ILM Artist Poll No. 77 · CAN · Voting Thread [Ends 07/24/16]

Wow, I had never noticed those were the same tracks! And while I think I am generally a bigger fan of Holger's jump cuts, I may actually prefer "Hunters and Collectors" in this instance.

my interests skew towards the edits. if solo tracks were allowed in poll, half of mine would have been Czukay 79-86 (would have thrown in Schmidt's 'Man On Fire' too)

Ha, yes. Is there a good interview with Holger on the subject of tape editing and mixing? I feel like I read one in Option magazine or something about 20 years ago but can't remember.

"Hunters and Collectors" is definitely in my ballot. The first sides of both "Landed" and "Flowmotion" are great, second sides not so good.

From Landed onward, they had a 16-channel deck, allowing them to track and perfect their own parts in isolation

We're still talking about overdubs, right? I assume so, given that we're still referring to the "source jam" for a track like "Hunters and Collectors." I'm still not sure that there's a significant distinction between the overdubs on Landed and the overdubs on Soundtracks, other than the fact that there might be more of them. Overdubs are seemingly, usually done in isolation.

BTW, to yank the conversation back for a moment, the live version of "Mushroom" on the 40th anniversary of Tago Mago is a revelation -- only about four minutes in does Jaki finally play one of his patented moebius strip beats. To that point, the song is comprised mostly of this sludgy, grinding drone, with Irmin playing atonal horror runs on the organ. Karoli seems to spend much of the song just standing in front of his feedbacking amp. And yet ... it's still "Mushroom." Pretty amazing.

UPDATE:

11 BALLOTS RECEIVED

67 SONGS VOTED FOR SO FAR

11 ALBUMS VOTED FOR SO FAR

Compared to the Stereolab poll - which had a massive song selection - Can is a band with few songs and albums no idea how to do the rollout. Top 40 songs and Top 8 albums?

12 ballots.

13 now!

Btw if you do not get a received confirmation email from me it means I didn't get it. Please check.

Damn, considering updating my vote to include this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRfI7P0R3ao

"Cutaway" surging up my ballot as well – everything I love about Can wrapped into a about 18 minutes: glorious studio texture, shifting rhythms, sneaky melodies and a healthy dose of whimsy. Probably Holger's finest moment in Can from a tape collage standpoint.

Incredible to think that this was 1969, tho I do wonder whether there was some overdubbing in the second or third part as Irmin's keyboards sound suspiciously like the string synths he was using around the time of Future Days and Babaluma.

Yeah, it's definitely not all from 1969, most of the first part sounds like it's from ca. 1974 - the sort of loping reggae bit and the whole section with sped up bass and string synths.

... maybe not the first part, I'm working from memory here.

The funny accordion part that leads off the track may date from an earlier period. I think my favorite bit tho is the conversation between Rene Tinner(?) and Michael Karoli about needing to tune to the ring modulator. When I first heard this as a 17 y/o, I can't overstate how formative this track was -- demonstrating to me how fragments of sound, melody and rhythm could not only be "music" per se but consistently interesting and engaging.

I think my favorite bit tho is the conversation between Rene Tinner(?) and Michael Karoli about needing to tune to the ring modulator.

I don't know, isn't that Malcolm Mooney and some slightly snotty Englishman?

What, I thought that was Irmin and Holger. Although it's funny that Holger would (have to) be told to tune the ring modulator to the track.

Talking of English ppl and Can, I once met Duncan Fallowell and almost immediately asked him about working w/ them, he said (in a bemused rather than annoyed way) "That's all people ever ask me about!!"

Pretty sure Mooney's not there -- I had always thought it was Irmin, but as I was listening to it this am it sounded like they were talking about tuning the guitar to the ring modulator. Either way, the conversation is hilarious -- and yes, whoever the Brit is is acting like he runs the place. I also love that Irmin/Karoli/Holger is having the whole conversation thru the ring modulator.

Trying to draft up a ballot tonight, and apart from like five stone cold classics, I'm finding it very hard to single out songs and rank them, taking them out of their album context. As in: extremely hard. I've noticed I tend to 'see' Can's music in movements, parts of albums not necessarily defined by single tracks or side A or B. I warm most to how Babaluma crosses over from Splash into Chain Reaction, parts of songs like 'Mary' or 'Aughm'. Making voting in this really, really hard. As I don't break down Can's music in separate tracks per se. A Wonderful challenge nonetheless, but this poll made me realise this like nothing before.

this is so fuckin difficult

kinda want to put all of babaluma and future days on my ballot

do it

I think my favorite bit tho is the conversation between Rene Tinner(?) and Michael Karoli about needing to tune to the ring modulator.

I don't know, isn't that Malcolm Mooney and some slightly snotty Englishman?

― 24 Hour Sex Ban Man (Tom D.), Wednesday, July 20, 2016 11:11 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

maybe it's this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C._Johnson

You can hear his voice on "Hymnen", speaking German though. There's definitely an American voice on "Cutaway" and I've always though it was Malcolm. Still no idea who the English guy is.

Played Mushroom Head for my drum students today <3

also bc of this poll i've discovered i really love the s/t!

Rite Time is even better!

I heard Mushroom Head first via J&MC. It's odd how seminal, UK, punkish bands were always in thrall to Can (see also John Lydon). It's hard to imagine, say, New York Dolls or Ramones doing a Can cover. I think I like the J&MC version and the original about equally, in different ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O5Wh74ZXfo

i don't have much use for the e.f.s.s but "smoke" is a jammmm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF7zJTYFfz4

The first sides of both "Landed" and "Flowmotion" are great, second sides not so good.

btw this is a wild opinion that i completely disagree with

this is the hardest poll yet

like i'm listening to my current #25 and still thinking "this is the greatest piece of music ever recorded"

It's odd how seminal, UK, punkish bands were always in thrall to Can (see also John Lydon).

Pete Shelley did the sleevenotes to the Cannibalism compilation in 1978.

"Chain Reaction" = acid house in 1974

I heard Mushroom Head first via J&MC

Yeah, me too: at the Hammersmith Palais, we all decided we liked their new song, and decided it was called "Keep your distance"

yeah I can't believe how difficult this was, Can albums have like 5-6 songs each

The first sides of both "Landed" and "Flowmotion" are great, second sides not so good.

btw this is a wild opinion that i completely disagree with

yeah smoke > flow motion are both fantastic.

out of reach is super fun, confused about its reputation. rite time meanwhile is so dense that idk if I was enjoying as much as enduring it. super weird tho

Probably doesn't help that nobody in Can likes "Out of Reach".

rite time just hit me with beauty the last time i played it like it never before has. always loved a few songs, but the /way/ it sounds is so freakin' lovely
xpost

imo "november" and "seven days awake" are highlights of the can discography

Only album without no Holger involvement too. Couple of songs credited to Rosko Gee and not the band as a whole - I like both of them though.

'without no'? 'with no'!

LAST WEEKEND TO VOTE!
15 BALLOTS COUNTED SO FAR
LAST WEEKEND TO VOTE!

Also if you didn't get a received email back from me it means I didn't get your ballot, I doubt anyone had any trouble with that but just in case.

Anyone shared this performance of vernal equinox yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=390Nz5Gm8Hw

they sound like such a mindblowing band to see live, I haven't seen any video in youtube to make me think otherwise... I don't understand how they didn't take over the whole world back then.

Also this Dont Say No performance from 1977 with Mooney on bass?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3VdIDxMg74

Oh no wait hahaha that's Rosko Gee and it's actually Moonshake?

Got thrown off by the top hat.