MONSTER MOVIE

This Can album took me by surprise by how good it is, yes it does get a little reptitive, but it was early days and already they were pioneering song writing. 1969 was a big and very innovative year for prog; Frank Zappa's Hot Rats left his mark and influence on other prog albums throughout the next few years, King Crimson Had their masterful debut, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew helped push the envelope of jazz into new and progressive territories, the Beatles Had Abbey Road, which was mere millimetres from being a full blown prog rock album. And finally we have Cans Monster Movie. This album starts with the energetic Father Cannot Yell which reminds me a bit of Floyd's astronomy domine in the beginning keyboards, but once the guitar starts, you know this is different this is Can. Mooney the singer almost preaches his song to you, but yet the lyrics are simple almost child like, the lines "he hasn't been born yet" are repeated with the guitar repeating its riff, together into a hypnotic state driving the song into unmarked territories than Can wished to venture. The song is a little too long and montonous Can still having to perfect its trade, but don't let this turn you off it is still a great song, with Mooneys voice adding a fascinating dimention to it. The second sond Mary, Mary so Contrary, starts off melencholy and sad especially when you think about Mooney's breakdown. But soon Mooney's unconventional screeching takes it to new heights, paving the way to what lay in the future with alternative rock groups in the 1990s. Outside My Door is a good but conventional rock song of the times, I tend skip it, it has harmonica in it which makes it feel just a bit too woodstockish for my tastes. Finally the 20 minute masterpiece Yoo Doo Right, but this is not symphonic piece with changing themes, but very repetitve and simple, but it is great, it is repetitive masterpiece there is something about it that gives you the ability to endure it. Mooney's voice screeches too the point of whispering, giving Peter Hammill a run for his money in terms of innovative singing styles. Mooney's altering singing style gives you different takes on the emotive interpretations of the lyrics. Jacki Liebezeit's drumming alonside Mooney's voice also leads the song, with a great african styles, while Michael Karoli's and Holger Czukay's resective guitar and base add emphasis too Mooney's vocals, and giving Yoo Doo Right its magic. The song stops half way with just Mooney whispering the same lines and Liebezeit's percussion, the song then continues in its original format. Overall the song has a primeval flavour to it, which I thing makes it so powerful in it's simplicity. In short Yoo Doo Right is a Kraut Rock masterpiece. All in all Monster Movie is not a perfect album but still with all it's flaws is a great album and definately recommended and worth your time if you plan on expanding your music tastes.