Conference marvin::uk_music

                               -<Phantom Band>-
    
    What !! Someone else has heard of CAN.
    I can't answer your questions but your note has prompted me to put
    this entry in in the hope that someone may know something.
    
    I would be interested to find out what happened to the members of
    the band after the split all those years ago.
    For those who may not know who was in the band but may recognise
    the names they were;
    Holger Czukay - who was the bass player and did a lot of the
    engineering.  I know he released an album called "Movies" a few years
    ago with the single "Let's get cool in the pool" I think.  Also
    the album "Der Osten Ist Rot" (with umlauts in the appropriate places).
    
    Michael Karoli - guitar, I seem to remember a picture of him with
    the album "Saw delight" looking punky and effeminate before punk
    took off.
    
    Jaki Liebezeit - drums, the thing that struck me about Can was the
    hypnotic(boring if you want to be negative) rhythms used.  I would
    be especially interested to find out what this chap is up to.
    
    Irmin Schmidt - keyboards
    
    The Suzuki guy - vocals, not really interested in what happened to him,
    legend has it that they (Can) picked him up whilst he was busking on
    the streets of Europe improvising to the one chord he knew on the
    guitar, I don't think he developed much further whilst he was with
    Can.    
    
    I lost touch after the album called "Can".  A blue cover with the
    words between the jaws of a spanner.  Were there any albums after
    that?
    
    Regards
    Trevor_who_is_used_to_the_reply_WHO?_when_shopping_for_albums_by_
    his_favourite_obscure_bands.
    

    Trevor, 
    
    you've obviously been trying Our Price aka W.H.Smiths again !!!!
    
    
    Harv

    Irmin Schmidt on leaving CAN, has output a series of good LPs. These
    are "Film-Musik 1", Film-Musik 2, and a double called (would you
    believe!!) "Film-Musik 3 & 4". This latter double has some amazing
    tracks:
    	- "You make me nervous" which features such vocal gems as "...like
    a needle in a bag of puss...", set against a tight and very controlled
    melody which still seems to explore unchartered musical regions
    
    	- another is quite a heavy track (called something do with
    "Atlantis")  which has a very harsh German vocal in speech mode
    set against a very driving set of drums from Jaki Leibezeit, and
    some unbelievable "screaming" guitar work from Karoli, which sounds
    like notes cascading after themselves right up into space.
    
    For those into Hawkwind/space music, Schmidt has done an LP called
    "Toy Planet" which has one very spacey track full of "sparkly tinkling"
    set against an eerie, ethereal massed-female choral work that sounds
    like the female choral bit from one of Gustav Holst's "Planets".
    
    Schmidt has also done an LP called "Rote Erde", which is a soundtrack
    he wrote for a W.German TV series about a mining community. This
    is very orchestral and easy to listen to, but has some harmonica
    playing by someone called Steve Bishop, which is beautiful to listen
    to especially against a slightly spacey orchestra.
    
    All Schmidt's LPs feature ex-CAN members except Czukay. (I think
    they must have quarrelled!).
    
    Czukay, as Trevor noted, has produced the "MOvies" LP. Which to
    date is still one of my favourites (listen to "Persian Love Song").
    He went even more experimental and did a fine LP called "On the
    Way to the Peak of Normal". With this LP, I think there is one
    brilliant side which consists of 1 very long track, and the other
    side which is nowhere so good, but still has some interesting sounds
    on it.
    
    Virgin do a good deal by offering 2 of his LPs on 1 CD, "Rome remains
    Rome", and "Der Ost ist Rot". On the first, there is a track that
    should have been a hit called "Blessed Easter" which stars the Pope
    singing against a Czukay/electronic production. I still don't htink
    there is anyone to touch Czukay when it comes to electronics and
    inventiveness.
    
    Michael Karoli did a good progressive/rock/electric/beaty LP called
    "Deluge" (I think) with a lady called "Polly Clense (or something!)"
    
    Jaki Leibezeit did a couple of LPs with his "Phantom Band". I haven't
    really had a chance to hear them properly, but what I heard didn't
    sound too good. It lacked cohesion and seemed a bit too far out
    (which for someone who digs Czukay, is really saying something!)
    
    Anyhow, I've rambled on a bit too much, so I'll wind up by saying
    how much I'm looking forward to hearing "Tago Mago" on CD (if it
    ever gets released as such)
    
    	Alex.

    There is an article in this weeks Melody Maker about Can.
    
    It describes what's been going on with various members of the band and
    says lots of nice things about them.  It says that they have influenced
    bands such as PiL, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Talking Heads...
    
    Anyway, the article publicises the release of their first 8 albums
    (which includes Tago Mago) on CD (Mute records).  From the pictures
    it looks as if they have taken the album covers off the Spoon records
    re-releases rather than the United Artists originals.
    
    Trev
    
    

    These are the CD's which are currently on release.  I got this listing
    from the insert of one of their CD's.
    
    CANNIBALISM No. I		Compilation	spoon CD 001/2
    				(1969 to 1974)	
    MONSTER MOVIE		(1969)		spoon CD 004
    SOUNDTRACKS			(1970)		spoon CD 005
    TAGO MAGO			(Do. LP 1971)	spoon CD 006/7
    EGE BAMYASI			(1972)		spoon CD 008
    FUTURE DAYS			(1973)		spoon CD 009
    SOON OVER BABALUMA		(1974)		spoon CD 010
    CAN DELAY			(1968)		spoon CD 012
    
    The next list is more CAN CD's scheduled for release later in '89:
    
    CANNIBALISM No. II		Compilation	spoon CD 21/22
    				(1974 to 1978)
    UNLIMITED EDITION		(Do.LP 1975)	spoon CD 23/23
    LANDED			(1975)		spoon CD 25
    FLOW MOTION			(1976)		spoon CD 26
    SAW DELIGHT			(1977)		spoon CD 27
    CAN				(1978)		spoon CD 28
    CANNIBALISM No. III		Compilation	spoon CD 29/30
    				from Solo Records
    				(Do. LP)
    
    It also says for more information and for those having trouble getting
    hold of these CD's write to:
    
    Les Rossignols, F 84220 Roussillon (France)
    
    As I type I am listening to the Tago Mago CD.  It sounds like a bad
    trip to me, but very interesting nonetheless.
    
    Lee.

So many times I've seen their title and admirations, but I've never listned.
Which album do you, CAN-listner recommend for CAN-beginner?

    
	Re: -1

	I've been thinking the same Sugi, although I've heard bit & pieces
	of stuff I liked I'm not sure where to begin on my belated journey.

	Possibly Opener and Cannibalism which are both anthologies are a
	good starting point.

	I've been hesitant to purchase any of the import/re-issues that
	I've ran across but I'd say it's time to have a stab at it.  Hopefully
	I'll enjoy what I hear until which time I stubble upon past listening
	enjoyments.

	Also, regarding a few back on the rhythmn section, specifically on
	the drummer, Jaki Liebezeit, since this week's NME noted a reader's 
	comments on their omission of him in the previous week's pick of 
	their favorite drummers.

	- Jim

Not really Can, but a nice album I purchased recently is Radio Wave Surfer by
Can man Holger Czukay.  It's rather abstract and involves a lot of tuning radios
as instruments, but in the end a sparse but groovy, uh, experience.

Lee

P.S.  Holger's `Der Osten Ist Rot' is good too.

    For Sugi,
    
    I agree that CAN-Opener, or CAnnibalism will provide a good intro to
    the band. But the problem is that over the years (23) their material
    has changed drastically and spans from the "heaviest of rock(TAGO MAGO)
    through to melodic/orchestral/classical(ROTE ERDE by Schmidt), with
    anything from pschedelia(FUTURE DAYS) through to Reggae(OUT OF REACH)
    in between. So even a sampler is not really representative!
    
    The only thing that appears to be constant through them all (and this
    includes all the solo LPs that followed CAN) is that Jaki Leibzeit's
    drumming is there holding it all together. I once read a remark from
    someone who suggested that "Was it possible for there to be any music
    that Jaki could not drum to?"
    
    Some of the later solo stuff by Irmin Schmidt and Czukay is of very
    high quality and available on CD, but is very difficult to get hold of
    as they seem to get deleted very soon after release, and rarely
    advertised.
    
    Does anyone know where I can get hold of "Film Musik-vol.5" by Irmin
    Schmidt. I think it had an alias name of "Reporter" and was released as
    a cd by Virgin in 1989. (now deleted?)
    
    The last one I bought by Schmidt was "IMPOSSIBLE HOLIDAY", which now
    seems pretty typical of his work over the last four years in that it
    has a strong "orchestral" basis with the odd sax or Karoli guitar
    letting rip in the background, and all blended in with Jaki's (never
    the same) percussion. In addition you have the weird surrealistic
    lyrics written by Duncan Fallowell, & sung by Schmidt. There are some
    really hypnotically catchy tunes on this album (especially one called
    "SUPRISE"). For once we also actually hear Fallowell speaking some of
    his "lyrics" in a particularly decadent rendering. (He was responsible
    for lines such as "...like a needle in a bag of puss" taken from that
    incredible Film-Musik-vol.3 track called "You make me Nervous".
    
    Alex
    However, I am sure that you will enjoy the experience of being able to
    judge the music for yourself.

    Thanks, Alex.
    After I've heard more about the group from a Japanese CAN-freak, I
    collected "CANNIVALISM I", "Ege Vamiyage" and "Saw Delight". But I
    cannot find "TAGO MAGO" that I want to have first of all. Co-op, Tower
    Record in Boston, HMV in Japan none of them doesn't have it.
    In CANNIVALISM, all songs I found exiting were from "TAGO MAGO" and
    "FUTURE DAYS".
    
    -Sugimoto

    Hello Sugi,
    
    At the moment, Tago Mago is easy to get hold of here in UK. If you
    like, I can get you details enabling you to order it as an import. Or
    if that fails then I could get it for you on your behalf. It sells here
    for 11.99 pounds (which is good for a double CD). Usually, if you have
    a good record/cd store, they will order things like that for you. (
    even from overseas).
    
    On Tago Mago, I especially like the opening 3 minutes of "Augm".
    

    Anyone know where I can get hold of "Reporter" by Irmin Schmidt. It was
    released 18-24 months ago (I think) and has apparently been deleted?
    
    Alex

    Cannibalism-II is now out in the UK for #10.25 at my local Guildford CD
    shop, and includes tracks from the mid-late CAN period LPs + 3
    previously CD-unreleased tracks, the best of which is "Turtles have
    short legs". 
    
    The liner notes refer to Cannibalism-III being released somewhat
    vaguely in "1993/4", and comprising solo-works.
    
    
    Alex

    Does Cannibalism I have all the trax fromthe Cannibalism Double album
    that was released?  I still have a scratchy copy of this, with liner
    notes by Pete Shelley.
    
    Mikef

    I don't know what tracks are on the vinyl LP, but the CD
    "Cannabalism-I" has:
    
    * Father cannot yell
    * Soup
    * Mother Sky
    * She brings the rain
    * Mushroom
    * One more night
    * Outside my door
    * Spoon
    * Halleluwah
    * Aumgn (poor edit version compared to Tago Mago original)
    * Dizzy dizzy
    * Yoo doo right
    
    CD notes say that "Spray" from the LP is ommitted because of time
    limits.
    
    CD liner notes by Pascal Bussy, who also wrote "THE CAN BOOK" published
    in 1986. It also says that a new edition is/was scheduled for 1989.
    I've actually got this book (though I can't remember which version.
    Definitely a must for CAN fans.

    Thanks - Sounds like its more or less the same.  Have to go hunting...
    
    Mikef

	I don't think anyone mentioned Holdya Suitcases album called
	Movies - imho the best solo album, esp Persian Love, track 1,
	side 2. Also has a version of Hunters & Collectors, from 
	Landed (I think) which gets the Dictaphone treatment.

	Rob

	

    Mr. Suitcase has just release another album, `Moving Pictures' (at
    least that's what I think it's called.) 
    
    Lee

    I agree with (.17) "Movies" was an exceptional album.
    
    At the weekend, I lashed out and bought Holger Czukay's "Moving
    Pictures" which is a definite improvement on "Radio Wave Surfer". It
    has about 45 mins. of material. All the tracks are pretty laid back and
    accessible (ie. melody is discernable). I especially like the 1st track
    which opens with "noise from an engine/motor" underwashed by synths.
    
    The last track is 20 mins. and initial listening gave me the impression
    that it was good background stuff but nothing to shout about. However 2
    hours later walking down to the shops, I suddenly realized that the
    tune running through my brain (and like an advert - wouldn't go away)
    was none other than the background rythm guitar riff of that track.
    Could Holger have a 20min hit single on his hands?? What was also
    unusual was that although this riff runs through the whole track (more
    or less), it automatically invited my brain to insert a note or two
    between each cycle of the riff. It hung together pretty well IMHO!
    
    The record has a lot of familiar Czukay phrasing interspersed in it.
    You could spend many wasteful hours trying to place them!
    
    Holger has Karoli and Leibezeit (as usual) plus the American vocalist
    on Radio Wave Surfer. All in all, a good album that grows on you.
    
    Alex.
    All in all, I think the record would appeal