Album: Electronic Sound

Introduction
"Electronic Sound" is a speculative studio album by George Harrison, launched in May 1969. As a member of the Beatles, Harrison was already a prominent songwriter and guitarist. Nevertheless, with this release, the British musician checked out the world of avant-garde electronic music, a category quite various from the Beatles' pop and rock noise. Produced by Harrison himself and launched on the Beatles' Apple Records, "Electronic Sound" includes 2 prolonged important compositions created with synthesizers and electronic noises, showcasing Harrison's fascination with sound manipulation and experimentation.

Background
In 1968, George Harrison was introduced to speculative classical author and electronic musician Bernie Krause through Beatles' publicist Derek Taylor. Krause became part of the electronic music duo Beaver & Krause, pioneers in the category who created sounds with Moog synthesizers. Their partnership and experimentation with Moog synthesizers influenced Harrison's work on the Beatles' "White Album" and eventually led to the production of "Electronic Sound".

In late 1968, Harrison ordered one of the very first Moog synthesizers and began to explore its capacity in his Esher home studio in Surrey. Motivated by the sonic possibilities of the new instrument, he recorded two prolonged, improvised tracks-- "Under the Mersey Wall" and "No Time or Space". Both structures are sprawling, free-form electronic soundscapes, filled with strange and spooky noises, lacking standard musical structures like tune, harmony, or rhythm.

Album Concept and Artwork
Despite its cutting-edge sound, "Electronic Sound" remains fairly odd amongst Harrison's discography. Part of the album's idea revolves around its abstract cover art. Painted by Harrison himself, the artwork includes bright colors, brushstrokes, and shapes that evoke the disorderly and unpredictable nature of the music within. The initial vinyl edition consisted of a sleeve with a fancy collage of pictures, featuring a picture of George Harrison operating his Moog synthesizer.

Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, "Electronic Sound" got mixed evaluations, mainly due to the drastic departure from Harrison's musical roots. Lots of found it unattainable and self-indulgent, which was a sentiment shared by some of his bandmates. However, critics who appreciated its adventurousness applauded Harrison's venture into experimental music and the album's innovative and innovative usage of synthesizers.

While "Electronic Sound" was not a business success, it stays an interesting document of George Harrison's musical exploration, as well as a testimony to the increasing use of electronic and synthesizer-based sounds in music during the late 1960s and 1970s. Especially, Harrison's deal with synthesizers on this album and the Beatles' "White Album" affected numerous artists, including Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Pink Floyd, to welcome and popularize using Moog synthesizers in their music.

Conclusion
"Electronic Sound" stands as a strong and bold expedition of the experimental electronic music genre by an artist who was much better understood for his more standard songcraft. Although not totally welcomed, the album showcased George Harrison's versatility as a musician and his willingness to step outdoors his convenience zone. Nearing over 50 years considering that its release, "Electronic Sound" stays an important and influential piece within the history of electronic music and is a testimony to Harrison's enduring musical interest and development.