What makes Schwingungen by Ash Ra Tempel notable?

'Schwingungen' is significant for its impact on the development of the space rock genre, influencing future artists with its blend of psychedelic sounds and avant-garde techniques. The album received positive critical reception, particularly for its ambitious structure and innovative approach to free-form music, setting a precedent for subsequent Krautrock releases. When 'Schwingungen' was released in January 1972, Ash Ra Tempel was solidifying their identity within the burgeoning Krautrock scene. This album followed their self-titled debut and marked a deeper exploration of improvisational and experimental music, showcasing the band's growth in both composition and sonic experimentation.

How many songs are on Schwingungen?

Schwingungen has 3 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

Schwingungen

Ash Ra Tempel · 1972

38 min · 3 tracks · space rock

A cosmic journey through expansive soundscapes woven with hypnotic rhythms and ethereal melodies.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Light: Look at Your Sun — This opening track establishes the album's cosmic theme with bright, shimmering guitars that create an uplifting atmosphere, inviting listeners into an expansive auditory landscape.
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Darkness: Flowers Must Die — At over twelve minutes long, this track delves into darker, more meditative territory, juxtaposing serene melodies with haunting undertones, effectively capturing the duality expressed in the album’s title.
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Suche & Liebe — The longest piece on the album, it showcases Ash Ra Tempel’s improvisational prowess, seamlessly blending various musical themes that evoke both search and love, embodying the essence of the band's experimental spirit.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

70 /100

Alpine

Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The album's expansive soundscapes and improvisational nature mark it as a significant work in the space rock genre.

What we noticed

The album consists of three long tracks, each over ten minutes, allowing for extended improvisation and exploration.
Each track features a gradual build-up of layers, with synthesizers and guitars creating dense soundscapes that evolve slowly.
The second track introduces a contrasting section with minimal instrumentation, emphasizing silence and space before returning to more complex arrangements.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Light: Look at Your Sun 6:35
2 Darkness: Flowers Must Die 12:25
3 Suche & Liebe 19:23

What to play next

Listen next

Seven Up

1972

Go back to

Ash Ra Tempel

1971

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Krautrock space rock

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