Can

These guys are probably the most famous band to emerge from the whole krautrock scene of the seventies. Other contemporaries included Amon Düül II, Faust and Neu!, but it seems that the name which has popped up more regularly is Can.

They indeed were figureheads of the whole movement, they had all the qualities required: an often repetitive rhythm which would build up as the song progressed, a psychedelic vibe, experimental works, long improvised jams and more accessible tracks. It was all there. Perfect krautrock in a neat little package and this, even though the band went through many different singers.

This is the first german rock band I checked out when I started buying these kinds of records. I was absolutely mesmerized by the cover art of Tago Mago and that was pretty much the only reason why I gave the album a listen (along with Ash Ra Tempel's first album, even though I didn't care much about that cover art). I can't really say it was "love at first hearing", it had a somewhat progrock-ish side which I didn't care much for at the time. But I went ahead and got it anyway, that cover art was just too tantalizing and it would be nice to look at regardless if I would like it or not. Luckily, I gave the album a thorough listen and once the longer, more experimental tracks came on, I was hooked and the other albums soon followed.

Monster Movie Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1969 Format: CD Cat. no: 9271-2/724596927120
Song list:
Father Cannot Yell (7:01) Mary, Mary So Contrary (6:16) Outside My Door (7:22) Yoo Doo Right (20:14)

Soundtracks Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1970 Format: CD Cat. no: 9272-2/724596927229
Song list:
Deadlock (3:25) Tango Whiskyman (4:02) Deadlock (Instrumental) (1:40) "Don't Turn The Light On, Leave Me Alone" (3:42) Soul Desert (3:46) Mother Sky (14:30) She Brings The Rain (4:04)

Tago Mago Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1971 Format: CD Cat. no: 9273-2/724596927328
Song list:
Paperhouse (7:29) Mushroom (4:08) Oh Yeah (7:22) Halleluhwah (18:32) Aumgn (17:22) Peking O (11:35) Bring Me Coffee Or Tea (6:47)

Ege Bamyasi Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1972 Format: CD Cat. no: 9274-2/724596927427
Song list:
Pinch (9:28) Sing Swan Song (4:18) One More Night (5:35) Vitamin C (3:34) Soup (10:25) I'm So Green (3:03) Spoon (3:03)

Future Days Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1973 Format: CD Cat. no: 9288-2/724596928820
Song list:
Future Days (9:34) Spray (8:29) Moonshake (3:04) Bel Air (19:53)

Soon Over Babaluma Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1974 Format: CD Cat. no: 9289-2/724596928929
Song list:
Dizzy Dizzy (5:43) Come Sta, La Luna (5:43) Splash (7:45) Chain Reaction (11:09) Quantum Physics (8:31)

Landed Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1975 Format: CD Cat. no: 9291-2/724596929124
Song list:
Full Moon On The Highway (3:33) Half Past One (4:40) Hunters And Collectors (4:20) Vernal Equinox (8:48) Red Hot Indians (5:38) Unfinished (13:21)

Unlimited Edition Label: Mute Records/Spoon Records Release: 1976 Format: CD Cat. no: 9290-2/724596929025
Song list:
Gomorrha (5:47) Doko E (2:28) LH 7o2 (Nairobi/München) (2:13) I'm Too Leise (5:11) Musette (2:14) Blue Bag (Inside Paper) (1:18) E.F.S. No. 27 (1:49) TV Spot (3:02) E.F.S. No. 7 (1:06) The Empress And The Ukraine King (4:42) E.F.S. No. 10 (2:02) Mother Upduff (4:29) E.F.S. No. 36 (1:58) Cutaway (17:11) Connection (2:59) Fall Of Another Year (3;24) E.F.S. No. 8 (1:37) Transcendental Express (4:40) Ibis (9:20)