The '70s were a fertile period for
Manuel Goettsching
. Having pioneered the kosmische guitar freakout with
Ash Ra Tempel
, he had embarked on a new phase by mid-decade. Inspired by minimalist composers
Terry Riley
,
Steve Reich
, and
Philip Glass
Goettsching
traded musical visions of outer space for trance-inducing meditations on inner space. Between 1974 and 1977,
pursued this new aesthetic on
Inventions for Electric Guitar
Le Berceau de Cristal
New Age of Earth
Blackouts
, immersing himself in an electronic environment that often fused his signature guitar work with sequencers and synths. Although not released until 1991,
Dream & Desire
was recorded in 1977. Its ambient and proto-techno explorations hold up reasonably well alongside
's previously released recordings from the mid-'70s, and also resonate favorably with the work of like-minded contemporaries such as
Edgar Froese
Klaus Schulze
Tangerine Dream
. The half-hour
"Dream"
is appropriately oneiric. Prefaced by elemental atmospherics and soothing synth washes, it builds with sparse, delicate guitar lines.
crafts mesmerizing layers of intricate notes as the track gradually gathers momentum and settles into tighter, more defined patterns. In contrast with the cool, glacial aura of
"Dream,"
"Desire"
has a warmer, more energized feel, rooted in its relentless bass pulse, sheen of electronic percussion, and
Fripp
ertronic-style guitar. However, the components fail to coalesce to hypnotic effect; instead, they test the patience and sound somewhat dated. The more economical
"Despair"
succeeds where
falters, putting similar sonic elements to more compelling use. While the weaving, sinewy guitars infuse a melancholy air, the rhythmic dimension radiates optimism and dynamism that stand in ironic counterpoint to the track's title.
isn't, perhaps, as consistently strong as
's other recordings from the period, but this lost album provides further insight into one of his most innovative creative phases. ~ Wilson Neate