Eneathedevil

But are you crazy? Down there I’m fine because I steer clear of Can. Maybe to you your member seems long because you’ve got cryptorchidism, which is the trendiest phenomenon after a good quarter of an hour of “Aumgn.” Anyway, it’s also a matter of preference. For example, I prefer Gerardina Trovato; I find her more communicative than Can. For goodness’ sake, it’s all a matter of taste.

Well, yes, but at this point, having demonstrated my universality both in spirit and body, follow me through thick and thin: you will finally discover good music. Can have been traced among the main reasons for elephantiasis of the testicles: the balls drop, which is a pleasure after 18 minutes of Halleluhwah.

You know, what are you saying? I have Ajeje's support, nothing can faze me. Anyway, in your honor, I've put the Can back on: I remembered them being more beautiful, but in the end, they really fall flat. And anyway, I don't admit to such nonsense: my tastes are universal, and it would be good manners for you to conform to them.

Wow, help from ajeje! It was basically easier to believe in a reconsideration of the legality of abortion by Ferrara!

I know that my unpopular comments would have driven you crazy. With some highlights. Supersoul said a series of important things that only confirm what I've said. He mentions GDP, Jesus and Mary Chain, Spacemen 3 (I limit myself to mentioning the bands I know best). Well, if he had mentioned something more contextualized and dated, they’re all phenomena framed in their time. Take "Transparent Radiation" by Spacemen 3, a track or album that I find excellent, and listen to it while clearing your ears from the earwax barrier behind which you must inevitably sanctify your idols: it’s an acid trip in the Barrett style from TWENTY YEARS BEFORE (forgive the capitalization, it’s to emphasize), and no one would say it’s from the late ’80s. And dear Supersoul, you’re wrong: the professor on Debaser is you, since you certainly can't be accused of being a normal and modest user given your firmness (no less than my undeniable arrogance) supported by encyclopedic knowledge. About Neu!, the rhythm section of "Fur Immer" is the same as any piece from today. All the professionals who know a thing or two have recognized their innovations in the study of rhythm that transcends time. And I see, Saputè, that you’re lowering the tones now by talking about the avant-garde pieces of Can, so presumably you’re not completely at odds with me on the rest. The closing argument is ridiculous because, while formally correct, it concerns those who, with the means available, could do no other. Can jammed like dozens of bands at the time, while electronics offered quite different solutions, and I think Faust and Can exploited certain means better. I knew it: I touched your idols and you became upset. And I only said that I prefer something else that is more universal. It doesn’t take much to say: "Yes, okay, they are indeed more contextualizable in the '70s, but I don’t give a damn: Neu! annoys me"; no, instead you have to start talking about absurdities to rationally justify your choices. If I had said, I repeat, that they are crap. For goodness' sake.

I was counting on your intervention, which I know would be eager yet somewhat off the mark, as often happens. <<Especially because often an album ends up being a child of its time more due to a sound (and thus the production and recording instruments) than the ideas contained within it.>> That’s exactly why I’m asking you to listen to "Neu!2" and the first Faust album, just to give you an idea: just think that the former didn’t even have the money for a decent recording studio in 1974, and see if you can pinpoint any supposed obsolescence in the sound of that record. Listen to "Krautrock" by Faust and so on: then tell me why Can must not have succeeded in that aim while the others did. Maybe you could say it wasn’t written anywhere that they had to be extremists, but just the same, if Neu! and Faust managed to express a universal sound, I think they deserve some extra recognition. If you disagree, at least let me express an opinion that will remain personal. <<For example, a super cool album from last year like Transparent Things by Fujiya & Miyagi, which certainly doesn’t sound dated, owes a lot to Can.>> You should explain that to me. What do you mean? That a dated sound can't be emulated and updated to one’s times? Kraftwerk sounded terribly 70s, but the evolutions of the 80s transformed them into techno-pop: it was unimaginable to dance to the dated sound of "Autobahn," yet "Just Can't Get Enough," "Shout," and "Enola Gay" were hits in the 80s thanks to the seminal Germans. Every music has always been updated, every progenitor has had epigones against whom they would seem dated. Or do you think that in the 70s they would have worshipped a swaying Chuck Berry, even though he was the founder of rock 'n' roll from which the Rolling Stones drew in those same years? For the seventies, he was certainly dated. I won’t comment on the conclusion: it’s ridiculous, and you know it. I’ll just say that you took it the wrong way, but I didn’t mean to offend Can. Their sound is out of date, that’s what I clearly said. You reacted as if I had spoken about bubonic plague and said, “that’s not the only thing that matters.” And sure, I know the album is still very good. I gave it a 4; I didn’t snub it. I just won’t give you the maximum, that’s all.

Ah, I knew I would find you all here saying "Wow, how cool this is, how awesome that is," but the point isn't how avant-garde this or that product is, but how much a work is a child of its time. And the Can were children of their time because Karoli's guitar sounds acidic like Weinzierl's from the contemporary Amon Duul, the free jazz is that of Xhol Caravan, the chaotic avant-garde is that of Amon themselves or Agitation Free or Ash Ra Tempel. We're not saying it's bad; we're saying it's a product of the '70s. Take a sample of 100 not-too-stupid individuals who are unacquainted with music but lack knowledge of "Neu! 2" and "Tago Mago" and ask them to guess the year, roughly. On average, they will respond "the '80s or '90s" for the first, "1970" for the second. It'll be super cool, but it's a '70s sound. So, even though they are not crap (far from it!), for me, the Can were still not unique phenomena, able to well utilize trends that were characteristic of the era. Neu! and Faust were something entirely different.

I know I'm unpopular, but I would rather loop the first Neu! album twenty times than listen to this half a time (it's not even easy to get in line). Mondieu, how timeless was the sound of Rother and Dinger, how contextualized was that of Liebezeit.

Ah, but it's not pleasant for me, and, above all, listened to nowadays it feels quite outdated. It sounds like a '70s record; it's the most '70s thing I've ever heard since the Beach Boys. With a bit more substance, of course.

Damn, a scratch down there after the ending is a must! Anyway, the album is short and minimal, often as touching as the best Mertens or vintage Nyman.