Harald Grosskopf
Harald Grosskopf, the percussionist behind Ash Ra Tempel, Klaus Schulze, and Cosmic Jokers, will make his North American debut performing his landmark debut 1980 solo album “Synthesist” in its entirety. Unavailable for almost three decades, “Synthesist” has been recently reissued (Feb 2011) for it’s 30th anniversary in a newly remastered edition by the respected New York based RVNG Intl imprint. “Synthesist” is a melodically rich symbiosis of krautrock, kosmische and prog rock that signaled sonic qualities embedded in electronic and techno music for years to follow.
The album was recorded in the summer of 1979. Grosskopf, then 30 years old, was at a personal and creative crossroads. His girlfriend had just left him, and Ashra was on temporary hiatus. Harald always considered himself a rhythmic accomplice to his numerous collaborators' lead, until prompted by some fellow musician friends to pursue a singular creative vision. Armed with a MiniMoog and Revox reel-to-reel, Grosskopf set off for the West German countryside that fall and isolated himself in a home studio for almost two months to record the album. The temperamental analog synthesizer and sequencing technology at his disposal meant that only through a harmonious union of man and machine could he achieve the results he wanted. Grosskopf’s human response to his machines undeniably colors the eight songs of “Synthesist” and aligns the album with some of the more melodic output of the Berlin School of Electronic Music.
It’s not hard not to consider “Synthesist” the nexus of Krautrock, Kosmische, and New Age. Aiming to bring “Synthesist” to a new audience RVNG Intl also commissioned a special album of remixes called “Re-Synthesist”. For Harald’s live performance of “Synthesist” he will be joined by many of the artists that contributed to the “Re-Synthesist” compilation including A.R.P, Blondes, Laurel Halo, Pink Skull, James Ferraro and more.
