Ege Bamyasi

Infobox Album |
Name = Ege Bamyasi
Type = studio
Artist = Can


Released = start date|1972
Recorded = Inner Space Studio, 1972
Genre = Krautrock
experimental rock
Progressive Rock
Length = 39:26
Label = United Artists
Producer = Can
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2uvyxdgbjolj link]
*Pitchfork Media (9.8/10.0) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15995-monster-movie-soundtracks-tago-mago-ege-bamyasi link]
*Scaruffi (7/10) [http://www.scaruffi.com/vol3/can.html link]
*Stylus Magazine (A) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/can/tago-mago-ege-bamyasi.htm link]
Last album = "Tago Mago"
(1971)
This album = "Ege Bamyasi"
(1972)
Next album = "Future Days"
(1973)

"Ege Bamyasi" is the third studio album by the German experimental rock band Can which was originally released as an LP in 1972 by United Artists. The album contains the single "Spoon", which charted in the Top 20 in Germany, due largely to its use as the theme of a German TV thriller series called "Das Messer" (The Knife). Due to the success of this single, Can were able to move to a better studio with which they recorded "Ege Bamyasi". "Ege Bamyasi" was remastered as a hybrid SACD in 2004 which includes a booklet with commentary on the album by former "Melody Maker" journalist David Stubbs, as well as previously unreleased photos of the band.

The cover artwork, in addition to being a pun on the band's name, reflects several of the band members continued interest in world music. The album has received much critical acclaim since its release and has been cited as an influence by various artists. There have been attempts by several artists to play cover versions of songs from "Ege Bamyasi". Remix versions of several tracks by various artists are included on the album "Sacrilege".

Production

Due to the commercial success of their hit single "Spoon" (which sold 300,000 copies, and broke the German top 20 charts), Can were able to hire a large ex-cinema which they used as a part-working, part-living space. However, things nearly didn't work out as guitarist Michael Karoli recalled that the sessions were "frustrated by keyboardist Irmin Schmidt and vocalist Damo Suzuki's playing chess obsessively day in, day out."cite book |title="Ege Bamyasi"(CD liner notes) |last=Stubbs |first=David |year=2004 |publisher=Spoon Records] and that "completing recording became a frantic process, with some tracks having to be recorded practically in real time and the single "Spoon" added to make up for a shortfall in material"

"Ege Bamyasi" was recorded by Czukay in the Inner Space studio at Weilerswist, a town near Cologne.cite web |author=Hightower, Laura |title = Can | publisher = Enotes | url = http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/can-biography | accessdate = 2008-04-17 ] It was originally released as a double LP in 1972 by United Artists. In September 2004, the album, along with the majority of Can's discography, was remastered and released as a hybrid SACD.cite web |author=Mute Records |title = Biography | publisher = Mute Records | url = http://www.mute.com/artists/publicArtistLoad.do?id=3248&forward=longBio | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] The re-release includes a booklet with commentary on the album by David Stubbs, as well as previously unreleased photos of the band.

Reception and influence

"Ege Bamyasi" has received considerable critical acclaim since its release. British music weekly Melody Maker wrote: "Can are without doubt the most talented and most consistent experimental rock band in Europe, England included." [Smith,Gary.2003, [http://www.spoonrecords.com/history.html"CANBiography"] ] The success of the song "Spoon" and sales from this album inspired Can to make a free concert in an attempt to reach a wider audience. The Can Free Concert was filmed by Martin Schäfer, Robbie Müller and Egon Mann for director Peter Przygodda at the Cologne Sporthalle on February 3rd, 1972 and is included on the Can DVD. [ [http://www.spoonrecords.com/disco/dvd.html The Official CAN / Spoon Records Website ] ]

Various artists have cited "Ege Bamyasi" as an influence. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth recalls, "I found "Ege Bamyasi" in the 49-cent bin at Woolworth's. I didn’t see anything written about Can, I didn’t know anything about them except this okra can on the cover, which seemed completely bizarre. I finally picked that record up, and I completely wore it out. It was so alluring. Something about it made Can seem to be playing outside of rock 'n' roll. It was unlike anything else I was hearing at the time."cite book |title=The Secret History of Rock: The Most Influential Bands You'Ve Never Heard |last=Sarig |first=Roni |year=1998 |publisher=Watson-Guptill Publications|isbn=0823076695|pages=125]

There have been cover versions of songs from "Ege Bamyasi" by various artists. "I'm So Green" was covered by Beck and was submitted for a planned Can tribute album produced by the Dust Brothers. Kanye West sampled from "Sing Swan Song" for his song "Drunk And Hot Girls" on the album Graduation. Remix versions of several "Ege Bamyasi" songs are included on the album "Sacrilege".

Track listing

All music & lyrics by Karoli, Czukay, Liebezeit, Schmidt and Suzuki.

ide one

# "Pinch" – 9:28
# "Sing Swan Song" – 4:49
# "One More Night" – 5:35

ide two

# "Vitamin C" – 3:34
#"Soup" – 10:25
#"I'm So Green" – 3:03
#"Spoon" – 3:03

Personnel

*Holger Czukay – bass, engineering, editing
*Michael Karoli – guitar
*Jaki Liebezeit – drums
*Irmin Schmidt – keyboards
*Damo Suzuki – vocals

Production

*Ingo Trauer – original artwork
*Richard J. Rudow – original design
*Andreas Torkler – design (2004 rerelease)

References

External links

* [http://www.spoonrecords.com/disco/ege.html Official website]
* [http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/review/12 Review by Julian Cope at Head Heritage]
* [http://www.discogs.com/release/492005 Discogs entry for Ege Bamyasi]