EGE BAMYASI

Rough, psychedelic and bizarre. Can is probably one of the most important krautrock bands, and this is definitely one of their most important albums (in a group with the other releases with Suzuki - Tago Mago, Future Days).

Ege Bamyasi retains all of the fantastic rough psychedelic rock instruments, with an emphasis on both psychedelic and rock individually. To me, this album is like a much more subdued and controlled version of Tago Mago; it still has the same elements as that album, but in lower quantity and with less emphasis on the endless noises that don't seem to go anywhere. So, I think that makes this one of the best Can albums to start with if you're unfamiliar with the group. Another hammer driving that point home is that this album is that this album is a half-half affair; psych rocker tracks (Pinch, Soup, Spoon) and songs that are quite catchy (Vitamin C, Sing Swan Song, I'm So Green, One More Night). I personally enjoy the catchier songs much more than the noisy tracks. Also, if you're a Kanye West fan then you'll probably recognize the main motif of "Sing Swan Song" as being sampled in one of his own songs, "Drunk and Hot Girls". With this band, that's about as big of a crossover appeal I think they'll ever get. I feel that the more song-oriented krautrock style really ranks this over Tago Mago.

Again, this is probably the best place to start if you're unfamiliar with Can, and if it's something you end up liking then Tago Mago should be you're next Can album purchase, but beware - it's a very hectic album in it's own right.

Stand out tracks: "Vitamin C", "Sing Swan Song", "Spoon"