HOENIG & GÖTTSCHING: EARLY WATER

Back in 1976 Manuel Gottsching the guitarist for ASH RA TEMPEL, along with Michael Hoenig the keyboardist for AGITATION FREE had been practicing together for a few weeks getting ready for their tour of France. This music that would become "Early Water" apparently was the last thing they recorded together before hearing that the tour had been cancelled, so into the vaults it went. It wasn't until 1995 that Gottsching re-discovers this music and promptly sends it to Hoenig who at this time was working at a studio in L.A. Hoenig cleaned it up and remastered it, releasing it that same year of 1995.

We get one long 48 minute piece of electronics where the sequencers rule. Berlin school for sure with Gottsching adding guitar over top at times. He also adds farsisa organ, synths and tape echo. Hoenig hits us with a variety of keyboards, and both are credited with being the composers. The music changes slightly throughout, but honestly this is repetitive and hypnotic to say the least. It moves along fairly quickly for the most part, with again slight changes in that tempo. It works as background music for sure, but man I love driving with this type of music playing. The soundtrack to the scenery up here.

Some compare it to TANGERINE DREAM's "Ricochet", Michael Hoenig's "Departure From The Northern Wasteland", or some of Gottsching's solo stuff like "Inventions For The Electric Guitar" or "E2-E4", his band ASHRA is another example. As daunting as it would seem at 48 minutes, each time I played this I was always into it. There's more going on than it might seem, and I always prefer my electronics with guitar and organ like here on "Early Water". Yes I'll say it, this music flows beautifully and consistently throughout. A solid 4 stars without a doubt.