E2-E4

E2-E4
Studio album by Manuel Göttsching
Released	1984
Recorded	December 12, 1981
Genre	Electronic, krautrock
Length	58:40
Label	Inteam MG-Art (2001 reissue)
Producer	Manuel Göttsching
Manuel Göttsching chronology
Inventions for Electric Guitar (1975) E2-E4 (1984) Dream and Desire (1991)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

E2-E4, released in 1984, is a solo recording by Ash Ra Tempel/Ashra guitarist Manuel Göttsching. The album consists of a minimalistic hour-long progressive electronic track that is subdivided into single tracks according to the stage of the song. The second half of the record is notable for Göttsching's guitar playing. The album is named after the most popular opening chess move 1. e2-e4 (which is expressed in long algebraic notation). A noteworthy pun on E2-E4 exists because the guitar is tuned from E2 (the low string) to E4 (the high string).

Pitchfork ranked it the 78th greatest album of the 1980s.^[2] FACT magazine similarly ranked it the 4th greatest album of the 80s.^[3] Thump also ranked it the 74th greatest dance album of all time.^[4]

Track sections

1. "Quiet Nervousness" - 13:00
2. "Moderate Start" - 10:00
3. "And Central Game" - 7:00
4. "Promise" - 6:00
5. "Queen a Pawn" - 5:00
6. "Glorious Fight" - 3:00
7. "H.R.H. Retreats (With a Swing)" - 9:00
8. "And Sovereignty" - 3:00
9. "Draw" - 2:40

Influence

The album was named as one of the best 1980s albums for its important role in the development of house and techno music of the late 1980s and early 1990s.^[5] Sueño Latino sampled E2-E4 on its 1989 song "Sueño Latino."^[6] In 1995, the German electronic music duo (and label) Basic Channel (Mark Ernestus and Moritz von Oswald) released a remix of E2-E4 titled "e2e4 Basic Reshape" on the BCD compilation album.

LCD Soundsystem's 45:33 recording from 2006 was inspired conceptually by E2-E4, as indicated by the accompanying artwork and the lengthy duration of the piece.

References