If I Can have wings then you Can have some more.

Can-Tago Mago-1971
Krautrock, experimental, progressive.



















After a rather crazy weekend involving red wine, 5AM vodka, Hawkeyes struggling to another win and a haunted cornfield, today is thankfully another lazy Sunday, which means another lazy Sunday afternoon post for you guys, and a huge step in out journey through Can's discography, in the first of their three masterpieces; "Tago Mago", "Ege Bamyasi" and "Future Days". "Tago Mago" is the first full album to feature Damo Suzuki after his warm up on the previous album "Soundtracks". The album is one of my favorites, one I will never get old off. Its depth, creativity, composition and sheer crazyness of the album makes it for me one of the essential albums I post on this blog.

All the songs are excellent, with the first half being the stronger, mainly due to its listenability, as the 2nd halfs swirling noise in the epics "Aumgn" and "Peking O" are hard to access for quite some listens through the album,

The first half contains 4 near perfect songs, songs in a style and of such pure expression that hadn't been heard before. "Paperhouse" is the album opener, its downbeat pulse and flowing keys work to create something simply beautiful and the rather simple sympathetic guitar creates a sad yet honest feel to the song. Its not until Jaki Leibzeit's drums really kick into the song after the first few minutes that you get a true idea of where this album and band are heading. The rest of the song is a swirling organised sonic mess of epic proportions. Damo's sound, tone and lyrics really work well, and the band have much more creative freedom than with Mooney. The pause in the middle is just enough time to catch your breath before the ferocious closer to the song, in which Irmin Schmidt pushes along the band with great force straight into the next song "Mushroom".

The song is even more downbeat than "Paperhouse" bordering on insanity, the torment displayed in Damo's muttered lyrics influences the whole feel of music, this song portrays madness so well, its hypnotic. A huge explosion begins the next song and what a stunner it is, 7 minutes of pure brilliance.
"Oh Yeah" is an atmospheric consuming juggernaut. Damo's backwards singing creates a rather uncomfortable feel from the out, and Jaki's drumming is truly magnificent on this song and especially the next "Halleluhwah". I've listened to both songs just to absorb the drumming and vocals as something by themselves. But really the main ethos of Can and why they are so good is the fact that the band has no egos, its not about virtuoso performances and long decadent solos that would plague English progressive music, its about creating fluid, meaningfully expressive music, the skill its takes to turn 5 individuals in to one sound is much more than simply technical prowess.

"Halleluhwah" is 18.32 minutes long, but do not let you put you off, its a stunning song and as mentioned a testament to Leibzeit's drumming expertise. It has a similar feel as the rest of the album, essentially that the drums and bass keep their heavy hypnotic rhythm whilst Karoli and Schmidt are free to explore and weave sounds together over the top, to play with and enhance Damo's vocals. One must not also forget that many of the songs came from extended jams in between takes, and that Holgar Czukay'spioneering editing techinques allow the album to not watse one note, and "Halleluhwah" is that beat-trance monster example of Can's sheer excellence.

Side two contains the swirling madnesses that are "Aumgn" and "Peking O" as well as the closer "Bring Me Coffee Or Tea". "Aumgn" is a wonderful listen, dark and disturbing but with a hint of of the ambigious beauty that the album has at its center. It perhaps show its length too much unlike "Halleluhwah", and so does "Peking O" which are small issues in such an excellent album. "Peking O" is pure experimentalism, and Damo's song, as he chants and screams chaotically to a variety if themes and sounds. Its a crazy song, hard to fathom or make any sense out of, but that not the point, its just to enjoy 12 minutes of musical insanity.
The albums ends with "Bring Me Coffee Or Tea" a respite from the previous 30 minutes and a welcome comedown, much more peaceful than the rest of the album, yet still fits in wonderfully.

Tago Mago was an album not appreciated commercially or critically at the time, yet at least now is being heard by more people. A true masterpiece of the era, its pioneering, deep, beautiful. A gargantuan in experimental music, it has influenced nearly all those who have heard it. One should see this as an album, however I have described the songs.
Next time will be "Ege Bamyasi" the 2nd flawless album by Can from 1972.
Enjoy
jamscoopa

Info
Paperhouse Live (on youtube)
Spoon
AMG
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Still need to relax?

Agitation Free-Malesch-1972
Krautrock, progressive, instrumental


















I thought I'd fill that urge you have by now to also listen to the debut album from Agitation Free. Me being a benevolent blogger have provided it. "Malesch" was recorded and released in 1972 and is the summation of the bands history in extended jams and tours in Egypt and the mediterranean. The vibe is one which very much reflects the ethnic (specifically Egyptian) influences, with the atmosphere being as important as the music.

The music itself is largely lead by dueling guitars and a synthesizer, but the hybrid teutonic-desert beats set the album apart from most from the genre and other sounds at the time. Its originality and honesty are unique, it avoids sounding like a concept and succeeds at creating a consuming musical experience.

There is no weak song on the album, but my favourites would be "You Play For Us Today","Malesch" and one uber excellent album closer in "Rücksturz". For people not used to the Krautrock genre, it may take some listening to click, but for fans of the genre, instrumental or just top quality music its a must. If you like this then check out Amon Duul II, Ash Ra Tempel, Guru guru and of course there other masterpiece 2nd.
jamscoopa
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Time to relax.....

Agitation Free-2nd-1973
Krautrock, progressive, instrumental


















Howdy folks, I thought another installment of krautrock was due. I have chosen to follow up Faust(a tough feat) with a superb album by Agitation free. Agitation Free were an avant-garde instrumental band from Germany in the early 1970s, they have an experimental and improvisational feel. They originated from extended jams of cover songs and then began writing their own songs from jamming sessions.

This album "2nd" is surprisingly the bands 2nd album after there excellent debut "Malesch", which has a very potent middle eastern and egyptian feel to it. 2nd has a similar but subtler feel, with the guitar still sounding quite ethnic but also jazzier. The album is one of my favourites and a true instrumental classic of the 70s. It showcases the german progressive scene with all its creativity, talent and worldly inspiration, whether in this case from ethnic countries the band toured or from the modern urban industrial realm as in Faust or Kraftwerk.

The album had two sides originally the first being supreme to the 2nd, which is not at all bad however. Side one starts with "First communication" the most aggressive song on the album, and one of the best. After a slow and gentle build up with some mellowing bass riffs complemented by a mazey and flowing guitar it arrives at the frantic close to the song an all out jazz rock jam to really stir senses.

The other stand out songs are "Laila Parts 1 and 2" the first part being my favourite part of an outstanding album." No forewarning just listen and enjoy.
Part 2 is 7 minute epic builds up slowly with the bass forming a beautifully repetitive hypnotizing base for a winding guitar to sum up an experience in a far away land. It really sends you elsewhere; for a stunning live version of "Laila" check out "Cliffs at the River Rhine" a live album released in 1995.

The second side is a much quieter journey, sometimes maybe too long in places but still wonderfully emotive, with the closer "Haunted Island" sticking out.
The band were extremely talented but lineup changes, poor sales :( and extensive touring forced them to split in 1974. They released "Last" and "Cliffs'" in the 70s until a brief reformation in 1998, and have since released a live album and "Fragments".
They are a definitive band of Krautrock and should be checked out at all cost, both "2nd" and "Malesch" are exemplar albums.
If you like this then also check out Amon Duul II, Guru guru and Tangerine Dream-posts will come later.
jamscoopa

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Faust..........

Faust-Self Titled-1970
Krautrock, Experimental, progressive.

















Well kids, what to say about Faust? They can be considered in the top tier of the german progressive movement in the late 60's and early 70's, a genre deemed by the english press at the time as "Krautrock". This being one of my favourite genres and favourite bands, Faust's eccentricity, creativity and originality set them apart from anything else before them and have influenced a huge range of bands since. A mix of electronic, rock, industrial noise, acoustic and editing techniques, it's truly original, a musical revolution of sorts. This is the first of the 4 top quality canon albums in the 70's, the self titled album is composed of 3 songs.

The first song "Why Don't You Eat Carrots" is a semi electronic affair with great usage of tape editing, it also samples some of the eras great bands with lines from "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "All You Need Is Love", with feedback and mesmerizing jingles throughout, its a mixed up affair. Its like sticking Mozart in a blender and playing whats left through a broken record player, whilst hoovering, listening to the radio and making a cup of tea.
Separated from the anglo-american rock scene, Faust and the other early Krautrock bands such as; CAN, Amon Duul II, Tangerine Dream etc(I'll feature these later.) were free to do as they pleased, and what they did is certainly pleasing.

The 2nd song on the album "Meadow Meal" starts as feedback before breaking into a starkly ominous industrial sound-scape (pardon my french), it is then interupted by a group mantra. A riff of unsettling simplicity then carries the song until a organ finally closes a superbly imaginative track, a real experience indeed.

The album closer Miss Fortune is a 16 minute epic beginning with a more rock orientated start reminiscent of beach boys only distorted and edited out of comprehension with what sounds like a oscillator and looping. The album is not for the faint of hearted and will take a few listens to understand it. At some points it sounds incredibly foreign for those who are used to more standard rock, and even those who look for something different.

Faust's selftitled is stunning album for anyone willing to devote some attention to it. The ethos of "Krautrock" is just that, to listen to and experience the music to absorb it live, not for a catchy memory to weaken itself through over play. Check out "So Far", and there other masterpeice "Faust IV" if you like this....
More krautrock to come soon-any requests welcomed.
jamscoopa

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carrots