Can: ‘Soundtracks’ (1970) by: Pressed_Rat
Can’s ‘Soundtracks,’ from 1970 is the first album to feature Japanese lead singer, Damo Suzuki. The album consists of various tracks recorded for several different films from the late 60’s and early 70’s. The vocals on this album are split between Can’s original vocalist, Malcolm Mooney, and new vocalist, Damo Suzuki. I consider this to be Can’s most underrated album. It was largely overshadowed by ‘Tago Mago,’ which was released just a few months later, in early 1971. ‘Soundtracks’ is probably the most accessible Can album from the early period. It features none of the lengthy sound collages found on ‘Tago Mago.’ Most of the songs are at a relatively short length, with the exception of the ten minute plus epic, ‘Mother Sky.’ ‘Mother Sky’ would go on to become one of Can’s most well-known songs and a fan favorite.
The album starts off with ‘Deadlock,’ which has always been a favorite of mine. Michael Karoli’s guitar is probably the most prominent instrument on the track. His guitar playing is absolutely beautiful, and fits perfectly with Damo’s cathartic singing.
The second track is titled ‘Tango Whiskeyman.’ It’s a very laid back and mellow song, with some very tasteful singing by Damo and some really nice, jazzy keyboard playing by Irman Schmidt. Jaki Liebeziet provides a nice steady beat to this track as well.
‘Deadlock’ (titlemusic) is the third track on this album. It’s basically the same song as track number one, except more symphonic sounding, and with no lyrics. It’s also much shorter. This track was used as the theme song to the 1970 movie, also titled ‘Deadlock.’ The mid-section of this song, once again, features some beautiful, melancholy guitar playing from Karoli, before ending the same way the song started.
‘Don’t Turn the Light On, Leave Me Alone’ is yet another great song. It starts of with some very exotic percussion by Jaki, before finally building into one his trademark, metronomic beats. Jaki also plays flute on the track, which really adds much in the way of beauty to this song. Damo’s singing is very laid back. Overall, this is a very nice, melancholy track. One of my favorites on the album.
The fifth track, titled ‘Soul Desert,’ is the one track on this album I don’t care much for, and I have always considered it to be one of Can’s weaker tracks. Malcolm Mooney is the vocalist on this track, and in some parts it almost sounds like he a coughing up a hairball or something. Usually, Malcolm was a great singer, but I don’t know what went wrong with him on this track. Musically, this song is nothing to write home about either. It’s very boring. Definitely the weakest track on the album.
Track six is ‘Mother Sky,’ and is one of Can’s most regarded tracks. This is an absolutely mind-blowing epic and is probably one of my top ten favorite Can tracks. Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebeziet create a nice steady, metronomic and trance-like rhythm, while Michael adds his searing guitar lines over this. Towards the middle of the track, Jaki breaks into a nice little drum solo. Damo’s singing is fairly mellow and limited throughout the track as well.
The last track, titled ‘She Brings The Rain,’ is probably one of the most unusual Can songs ever. It’s a very normal and straightforward lounge-jazz song, and that’s what makes it so odd, because Can have never done anything like this before (anything this normal). It’s a very nice song actually. It starts off with a slow, jazzy bassline by holger, and then eventually Michael comes in with some nice, almost muted, fuzz guitar. Malcolm sings some very nice lyrics as well. I like the line that goes..”she brings the rain, it feels like spring…magic mushrooms out of dreams.” Very groovy! This was also the last song that Malcolm had recorded with Can before he had his nervous breakdown and had to depart the band in late 1969.
This would be a great album to start off with if you’re new to Can. It’s very accessible, and very enjoyable. I compare this album a lot to Pink Floyd’s ‘More’ – not because it’s a soundtrack album, but because the songs basically flow the same way, and have the same general feel. It sounds like soundtrack music, but very good soundtrack music.