SCHWINGUNGEN

Klaus Schulze isn't on this record but John L. is, and believe me that really changes the dynamics of "Schwingungen" ASH RA TEMPEL's second album. Wolfgang Meuller takes Schulze place behind the drumkit, but it's John L.'s vocals that bring to ASH RA TEMPEL what Suzuki or Mooney bring to CAN's sound. A little insanity. This album is a lot better than I was led to believe, and is a must have for Krautrock fans out there.

"Light:Look At Your Sun" opens with faint guitar and vocal sounds that build as bass and drums join in. After 3 minutes it's built ! I love when Gottsching comes in guns a blazing before 3 1/2 minutes.This is fantastic ! John sings the same line over and over. It settles down again 5 minutes in. "Darkness:Flowers Must Die" opens with spacey sax and electronic sounds as percussion comes and goes. A guitar melody with percussion is joined by John's drugged out vocals. Some jew-harp 5 minutes in comes and goes. Vocals are bizarre at times(understatement) reminding me of Damo. Blistering guitar 11 minutes in as drums pound away and John screams out.

"Suche & Liebe" is the side long suite to end the album. It opens with dead silence until we get what sounds like the echo of spacey keys before a minute. Very spacey and then haunting before 6 minutes. Drums come in around the 10 minute mark and get louder, it sounds amazing. Eerie sounds 12 minutes in and an actual melody starts to appear after 14 minutes that is very PINK FLOYD-like. Vocal melodies a minute later. Guitar before 17 minutes. Incredible sound ! Drums come pounding in a minute later as it starts to sound even better. This is so uplifting.

I really think this is almost as good as their classic debut,and John L makes it sound different from that one in a very good way.