OFF: Can and Neu - which albums?

[M Holmes]

Chris Warburton writes:

Thanks. So how are you folks fixed for similar advice on Popol Vuh?

FoFP

> >As for Can, I guess my personal faves are "Tago Mago",
>
> For a fan, THE album to have I'd say.
>
> >"Future Days" & "Soon Over Babaluma",
>
> These two, particularly "Future Days" are the easy way in to Can,
> much the most approachable material.
>
> >but others have their moments, even if they're not quite as
> >consistent (e.g. "Soundtracks" (for the awesome "Mother Sky"),
>
> No arguments there
>
> >"Ege Bamyasi", "Monster Movie" and even "Saw Delight").
>
> "Saw Delight" is a bit iffy IMHO, but the other two are stone classics that sit on the right & left hand of the mighty "Tago Mago". IIRC, "Landed" is pretty good too.
>
> >Beware, though. There are a few that should be avoided. These
> >include the dire "Out Of Reach"
>
> Dire may be too kind a word...
>
> >and also "Can" (aka "Inner Space").
>
> Slightly better, but not much
>
> >Their re-formation album "Rite Time" was also a huge
> >disappointment IMHO.
>
> I wasn't impressed enough to buy it!
>
> >To be honest, a good bet would probably be to start with
> >"Cannibalism 1", a comp. which I don't have but seem to recall
> >contains many of the truly great Can moments.
>
> Yes, an excellent compilation that covers the prime UA period of the band very well indeed.
>
> >And then there's always Holger Czukay's solo stuff.....
>
> A slightly different kettle of fish to Can proper, but I love it... especially "Movies".  The first album of soundtrack music by Irmin Schmidt is pretty impressive - a bit more like Can proper.
>
> >Whilst we're on the subject, anyone here heard the Can BBC
> >sessions or remix CDs (the latter's called "Sacrilege" I
> >think)? If so, opinions welcome from me too.
>
> Dunno about the BBC stuff, though if it contains the "OGWT" performance it'll be worth having - tragic that that got faded out on the broadcast! "Sacrilege": some would say that it is; I found it interesting, but maybe a little pointless, since most of th> e stuff was done direct to two track, limiting the options rather!
>
> Hope that helps, Mike.
>
> ChrisW
>