Soon Over Babaluma (Reis) [Original recording reissued]

Can | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 19, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B0000067XC
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,149 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dizzy Dizzy

2. Come Sta, La Luna

3. Splash

4. Chain Reaction

5. Quantum Physics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars innovation and propulsion, November 1, 2001

By 

George a Pletz "cult explorer" (Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

In the continuum of great Can albums, Soon certainly falls short in the wake of Future Days, the pinnacle of the band's association with the sensational singer Damo Suzuki. That said, the album is still firing on all cylinders. The creativity and synergy that the band possessed, right up to the half baked but somewhat satisfying Landed,is still something to behold. The ambient stutter and cosmic drift of Future Days is combined with ethnic flavors and a decidely jazzy approach. The discordant but melodic sawing of guitarist Michael Karoli on violin is a prominent feature on the swinging Dizzy Dizzy, the piano driven dark whimsy of Come sta, La Lune, and the latin inflected Splash. The album climaxes in the intense wash of Chain Reaction and Quantum Physics where Irmin Schmidt's keyboards and Jaki Liebezeit's drums layout a sound that presages techno with its incredible sense of syncopation. That it blends perfectly with the bluesy but not blues feel of the verses is nothing to be underestimated either. Fans of Suzuki and previous singer Mooney's fevered vocal deliveries may find complaint with the mannered restraint of Karoli and Schmidt's stabs at lyricism. Personally, I think they acquit themselves nicely by doing their own thing and not overdoing it. Besides with the sparseness of their appearance on this concise but facinating album, it in no way detracts from the musical invention. Perhaps not the place to start...For a good retrospective, start with Cannibalism 1 or the aforementioned masterpiece Future Days. If you want to see the band at its most shambolic try Ege Bumyasi or Tago Mago.Whatever you do,avoid the uneven Flow Motion and the abysmal Out of Reach as starting points.Start early and return back often. This band is a classic outfit with many successful outings. Without a doubt the best band that more people should hear.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not their best, but still great, July 9, 2003

By 

laurence hess (astoria, ny United States) - See all my reviews

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

This album has many of the elements that made Can's previous work with Damo Suzuki so amazing. Jaki Leibezeit's layered and funky drumming matched with Holger Czukay's metronomic bass playing is always the star of any good Can album. "Soon over Babaluma" marks the stepping out of Michael Karoli and Irmin Schmidt as sort of the "front men" of the band. With the loss of Damo Suzuki, Karoli and Schmidt take on the vocal duties. The vocals are the the low point of the album, but they are used in a very restrained and minimal way as to not draw attention away from the music. The music on "Soon over Babaluma" remains as stunning as on any of Can's previous efforts. The only thing seemingly missing is that, on albums such as "Tago Mago", "Ege Bamyasi", and "Future Days", Can creates a sound completely of their own. "Soon over Babaluma" is the sound of a band displaying their influences. There is the reggae vibe (dizzy dizzy), the jazz vibe (splash), the funk vibe (chain reaction), etc. This is the first Can album in which one can really see where the band is coming from. Although not as completely original as the Damo era albums, "Soon" is still worth having for anyone who is into Can.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can, Post-Damo, January 27, 2000

By 

DAC Crowell - See all my reviews

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

This album is the first after the departure of their Japanese vocalist, Damo Suzuki, with whom Can did what was probably their best work in the previous three albums. But sustained by the momentum from these, "Soon Over Babaluma" is still a brilliant work. Now with an emerging 'poppy' feel, Can continues their explorations on tracks such as 'Chain Reaction/Quantum Physics', a side-long two-parter in which a long, groovy, trancy jam suddenly descends into a dark yet ecstatic ambient drone-work. The first half also includes an amazing Latin-inflected workout in 'Splash', and the eerie 'Come Sta, La Luna'. Equal in stature to "Future Days", I think, and likewise a good starting-point for the novice Can explorer.