TAGO MAGO

It's pretty incredible that out of 88 ratings (including mine) only four people rated it as a 3 star record. This is the kind of album that seems to polarize prog fans, mainly because of the experimental stuff that's going on, along with the repetetive melodies. I'm one fan who although not a big fan of experimental music, really appreciates the genius going on here, and one has to acknowledge that this band and album have been a huge influence in the music world. The first time I heard the first song I was at work, and because I had put 5 new discs in the player, and was busy with customers as the discs changed to the next one, I didn't know who was playing. I thought to myself "That sounds like RADIOHEAD" but I knew I didn't have any of their discs in the player. When I saw it was CAN I smiled in amazement knowing what a huge influence CAN was on Thom Yorke. I read somewhere else that the similarities are even more obvious on CAN's first album "Delayed". This was released as a double album although it was originally agreed that the first album only was to be released. But one of the band members' girlfriends talked the record label (without the band knowing) into releasing the second album along with the first. So all you people who hate the second half of this cd can blame this lady. The rest of us thank her very much.

"Paperhouse" does remind me of RADIOHEAD mostly because of the lazy vocals. Guitar, drums and keys provide the backdrop to Suzuki's vocals. The drums pick up the pace 2 minutes in and the guitar becomes more aggressive. Vocals become intense after 4 minutes before the song calms back down and blends into "Mushroom". This song features stoned out vocals and repetetive drums. "Oh Yeah" begins with an explosion and the sound of thunder and rain. Steady drums with keys and backward taped Japanese vocals are up next. Guitar melodies after 3 minutes and the song seems to get better as it plays out. "Halleluwah" has an awesome beat that is fantastic 2 minutes in. The drumming is unbelieveable. The beat stops temporarily before 5 minutes as it calms down with piano. The beat comes back with guitar sounds. The vocals get more aggressive 9 1/2 minutes in as do guitar solos. Amazing ! This is trippy, hypnotic stuff man. The tension escalates 16 minutes in then we're trippin' again. The vocal melodies are cool to end the song.

"Aumgn" is spacey and at times dark. Viola 3 1/2 minutes in as more dark, deep bass sounds pulse. Percussion comes and goes.8 minutes in the sounds are getting more sinister. Percussion 12 minutes in and other loud noises. Hey even the dog is barking 13 1/2 minutes in. Who let him in the studio ? The drumming is incredible 14 minutes in to the end. "Peking O" opens with 3 minutes of spacey sounds and vocals. Organ arrives before we get a beat before 3 minutes. Strange sounds including crazy vocals that go from speaking to laughing to he's pretty much lost his mind. Yeah this is a very experimental song. "Bring Me Coffee Or Tea" is a great way to end the album. Another song reminding me of RADIOHEAD, again because of the vocals. This is a mellow, dreamy track that recalls the way the album started, we've come full circle.

Essential Krautrock !