GREEN
EGE BAMYASI CAN
Expect post-rock, krautrock, progressive rock, world pop, and alternative rock reminiscent of Beck and The Beta Band. Then expect it all to fit within 40 great minutes and you’ve got Ege Bamyasi, also known as Can’s pop record. It’s the one record in their entire discography that stands out the most, and it’s easy to see why. It’s the most focused, most immediate and thus most accessible. But is it their best?
That’s arguable. For most, Can is Tago Mago and Future Days - subtle and sprawling. Ege Bamyasi is their certainly their boldest and, due to the differing song styles, most disjointed one. It’s not necessary to listen to the album in one sitting, which is exactly what the aforementioned two (and most others in their discography) outright demand. But for this same reason it’s also their least intimidating, and normally the place many begin. The single “Spoon,” once the theme of a German television show, the fact that Kanye West once sampled “Swin Swang Song” and that Pitchfork rated it at 9.8 out of 10 means that you’ve probably heard of this album before any of the others.
And maybe you should listen to this one before the others. In all honesty, however, I’d start with either Tago Mago or Future Days so that you can get Ege Bamyasi. Though, with a band like Can, starting anywhere is a good idea.
8.9/10