Artist: Can Album: CAN

Year: 1978
Duration: 56:24

A Critical Review of Can's Album CAN: A Deep Dive into the Genius of German Krautrock

When it comes to the evolution of the rock scene, few genres have been as influential as Krautrock. The German music movement, which took the world by storm in the late 60s and early 70s, pioneered an experimental approach to rock that blended psychedelia, electronic music, and avant-garde sensibilities. And no band better exemplified this than Can. Their 1979 album, also titled CAN, stands as a masterpiece of the genre, showcasing a range of styles, moods, and textures that still feel audacious today. In this review, I'm going to take a deep dive into CAN to dissect its brilliance, from its historical context to its greatest musical innovations.

Can formed in 1968 in the city of Cologne, Germany, and featured a line-up of Holger Czukay, Jaki Liebezeit, Michael Karoli, Irmin Schmidt, and (initially) Malcolm Mooney. Unlike many other rock bands of the time, Can were self-contained, producing and recording their music in a private studio they had assembled in an old cinema. This allowed them to create a distinct sonic identity that fused structured songwriting with free-form improvisation. While their first few albums showcased this tendency more prominently, CAN is perhaps their most accessible and varied work, capturing the essence of their fluid and hypnotic sound while still retaining a pop sensibility.

The music on CAN is difficult to classify under one label, as it draws on an eclectic mix of influences ranging from funk to jazz to world music. Yet, what unites all the songs are their reliance on groove and repetition - Can were a band that understood the potential of a good rhythm. The album's opening track All Gates Open sets the tone with its pulsating bassline and eerie keyboard, building up to a screeching saxophone solo. This is followed by Safe, which slows the pace to a hypnotic crawl, creating a trance-like atmosphere that lingers throughout the album. Halleluwah stands as one of the band's most famous tracks, and for good reason - it's an epic tour-de-force that stretches over eighteen minutes, featuring Karoli's soaring guitar riffs, Liebezeit's precise drumming, and Mooney's wild vocals.

But what really sets CAN apart from other rock bands of the time is their use of experimental techniques, such as tape loops, field recordings, and ambient soundscapes. Aumgn is a prime example of this, a track that deconstructs the very notion of songwriting by layering found sounds on top of each other, creating a dense and disorienting collage that hints at the avant-garde roots of krautrock. Similarly, Peking O combines a traditional Chinese melody with synthesizers and percussion, creating a cross-cultural bridge that prefigures world music by a few decades. These moments of sonic innovation, where conventional tonality and structure are bent out of shape, make CAN a significant milestone in the history of rock music.

While CAN is undoubtedly a brilliant album, it's not without its flaws. Some listeners may find the repetitive nature of the music tedious, and Mooney's vocals may be an acquired taste. Yet, these minor imperfections are overshadowed by the sheer scope and ambition of the album, which continues to inspire musicians to this day. Whether you're a longtime krautrock fan or a newcomer to the genre, CAN is an essential listen, a masterpiece of sonic exploration and experimental daring.

In conclusion, CAN's eponymous album is not only a classic of krautrock but one of the defining albums of 1970s music. It captures a band at the peak of their creativity, pushing the boundaries of rock music while still retaining a sense of melody and structure. Its use of experimental techniques, such as looping and sampling, marks it as ahead of its time, while its reliance on groove and repetition make it accessible to even casual fans of rock. If you have not yet experienced the sonic journey that is CAN, I highly recommend giving this album a listen – it is an essential piece of music history that deserves to be celebrated.