ASH RA TEMPEL - OHR 1971 1st DE PRESS RARITY EX+ KRAUT PSYCH GIMMIX PINK FLOYD

	£		250
	$		331

ASH RA TEMPEL 

  OMM 56013

1st GERMAN PRESS 1971

Yes!   ...This is the insanely hard to find essential very first German press on the ultra collectable OHR label. Impossible to find these days especially in this fabulous condition. I have listened to the full album and am very glad to say that the audio was stunning with nothing unwanted!!

Earliest matrices and of course the very first catalogue number. Second issues will have an extra digit "5" in the catalogue number i.e. 556013. These are of course also very much wanted but can still be found if you search hard enough. The earliest first press is now impossible to still get with many collectors after it. Top shelf Kraut!!!

The album is divided into two halves, "Amboss" (meaning anvil) and "Traummaschine" (meaning dream machine). The second half of the album relies less on the shamanic guitar of "Amboss" as explained above and delves deeper into the hallowed crypts of the Ash Ra Tempel. This is the where the foreboding synths take hold, and provide an uncomfortable presence in the more ambient focused track. The melodies are staggered and constantly shifting, building up and dying out in pulsating intervals. It plays out like exploring a barely illuminated chamber, and offers the deepest sense of discovery into the band's sound. It naturally feels as meditative and ghostly as a trip into the self. Here is where Ash Ra Tempel truly establish their Krautrock sound, and perhaps lay the groundwork for the entire genre. This album was as equally influenced by major Krautrock and ambient acts like Tangerine Dream as it was an influence for them, a dynamic that made the scene as evolving and adaptable as it came to be. Again there is never a need to justify where they are going, in the same sense something as titanic and eerie as the ancient ruins the album reflects need no reason to stay standing; Ash Ra Tempel is a gem that need not be rationalized.

A common notion is that Ash Ra Tempel comes off as dated in terms of production. This, however, plays into its strengths and acts as a subtle reminder that this album is indeed very old. Forty years in the past is an immense amount of time especially when compared to the advances of technology along the way, but some traditions are timeless. Its easy to forget that these innovated electronic sounds were created through primitive analog equipment, years before the digital age took hold of this style of music. The album's recording means offer an ancient sound that, although probably not intentional, pays obvious homage to the style the band was aiming for. This dated production even further reminds the listener how relevant the music from the 70s still is today. Post-rock bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor adopt and build on the sound of Ash Ra Tempel decades after its release, needing little tweaking to fit the sound snugly in the modern age. Its remarkable to realize how long something like this stays accessible alongside cultural evolution, and begs the question of what albums of today will hold up the same.

On offer is this enormous scarcity from the Cologne group Ash Ra Tempel. They only ever issued a few rare quality albums which can be classified in that rare psych/prog crossover area. This album oozes quality and is vaguely reminiscent of Pink Floyd, Solution or Group 1850. The vinyl of this album is of fantastic EX+ barely played quality with just two barely visible miniscule trace hairlines, not feelable, not audible and seems unplayed or at the very most 1 or 2 careful spins. There are no spindle traces at all!! Remarkably the audio is immaculate without any static or distortion. A totally silky replay ... impossible for any album of that age!! (review: sputnikmusic.com)

I AM OFFERING ANOTHER HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER PROG / PSYCH JAZZ  VINYL LP'S RARITY FROM MY COLLECTION OF SIMILAR ITEMS !! THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIMENTAL PSYCH/PROG CROSSOVER ALBUMS  EVER MADE. ONLY EVER SOLD IN TINY, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED, COPIES.

Vinyl: EX+.  A barely played vinyl in just "over the counter" EX+ condition. Probably the best copy one can ever find of this very rare album. Only one paper retraction trace hairline under a strong light. In normal light this looks mint!! I have played it in full on my high end system and the audio is totally flawless without even any background static. A total joy to listen to and I am finding it hard to part with this smashing album. This album is extremely scarce in any condition at all, in this condition ... probably the last one out there!

Sleeve: VG+ to EX.  A lovely complete gimmix sleeve to match the splendid vinyl with just a small crease near the bottom left flap (please look at the picture).  The edges have just light wear. The spine is fully legible. A unique opportunity to achieve a well above average original copy of this stunner which is of course a major investment piece. I have not seen this spectacular album for the last four to five years. I am sure it will be longer before I will see the next one if at all.

This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next prog album to go completely through the roof. Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 20.00.  Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!  PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST,  if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy! Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 * rating is effectively detrimental to a seller's rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees  and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again!!

This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.