MOVIES

An extraordinary and virtually unclassifiable piece of work, the second solo effort from Can bassist-and-founder Holger Czukay positively brims with technical assurance and a luminous, multi-genre vibrancy rarely found in modern popular music. Essentially a mixture of samples and beats combined with a world fusion aesthetic, much studio fiddling and a genial dash of welcome humour, 'Movies' proves a spectacular fusion of stylesa nd arguably the key work of its creator. Already partly-responsible for creating some of the most original and brilliant music of modern times during his time with Can, 'Movies' was actually Czukay's second solo effort, coming a full decade after 'Canaxis', his bizarre and occasionally beautiful debut from 1969. Whilst that album - which was also pieced together from various scraps of samples and radio recordings - proved a somewhat difficult listen, 'Movies' is anything but. Humorous, catchy and utterly fascinating, this the kind of album that showcases the right kind of curious experimentation, with Czukay leading the listener through a merry dance of sounds, textures and styles without ever forgetting the key rock music ingredients. Featuring four tracks - including the seminal ethnic electro-swirl of 'Persian Love' - 'Movies' is that rare beast: an album that truly lives up to all the hype. Outstanding. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2013