Review Summary: The Can fan's 2012 gift
Its 2012. The golden age of releases from the German krautrock band Can has long since passed. Similar to
Delay… 1968 (an album of tracks recorded before
Monster Movie) in the ‘80s,
The Lost Tapes is a box set of finished tracks that for some reason, never made it to any albums. Immediate entrancement is certain in Paki’s human drum-machine style, as well as the classic Can sound, and Damo Suzuki’s utterly unique vocal style. Speckled with the spectacular live jams that Can is known for, but mainly just potential album tracks left to rot in some German basement, for absolutely no good reason.
These tracks are the perfect supplement to Can’s discography, especially to someone like me who has embraced Can to such an extent that the wish for more quality material was constant in every listen. All the band members are at their peak performance, and I can’t reiterate enough that the decision to hold these tracks locked in a cellar was a poor one. Millionenspiel and Abra Cada Braxas are standout tracks.
There’s not much that anyone can say about a 3 hour box set of legendary unreleased tracks other than that they are of the same top quality that one would expect from the pinnacle of Can’s career. Mystifying and sure to inspire many future acid trips among aficionados of the band and krautrock in general, make sure to find a way to listen to as much of this as you possibly
Can.
