TAGO MAGO

I have to agree with the entire world that Can was at their peak with this double-album (upon original release). The music becomes much less dense in comparison to Monster Movie and Soundtracks, yet Can puts together their most original work yet, with sprawling rhythms at the center of this masterpiece. While "Mushroom" and the first of two side-long songs, "Halleluwah," have concrete rhythm tracks, "Peking O" and the other side-long (in vinyl terms) "Aumgn," are more about random sound than keeping an actual beat. Damo Suzuki's ranting/speech/half-nonsense singing does not make this confusing, but rather enhances the musical material like another instrument itself. Speaking of instrumental prowess, Michael Karoli and Irmin Schmidt stand out with textural playing, with solo parts but basic improvisational spirit ringing through them. The main cornerstones here, though, are the rhythm section of Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit (more so the latter), holding down a pace for the others to base their playing around. Each of these songs has its own distinct identity, and some of the production seems very ahead of its time, particularly on the sound effects. (Side note: the SACD remaster is well done, and brings the nuances into new light) Can would have a couple outstanding albums in their own right following Tago Mago, but this effort is by far an achievement for Krautrock itself, and music itself too.