TAGO MAGO

To begin with: I think that Can are one of the finest experimental bands in the history of rock music, period! No other band came even close to what they were doing. I got turned onto Can back in 1984, by a friend of mine (who owned a nice little record shop in Redmond, Wa. it's no longer there.) He played "Monster Movie" for me, while we were driving to pick up another friend. I was so blown away by what I heard. It sounded like nothing that I had ever heard before. I mean I liked Yes, Genesis, E.L.P. and so on, but this was different. Even more different than Tangerine Dream to these ears. Another great German band, that needs to be heard by a much larger audience. Then I heard "Tago Mago" ! Man, what a revalation that was, and to be honest in my humble opinion side one was the best. "Paperhouse/Mushrom?Oh Yeah!" The way the three tracks flow into each other was very cool. Granted all the tracks are excellent, but those first three tracks stand-out for me. Even the cover art gives you the sense that you are in for a musical journey like no other. Irmin S. organ work is just stunning, and Jaki L. drumming is out-of-this-world; it just blazes along like a train out-of-control. Michael K. guitar work is outstanding; I like his work on a lot of differnt tracks on every album he played on. And Holger C. bass work is just hypotic; it just pulsed along like a stellar quasar a 100 lightyears from here. For those who've never had the chance to hear this album; they should it's a masterpiece in the realms of prog/experimental music.