2004 reissue on Spalax Music, distributed through MG.ART. Correlations, originally released in 1979, is the third album from Manuel Göttsching's Ashra project, but the first album by the Ashra band -- the first two Ashra LPs (1977's New Age of Earth and 1978's Blackouts (SPA 14759LP)) were Göttsching solo albums. Here, the music is performed by Göttsching (guitar, synthesizer, sequencer), Lutz Ulbrich (guitar, synthesizer, piano, mellotron), and Harald Großkopf (drums, percussion, synthesizer). Cover art by Hipgnosis.
"As the story is sometimes told, Göttsching stopped in the studio for a couple of hours in 1981 and invented techno. E2-E4 is the most compelling argument that techno came from Germany-- more so than any single Kraftwerk album, anyway. The sleeve credits the former Ash Ra Tempel leader with 'guitar and electronics', but few could stretch that meager toolkit like Göttsching. Over a heavenly two-chord synth vamp and simple sequenced drum and bass, Göttsching's played his guitar like a percussion instrument, creating music that defines the word 'hypnotic' over the sixty minutes . . . A key piece in the electronic music puzzle that's been name-checked, reworked and expanded upon countless times." --Mark Richardson, Pitchfork
Recorded on Dec 12.1981 at STUDIO ROMA, Berlin.
30th Anniversary Release.