Wednesday, March 26, 2008

"The economy thrives day after day"

CAN — Zhengzheng Rikang



Here's a new rip of the somewhat mysterious un-catalogued vinyl recording by Can, which first appeared a couple of years ago.

"No catalogue number, no bar code, no credits and no record label mentioned. Hmmmmmm. Bootleg? Or obscure release? On the back sleeve, the only other details apart from the track listing and the fact that it was recorded 1968/69 at Schloß Nörvenich is the phrase "Die Wirtschaft gedeiht Tag für Tag" — "The economy thrives day after day".
What you have here are some fascinating alternative versions of classic Malcolm Mooney-era Can and a couple of new songs. "Little Star Of Bethlehem", for instance, has some intriguing backing vocals with harmonies that wouldn't sound out of place on a Beach Boys record! "She Brings The Rain" is performed in a rawer, more stripped down version. "Outside My Door" and "Pnoom" sound completely different here.
Throughout the record, the sound quality is excellent and these are definitely not rough demos. Probably alternative takes or other parts of the jam sessions that were edited down for the finished studio versions. "Father Cannot Yell" definitely sounds like the later, with different lyrics and bass parts, it sounds like it could be part of the same take. The new tracks that end each side are both OK. Not as great as the other stuff, but still thorougly enjoyable. If you're a Can head and you've played your copies of "Monster Movie" and "Delay 1968" too many times for comfort, then this is an essential album."
- review from wasistdas.co.uk


There was another rip floating around a year or so ago but the tracks were not separated and at 128kbps the sound not so good methinks.
The last three tracks are unseparated as per the album tracklist.

tracklist
A1 Father Cannot Yell
A2 Pnoom(h) I
A3 Little Star Of Bethlehem
A4 Melting Away
B1 (My) Connection
B2 She Brings The Rain
B3 Outside My Door
Pnoom(h) 2
Greyhounds Greyhound


enjoy! @192kbps

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

"jesus christ was descended from bacteria!"

Thus spake Copernicus — not the renaissance heliocentricist, but the 1980s avant-garde poet...




Copernicus is a New York based poet and musician, who combines avant-garde poetry with improvisational music, with a wide range of influences (jazz, rock, experimental and electronic music). He usually collaborates with hired musicians and has self-published at least eight albums since the mid-1980s.



This English release on Dead Man's Curve is a re-mixed compilation taken from his first two albums: Nothing Exists and Victim of the Sky (originally released on NeverMore in the US).

The title track is particularly entertaining, I was going to reproduce the verse here but decided the impact is better heard as intended...

"One listen to Copernicus is worth 10,000 music videos."
-Sound Choice

decide for yourself:

tracklist
A1 I Won't Hurt You
A2 Nagasaki
A3 Atomic Nevermore
A4 Blood
A5 I Know What I Think
B1 In Terms of Money
B2 From Bacteria
B3 Lies!
B4 Victim of the Sky
B5 White from Black


Copernicus - From Bacteria LP
(Dead Man's Curve DMC 017, UK 1987)