Monday, 30 April 2007
Sunday, 29 April 2007
Can: Why are they the greatest band of all-time? Part 1
So, I’ve been putting off explaining it for some time now and that’s not fair. The time has come to spit it out: it’s time to start discussing why Can are the greatest band of all time…
First of all some history… I’d always liked Can’s music since I first heard it (inspired by The Fall’s mighty “I am Damo Suzuki” and had enjoyed exploring Can’s back catalogue over a space of maybe 10 or so years. But it wasn’t until late last year, when I read this posting on the sadly defunct Solid Gold Facts blog, that I realised that, yes indeed, Can were the finest pop group of all time. So how did this come to be? How come they are better than The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys, Neu! and Kraftwerk? I suspect that there are far too many reasons to do all at once, so here’s the first batch:
#1: Chess
Legend has it that many were confused by why Ege Bamyasi was such a short record after the towering rhythmic freak-outs of Tago Mago. Was this a huge artistic gamble? Was it the beginning of punk? No, it was down to Damo and Irmin spending long periods of studio time playing chess (see below):
#2: Mushroom
"When I saw mushroom head
When I saw mushroom head
When I saw mushroom head
I was born and I was dead"
David Niven
Smooth and suave, the Pink Panther actor may have been, but seemingly he also liked his Krautrock too. Niven famously allegedly attended Damo Suzuki’s first live outing with the mighty Can when the intensity of his instant vocal composition stylings almost frightened the audience to the point of rioting.
First of all some history… I’d always liked Can’s music since I first heard it (inspired by The Fall’s mighty “I am Damo Suzuki” and had enjoyed exploring Can’s back catalogue over a space of maybe 10 or so years. But it wasn’t until late last year, when I read this posting on the sadly defunct Solid Gold Facts blog, that I realised that, yes indeed, Can were the finest pop group of all time. So how did this come to be? How come they are better than The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys, Neu! and Kraftwerk? I suspect that there are far too many reasons to do all at once, so here’s the first batch:
#1: Chess
Legend has it that many were confused by why Ege Bamyasi was such a short record after the towering rhythmic freak-outs of Tago Mago. Was this a huge artistic gamble? Was it the beginning of punk? No, it was down to Damo and Irmin spending long periods of studio time playing chess (see below):
#2: Mushroom
"When I saw mushroom head
When I saw mushroom head
When I saw mushroom head
I was born and I was dead"
David Niven
Smooth and suave, the Pink Panther actor may have been, but seemingly he also liked his Krautrock too. Niven famously allegedly attended Damo Suzuki’s first live outing with the mighty Can when the intensity of his instant vocal composition stylings almost frightened the audience to the point of rioting.
Saturday, 28 April 2007
Friday, 27 April 2007
Thursday, 26 April 2007
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Monday, 23 April 2007
Sunday, 22 April 2007
Sunday, 15 April 2007
Sunday is... Trapped in the Closet (Parts 1-5) Day!
Epic compilation of the first 20 or so minutes...
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Monday, 9 April 2007
Sunday, 8 April 2007
Sunday is... Ignition (Remix) Day!
"Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce... Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce"
Saturday, 7 April 2007
Friday, 6 April 2007
Thursday, 5 April 2007
Wednesday, 4 April 2007
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
The Jazz Corner: Part 1
This corner will document all kinds of jazz. I start with a tribute to a very talented saxophonist, Michael Brecker, together with two of his collegues (David Liebman and Joe Lovano).
The Indian/Pakistani Corner: Part 1
I had to open this corner with Nikhil Banerjee, certainly the greatest sitarist of all times. Zakir Hussain on tabla.
Monday, 2 April 2007
Ghhheeeee! Ghhhheeeeeee! Ghhhhheeeee!
One thousand, nine hundred and eighty one days is a long time. It's a very long time really... but yay! the wait is over...
it has arrived! and it is most ambient!
it has arrived! and it is most ambient!
Sunday, 1 April 2007
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