manuel gottsching

Live At Mt. Fuji

Recorded in February 2006 during a solo concert, this Manuel Gottsching live document finds the Ash Ra Tempel veteran revisiting his back catalogue and delivering some fresh arrangements of some of his most highly regarded works. 'Sunrain', from 1976, kicks things off, complete with a glossy 21st century makeover, complete with melodic synth strings and fluttering drum machine hits. Manuel introduces his guitar into the set with some bluesy soloing on 'Saint And Sinner', taking the template of vintage ambient music and superimposing a touch of clean, resonant Stratocaster. The oddly named 'Trunky Groove' uses the guitar in a very different fashion, embracing the propulsive energies of the digitised techno that holds everything together, dishing out some choppy, rhythmic chord shapes. Next up, Gottsching gives his set an injection of fuzz, romping through some effects-drenched solos on 'Zerfluss [Die Mulde]' before pulling out all the stops on a reworking of 1978's 'Shuttle Cock', loaded with heavy delay and cascading arpeggios. Live At Mount Fuji is a skilful marriage of old and new, reinterpreting established favourites without treading on the toes of the originals too much. A splendid piece of work that's sure to please Gottsching's army of devotees.