This is the second bootleg that I have uploaded now. I can’t up things like these too often because my school restricts bandwith on a weekly basis, and FLAC files can make a significant dent in that (20GB) weekly limit, especially when you download as much as I do. Judging from the statistics, it looks like a decent percentage of the few readers that this blog gets enjoyed the Mars Volta show that I posted last week. There’s a lot of amazing music like TMV out there today, but this time I wanted to focus on a classic band: Can.

Information

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Title: Queueing Down
Artist: Can
Performance Date: May 12, 1973
Genre: Krautrock
Download Link: One Disc
Tracklisting:

  • 01 – Queueing Down [35:55]
  • 02 – One More Night [08:49]
  • 03 – Spoon [16:05]
  • 04 – Stars and Lines [14:41]
  • 05 – Vitamin C [13:41]

Music

Along with a few of their other countrymen, Can is well-known for developing the “Krautrock” aesthetic, a type of progressive, psychedelic rock that was primarily limited to Germany in its early years. During their golden age, Can was made up of four proficient German musicians and Damo Suzuki—a Japanese wandering performer who the band literally recruited off of the street. This quintet recorded Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, and Future Days together: all three of which were revolutionary albums that are recognized as classic works of genius today. Can’s output declined after Suzuki left the band to become a Jehova’s Witness in 1974, and the group eventually broke up after releasing a few decent albums in the late seventies.

This recording features Can in more glorious times, however, with Suzuki still in his position as the group’s frontman, doing what he is famous for: crooning and murmuring strange lyrics made up on the spot. The opening track is perhaps the best example of Can’s spontaneous creativity, as it is an entirely-improvised 35 minute jam. Even the other songs that are performed, which originally appeared on studio albums, are significantly extended, seamlessly incorporating tight and professional improvisations. The quality of musicianship displayed in this performance (and in any Can live show) is something that must be heard to be truly believed. Fans of Can in the studio will appreciate beefed-up versions of favorites like “Spoon” and “Vitamin C”, while curious first-time listeners will simply be krautrocked to death by these five monster tunes. As far as bootlegs go, this is a personal favorite of mine and I recommend it wholeheartedly.