At a glance
- Artist
- Can
- Released
- 1972
In the issue
More accessible than Tago Mago but still deeply experimental, the album included the hit single "Spoon" and proved Can could fold its instant composition method into genuine pop sensibility without losing its edge. Holger Czukay's editing, cutting tape with razor blades to splice together the strongest moments from hours of jamming, remained the backbone of the band's process.
How it was made
Following the challenging sprawl of Tago Mago, Can recorded Ege Bamyasi in 1972 at their Inner Space studio, maintaining their improvisational approach while crafting more focused, accessible pieces. The album featured "Spoon," which became the theme for a German TV thriller and unexpectedly reached No. 6 in German charts—proof that Can could court commercial success without abandoning experiment. The band continued their method of extended jam sessions edited by Holger Czukay, but the material leaned toward groove-oriented funk rather than Tago Mago's sprawling abstraction. Damo Suzuki sang actual melodies. Jaki Liebezeit's polyrhythmic drumming locked into hypnotic patterns that could sustain a five-minute track. Ege Bamyasi showed that Can's "instant compositions" could function as songs without losing their exploratory edge.
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More by Can in the issues
- Tago Mago1971