Can: Unlimited Edition

Can: Unlimited Edition

1975

Mute /Spoon Records

Format I Own it on: Compact Dizzle

Track Listing: 1. Gomorrha  2. Doko E  3. LH 702 (Nairobi/München)  4. I'm Too Leise  5. Musette  6. Blue Bag (Inside Paper)  7. E.F.S. No. 27  8. TV Spot  9. E.F.S. No. 7  10. The Empress and the Ukraine King  11. E.F.S. No. 10  12. Mother Upduff  13. E.F.S. No. 36  14. Cutaway  15. Connection  16. Fall of Another Year  17. E.F.S. No. 8  18. Transcendental Express  19. Ibis


 This is an expanded re-release of an earlier outtakes collection titled "Limited Edition"...

"Unlimited Edition" covers the time period between 1968-1975, which is fortunate because it so happens to capture Can's peak years...That said, don't go into this expecting to hear anything on par with "Halleluhwah" or "Vitamin C," these are very much outtakes, mostly comprised of songs that can only be described as "snippets" (Considering that most of what's here falls into the 2-3 minute range, which is highly unusual for Can, who are renowned for their lengthy jams)...So loose and experimental that when something resembling a "real" song comes along ("Connection" for example) it almost catches you off guard...But man, this album's a lot of fun for Can enthusiasts...

The record is most successful on the 17 minute "Cutaway,"  fully embraces its tossed-off glory...an edited suite of wild noises, off-the-cuff jams and some of the most highly amusing studio chatter I've ever heard...Listen to Malcolm Mooney chiding Holger Czukay about an out-of-sync modulation effect and try not to laugh at Holger's civil, robotic responses...I think what makes it stand out is that it's as tightly edited as their usual stuff...It's all about a rough cut and paste job that captures the feel of the album...

Other highlights are "TV Spot" which never fails to make me LOL...Damo starts out the song yowling like he's hit his thumb with a hammer...

 ...eventually things settle down into a neat little groove as  Damo coos "Somebody loved you..." and counters himself with  an equally dreamy "Nobody loved you..." Man, this is some TV spot...The bizarre "Blue Bag (Inside Paper)" is remarkable in that it totally invents Ween...Listen to "Candy" from "Chocolate and Cheese" and then listen to this...



In addition to Damo, you also get a bunch of Malcolm songs too!

"The Empress and the Ukraine King" and "Connection" being the best of the bunch..."The Empress..." is so bright and funky I can't believe they didn't use it on one of their albums...Same with the straight-forward rocker "Connection." How many times did Can do straight-forward rockers? This is a real, rare treat...Also note how much Radiohead is indebted to "Fall of Another Year."

A quick glance at the track listing also reveals 5 tracks titled "E.F.S." These are all part of the band's "Ethnological Forgery Series" where they attempt to emulate the indigenous music of various cultures...Most surprising is "E.F.S No. 36" where they take a shot at New Orleans-style jazz...To be honest, I didn't think they had it in 'em...

I'd probably hold off purchasing "Unlimited Edition" until you've fully digested the preceding albums, but yea...The day is going to come when you're going to look at "Tago Mago" or "Ege Bamyasi" and say, "But I've already heard these ones a million times..." At that point go to the record store and pick this up...You're going to have a blast...But if you haven't heard those albums first, you're really jumping into the deep end here...

Let's check out "Connections" by Can...Enjoy...