Chuga-Chuga

mp3: Can - Connection

As you can see above, Can's "Unlimited Edition" contains one of the worst cover images that has ever been created. Irmin Schmidt looks positively 'awesome' in that red leather overcoat but the rest of them aren't that far behind. It looks like they need a good sleep and just goes to show what happens when your singer leaves the band. (hey, this is turning out like Go Fug Yourself). But, really, I think it's the cloned infinite Can in front of (what I suppose is) some German museum wall that really makes it so painfully bad.

Graphic design was always pretty terrific on their covers (the simplicity of "Ege Bamyasi" still makes me tingle). So this just epitomises the fairly shoddy nature of the release itself. And, for those who don't know, much of this double LP was originally released as a single LP "Limited Edition" whose cover was equally as awfull - something to do with a mouse and some metal cage stuff... sorry, the memory's getting dim. Still and all, I'm going to purchase the remastered version when it finally hits the shops in June.

But "Connection" was one of the great tracks (along with "Doko E", "Blue Bag" and "The Empress and the Ukraine King") . It comes as a shot to the heart after 18 minutes of noodling that should have been left on the Babaluma cutting room floor. Yes, it's just plain old motorik heaven, with a chuga-chuga rhythm, a little dash of heavy rock, some dark Can ambience and Malcolm Mooney at his best. I've no idea why this one was left off any earlier release and left off the "Limited" version as well.

mp3: Modern Lovers - She Cracked

I doubt whether Jonathon Richman could have heard Connection at the time he wrote "She Cracked". In any case, he was probably still too focused on the VU sound and identity to worry about some avant Germans from a few years before. But there's no doubt it has lots of the same qualities. Well, at least, it starts the same way. One of his best songs from a wonderfull and influential album.

mp3: Voigt/465 - Connection

And just to make sure you understand how hard it is to play stuff that seems so gorgeously simple: here's my old band from 1978, channeling Can and the legacy of The Modern Lovers (via punk) with a little sprinkle of the Canterbury sound thrown in for good measure. It almost comes off... almost. And the pogoing crowd loved it... and you've got to keep the customer's satisfied, haven't you. The last time we ever played this song.