Ash Ra Tempel-Ash Ra Tempel (1971)

The debut album from German band Ash Ra Tempel is a true classic of space rock and krautrock, driven by the exhilarating and experimental onslaught of guitarist Manuel Gottsching and the raw percussion of a very young Klaus Schulze. This first album has a unique, divided personality, featuring two extensive and very different tracks, from the epic opening 20 minutes of "Amboss" to the soaring and serene "Traummaschine". However, both seem to stem from the same cosmic journey that permeates the album's mysticism. "Amboss" is a heavy, acid-tinged space voyage that draws the listener in with a heavy dose of energy, replete with bursts of energy, frenetic guitar sounds, and frenetic percussion accompanied by electronic elements. In contrast to this is "Traummaschine", based on a profoundly spatial climax, with many eerie moments, clearly in tune with the electronic meditation that transports us, with moments of very relaxing calm, to another sonic dimension. For many, this work is the quintessential Krautrock, even though other legendary works from many top-tier German bands arrived in the following years, but none surpass this superb debut from the mythical Ash Ra Tempel in experimentation and originality.