fans, like this Full Album (HQ) or this full version on the YouTube channel.
  • Individual tracks are also available on the official Ash Ra Tempel - YouTube Music channel.
• Apple Music: The album is in the Apple Music catalog, also as the "Mixed Tracks" edition

Note: All links to the musicians’ works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the page "Artists"