sjewkestheloon wrote:
On the subject of Can, I need to do some more exploration. I have Tago Mago, Soundtracks and the Anthology 2cd edits. Mother Sky is probably my favourite track, almost trance inducing. Anything along similar lines to that? I love the sustained tension and build of the track.
Strongly recommend completing your collection up through 73 (Delay, Monster Movie, Soundtracks, Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi and Future Days.) Among some of the best music ever recorded. Ultimately I think Can is a bit on there own, and though it is easy to hear their influence, it is really hard to hear their equal. I don't know what's on the anthology, but there's no bad track on those albums making the idea of a 'best of' really stupid.
Going through the bonus disc on the Tago Mago Anniversary edition right now--not essential, but it is great to hear Can live from this period.
Returning to your question, it might be easy to recommend other krautrock (superficially Neu), but this misses the mark so badly. Can at its best has both this trance/hypnotic element, but very minimalistic melody and noisy/grungy production. The connection to Stockhausen is there at least through Ege Bamyasi and the sound is unapologetic and raw. I end up drawing bizarre connections with things like the first album by Suicide (Red Star), or other early punk/noise/industrial, but Can is really alone. Have you're heard Faust's Munich and Elsewhere? Not like Can either, but a driving pulse, primitive electronics and surreal atmosphere. If you find another band that is satisfying in the same way, let me know--that's why I plunked down the $30 for this box set without even thinking about it.
I have been listening to:
Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom, End of an Ear, Matching Mole, Little Red Record, Nothing Can Stop Us
I feel like Rock Bottom and the first Matching Mole are by far his best releases. I have a few others but never listen to them.
I'm an OTC fanatic. Still waiting for the s/t CS album to be released on vinyl...
