Description
George Harrison – Electronic Sound – 180 Gram Heavyweight Vinyl Record
Electronic Sound is the second solo album by George Harrison, released on May 9, 1969, on the Zapple label, a subsidiary of The Beatles’ Apple Records. This album is a unique and experimental departure for Harrison, marking his exploration into the world of electronic music, a genre largely unfamiliar to mainstream audiences at the time. The album consists of two extended tracks, each side featuring a single lengthy composition made with the Moog synthesizer, which was a relatively new instrument then.
Electronic Sound emerged during a period when Harrison was intrigued by experimental music and the avant-garde, and he was one of the first popular musicians to explore the Moog synthesizer in a major release. The Moog, a bulky and complex analog synthesizer, was initially difficult to operate, but its potential to produce new, unheard sounds fascinated Harrison. He reportedly bought a Moog after being introduced to it by American composer Bernie Krause, who demonstrated the instrument’s capabilities to Harrison.
The album was released on Zapple Records, a short-lived experimental label under Apple Records that aimed to provide an outlet for more avant-garde works by the Beatles and their associates. This makes Electronic Sound one of only two albums released on the Zapple label (the other being John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions), adding to its unique place in The Beatles’ history.
The album consists of two tracks, one on each side of the LP:
‘Under the Mersey Wall’ – 18:41
‘No Time or Space’ – 25:10
Both tracks are improvisational and feature dense layers of abstract sounds created on the Moog. There is no traditional structure or melody in these pieces; instead, they present a collage of experimental sounds, static pulses, and unconventional noises, making the album challenging and unconventional even for fans of experimental music.
‘Under the Mersey Wall’ was recorded at Harrison’s home in Esher, England, while ‘No Time or Space’ was recorded in California with the assistance of Bernie Krause, who reportedly felt that Harrison’s use of the Moog wasn’t accurately represented on the album. There was even some controversy around the production, as Krause claimed he wasn’t credited appropriately for his contributions.
Electronic Sound is more of an experimental soundscape than an album with cohesive themes. It reflects Harrison’s curiosity and willingness to experiment with sound beyond the confines of traditional rock and pop. In this album, the Moog synthesizer itself becomes the focus, with Harrison exploring its potential and limitations in real-time. The album showcases a side of Harrison that few fans had seen before—an avant-garde musician unafraid to challenge his audience.
The production was minimal and unfiltered, capturing the raw nature of Harrison’s interactions with the Moog. Without traditional editing or mixing, the album presents the Moog synthesizer’s chaotic and sometimes abrasive textures. This approach places Electronic Sound closer to the works of avant-garde composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen and the experimental side of electronic music rather than rock or pop.
Electronic Sound received mixed to negative reviews upon its release, as most fans and critics found the album challenging, unstructured, and difficult to interpret. Many fans of Harrison’s work with The Beatles were surprised or disappointed, as they were expecting a more melodic or accessible record. Instead, they encountered a highly experimental piece that defied the conventions of mainstream music. As a result, the album did not achieve commercial success and remains one of Harrison’s least well-known works.
Despite its initial reception, Electronic Sound is now appreciated as an important, albeit niche, work in the history of electronic music. It is a record that pushed boundaries and reflected a pivotal moment in the late 1960s when rock musicians were beginning to experiment with synthesizers. Harrison’s use of the Moog synthesizer also influenced The Beatles’ final album, Abbey Road, where the instrument can be heard prominently on tracks like “Here Comes the Sun” and “Because.”
Today, Electronic Sound is viewed as a fascinating curiosity in George Harrison’s discography. Although it was not a commercial success, it stands as an example of his willingness to experiment and embrace new technologies, an attitude that few mainstream musicians had at the time. The album has become something of a cult classic among fans of experimental music and is appreciated for its place in the early history of electronic sound within the rock genre.
Electronic Sound captures George Harrison’s adventurous spirit and serves as a historical artifact from a period when electronic music was still in its infancy. While it may not have resonated widely with his fanbase, it remains a bold and unfiltered snapshot of Harrison’s curiosity and willingness to explore uncharted musical territories.
Remastered for vinyl from the original analogue stereo master tapes
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Under The Mersey Wall
No Time Or Space
