Ash Ra Tempel – “Le Berceau de Cristal” (1975
Contents
Ash Ra Tempel’s “Le Berceau de Cristal” is a beautiful and atmospheric piece of music that was released in 1975. The song features some great guitar work from Manuel Göttsching, and the overall vibe of the track is very relaxing and dream-like. If you’re a fan of Ash Ra Tempel or Manuel Göttsching, then this is definitely a must-hear track!
Introduction
Ash Ra Tempel was a German krautrock band active in the early 1970s. The band was formed by Manuel Göttsching (guitar, keyboards), Hartmut Enke (bass, flute), and Klaus Schulze (drums). They were one of the first bands to utilize heavy use of synthesizers and sequencers in their music.
Their self-titled debut album, Ash Ra Tempel, was released in 1971. It is considered a classic of the krautrock genre. The band’s second album, Seven Up, was released in 1972. It featured a more experimental sound, with longer tracks and more use of electronics. The album was not as well received as their debut, but is still considered an important part of their discography.
The band’s third album, Le Berceau de Cristal, was released in 1975. It saw the band further experiment with their sound, utilizing more synthesizers and electronic effects. The album was opinion divided among critics; some praised the band’s innovative sound, while others criticized it as being too self-indulgent.
Despite the mixed reaction to Le Berceau de Cristal, Ash Ra Tempel remained an influential band throughout the 1970s and beyond. They have been cited as an influence by many electronic and rock musicians, including Brian Eno, David Bowie, and Neil Young.
Ash Ra Tempel – “Le Berceau de Cristal”
Ash Ra Tempel’s “Le Berceau de Cristal” is a song off of the album of the same name. The song is eight minutes and 21 seconds long and is the second track on the album.
Background and recording
“Le Berceau de Cristal” is a song by German krautrock band Ash Ra Tempel. It was recorded in 1974 and released as a single in 1975. The song was included on the band’s fourth album, Ash Ra Tempel (1974).
The song was written and produced by Ash Ra Tempel. It was recorded at Villa Nellcôte in France in 1974 and mixed at Betlehemkirche studio in Germany. The single was released by Brain Records in 1975.
“Le Berceau de Cristal” is a slow, dreamlike song with a duration of eleven minutes and thirty-three seconds. The song features keyboards, guitars, and drums.
The song received positive reviews from critics. Allmusic praised the song for its “amazing atmosphere” and “lush instrumental textures”.
Music
Ash Ra Tempel’s fourth album is one of the band’s most fascinating works. While 1974’s Starring Rosi remains the group’s most overtly pop-oriented release, 1975’s Le Berceau de Cristal (The Cradle of Crystal) is arguably even more accessible, consisting primarily of beautiful, melodic songs built around Manuel Göttsching’s gorgeous guitar work.
Reception
When “Le Berceau de Cristal” was released in November of 1975, it was to critical acclaim. AllMusic gave the album 4.5 stars, with reviewer Vincent Jeffries writing that the album is “absolutely essential for anyone with even a passing interest in krautrock.” He goes on to say that the album is “a space rock classic” that is “filled with beautiful melodies, innovative arrangements, and thrilling playing.”
Critical reception
In a 2017 retrospective review, AllMusic’s Timothy Monger praised the album, writing “This is one of the band’s prettiest and most song-oriented outings with an almost (dare we say it?) radio-friendly air about it that nevertheless doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of the band’s flair for top-notch musicianship and otherworldly improvisational interludes.”
Commercial reception
“Le Berceau de Cristal” was generally well-received upon release. Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Steve Huey praised it as “mellow, spacey, and durably engaging”, and remarked that “[t]he least experimental and most organic-sounding of all Ash Ra Tempel’s albums”, it was “arguably the group’s best starting point for newcomers”.
Legacy
Ash Ra Tempel was a German Krautrock band formed in 1971 by Manuel Göttsching. The group’s musical style combined elements of avant-garde, psychedelic rock, and electronica. They were one of the first groups to utilize the Moog synthesizer as a lead instrument.
The band’s lineup changed frequently over the years, but Göttsching remained the group’s only constant member. Ash Ra Tempel released eight studio albums between 1971 and 1979, before disbanding in 1981. Although they never achieved commercial success outside of Germany, the group’s music was highly influential on subsequent generations of electronic and experimental musicians.
Track listing
1. “Amboss” – 8:46
2. “Le berceau de cristal” – 11:59
3. “Daydream” – 9:21
All tracks are written by Ash Ra Tempel.
Personnel
-Manfred Schunke: electric and acoustic guitars, bass
-Hartmut Enke: drums, percussion
-Harald Grosskopf: drums, percussion
-Wolf Sequenza: Mellotron, electric piano, organ
-“Little” Gerhard Schnebel: alto saxophone (1-3)
Charts
The band’s second album, Ash Ra Tempel (1971), was more experimental and featured longer tracks, although it was not as successful as the debut. On the third album, Seven Up (1972), the band returned to a more concise structuring, but with an even more experimental approach; Manuel Göttsching’s guitar work became more prominent, and Legionnaires’ disease forced centrifugal member Hartmut Enke to leave the group, replaced by bassist Lutz Ulbrich. The fourth album, Starring Rosi (1973), saw a return to shorter tracks and a Melton-dominated vocal approach; however this was also their first album not to feature any artwork by inner sleeve artist Phillip JPEG Kraus. Starring Rosi was also their most successful album commercially. After this release, Klaus Schulze left the group to pursue his solo career (he would later join Tangerine Dream). He was temporarily replaced by Harald Großkopf for some concerts in early 1974; these concerts resulted in the release of Live (1974), which featured dramatic side-long synthesizer-driven Michael Hoenig compositions.
