Lies of omission and appropriations. The story of a magnetic tape that contained a trade secret. Four decades after its release (on Orh, 1975), Inventions for Electric Guitar, the solo debut by Ash Ra Temple guitarist Manuel G?ttsching, is now a classic, an undisputed worldwide reference. This album was made using only an electric guitar and a simple 4-track tape recorder. So was the challenge, and so was its impact. G?ttsching recorded it in July-August 1974 in Berlin, after a sudden technical revelation. The original LP sleeve had the following printed on its back: Manuel G?ttsching (guitars only). Manuel played his guitar and used a 4 track TEAC A3340, Revox A77 for echoes, WahWah pedal, volume pedal, Sola Sound Fuzz, Schaller Rotosound and Hawaiian steel bar. The reaction was unanimous: this was a significant innovation, in terms of both technique and creativity. However, there are little-known facts to this case. In early 1974, G?ttsching's label received a tape sent by M.A.L. - same design, same configuration, almost the same tracks. This is known by only a handful of experimental musicians from the Charleroi area. M.A.L. aka Daniel Malempr? is the actual inventor of this technique, which G?ttsching reproduced a few months later. Given the above, I suggest that we listen to both albums. As doubts are removed, the truth sets in, forty years later. Here's hoping that this will ease the deep disgust that made M.A.L. leave his guitar untouched for so long
