Soon Over Babaluma [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Original recording remastered]

Can | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Original recording remastered
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B0009NSCXK
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,928 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Dreamy Stuff, July 1, 2005

By 

Scott McFarland (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soon Over Babaluma (Audio CD)

Although I've been a big Can fan for 10 years now, and have known all their material backwards and forwards, I never particularly "got" this record. Now, with this reissue and the better mix (the tape hiss is, fantastically, gone), I get it and I love it. A record like this of subtle pleasures is dependent upon a good mix and presentation, which we finally have on CD.

It's dreamy, etherial, idiosynchratic stuff full of the band's characteristics (strong but subtle rhythms, perfect fragmented drum beats, collective rhythmic playing, fragile and beautiful guitar and violin, clever minimal keyboard playing). It's really just beautiful. The more time goes on the more I appreciate the unique and special properties of Can.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Great Can Album!, August 14, 2005

By 

Eraserhead (Twin Peaks) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soon Over Babaluma (Audio CD)

'Soon Over Babaluma', Can's majestic 5th album, and the first after the departure of their psychotic lead singer Damo Suzuki, was their last in a near perfect run of albums in the early 70's. Instead of folding under the pressure of losing their frontman, Can persevered (as they did in 1969 when Malcolm Mooney suffered a nervous breakdown) and focused on creating another album. Lead guitarist Michael Karoli took over the vocals and creates a very compeling argument that he was just as important to Can as Suzuki was. His vocals never falter, blending perfecting with the ominous music that came to life on this record.

After the calm and methodical masterpeice 'Future Days', Can got back to the funkier side of their music that was perfected on 'Ege Bamyasi'. 'Soon After Babaluma' begins with the extremely catchy trance-rock of "Dizzy Dizzy", which annouces that Can is just as powerful a unit with Karoli on vocals. Next comes "Come Sta, La Luna", which features call-and-response vocals from Irmin Schmidt and extensive use of the piano. Closing out Side One is the jumbled and jazz-like "Splash", in which many instruments including horns, synths, and piano combine to create an odd and interesting listen.

"Chain Reaction/Quantum Physics" (one song, two tracks), like 'Bel Air' & 'Yoo Doo Right' before it, takes up the entire second side of the album. This is one of the most ominous songs that Can ever recorded and contains many chill inducing moments. The entire album for that matter, has many moments that feel like Can was just then reaching their peak. Although 'Tago Mago', 'Ege Bamyasi', and 'Future Days' are slightly superior to 'Soon After Babaluma', those albums are no more essential than this. 'Soon After Babaluma' marked the final time that Can would collectively work together toward a common goal and create a great record.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Although a good album, change is afoot, May 20, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soon Over Babaluma (Audio CD)

This 1974 follow-up to the masterpiece Future Days (1973), witnessed a marked change in personnel and a slight change in the overall sound.

After a very subdued performance on Future Days, Japanese vocalist Damo Suzuki left the band leaving members Holger Czukay (bass); Michael Karoli (guitar, vocals on Dizzy Dizzy and Chain Reaction); Jaki Leibezeit (drums); and Irmin Schmidt (piano, synthesizers, and vocals on Come sta, la Luna) to carry on. Although I like Damo's vocal style much better, Michael and Irmin do an OK job with their alternately buried-in-the-mix and electronically altered vocal parts.

The five tracks on the album range in length from 5'44" to 11'12" and most display the typical Can sound, although there is more of an emphasis on bouncy rhythms, and brighter textures on the first three tracks. Specifically, there is a bossa nova in there and come to think of, Splash has almost an east coast (hot) jazz feel to it - only in the loosest sense of the style however. Jaki is an excellent drummer and he does a fantastic job with both styles - in fact his propulsive style really drives this entire album along.

My favorite tracks include the pulsating Chain Reaction (11'12") and the synthesizer heavy and atmospheric Quantum Physics (8'33"). It is worth noting that Chain Reaction and Quantum Physics are seamlessly joined, creating a larger track that approaches 20 minutes in length. My guess is that this was an attempt to recreate the epic nature of the 20 minute piece Bel Air (from the Future Days album). In my opinion it worked very well - it is a favorite after all.

This is a good album that marks a transitional period in the career of Can and is recommended along with Tago Mago (1971), Ege Bamyasi (1972), and the excellent Future Days (1973).