Holger Czukay | Jah Wobble | Jaki Liebezeit • Full Circle

 

I have never understood why this record has always been so overlooked and severely underestimated. Even in the tons of praise heaped on Can in recent years the cursory mention given to the solo recordings of Can members tends to ignore or dismiss this fantastic disc.

During Can’s later years the influences of dub and ‘world’ music watered down the unhinged aggression and sheer naked artistic intent of their earlier recordings. However, here those influences give the record a hue, rather than sloppily splashing gaudy colour all over the place. The zany professor tendencies which Holger exhibits to occasionally irritating effect in his solo work are reigned in here as he has to restrain himself in the context of his collaborators.

Reading between the lines of the statements made about this collaboration by all concerned it seems that Wobble’s relationship with Czukay and Liebezeit wasn’t totally harmonious. Maybe this is the reason why there is a distinct lack of the mawkish sunniness which ruined later Can records, although the fallout from Jah Wobble’s involvement in PIL’s ‘Metal Box’ is also a major factor. Whatever the reasons, there is definitely a darker, more sinister edge to this record than anything the Can members had recently recorded.

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Holger Czukay • Guitar, Organ, Piano, French Horn,  
Radio Painting, Percussion
Jah Wobble • Bass, Synthesizer, Vocals
Jaki Liebezeit • Drums, Trumpet, Percussion

Recorded by René Tinner at Inner Space and mixed by
Holger Czukay at Inner Space and Conny's Studio.
"How Much" recorded and mixed by Mark Lusardi in London.
Editing and processing by Holger Czukay at his laboratory.

Label: Virgin – CDOVD 437

Format: 320

Country: Europe

Released: 1982

Genre: Rock

Style: New Wave

Blue Box • Captured Dance Floor

Captured Dance Floor is an odd one I picked up on my electric Jazz travels in the late eighties. The cover artwork is not to my liking but I'm guessing it is meant to be satirical.
A stripped down Toshinori Kondo's IMA spring to mind on re-listening, an intriguing mixture of funk, techno, experimental jazz.

• Stylo •

Blue Box is a cult. The name itself is a programme. For twenty years this band has succeeded in over layering each period with its music, much like the blue box technique used in film making. The jazz trio does not go along with the prevailing musical trends but cultivates styles that go against the drift and charts a new course. In the early eighties when DJ club jazz was still in its infancy, the new-age music produced by Blue Box upset the jazz purists. Some called it ‘techno jazz’, others ‘no wave funk’, and some ‘industrial dance’.

Their third album "Captured Dancefloor" reflected the rise of dancefloor jazz in the late 80s. Charismatic trumpet lines communicate with complex rhythms and driving bass grooves: The sound of Blue Box was way ahead of its time and soon turned this trio into a cult band.

nubox.com

01. Perpetuum Mobile
02. Dreamless Nights
03. Little Prince
04. Network
05. Going
06. Dance Floor
07. Criss Cross
08. Cheers
09. Thumbs Up
10. Samba
11. Cartoon


Reiner Winterschladen • Trumpet, Vocals
A member of the NDR Big Band since 1995, participated in numerous recordings for jazz labels, radio and TV. Over the years he played some very distinguished solos on albums of the Nighthawks, the Klaus König Orchestra and Ensemble Indigo

Alois Kott • Acoustic & Electric Bass
bass professor and founder of several ensembles, has been a professional musician for 30 years. He made recordings for ECM, Enja, Intuition and other labels and composed works of chamber music for the WDR.

Peter E. Eisold • Drums, Percussion & programming
is best known for his work on the experimental and alternative concert scene. He played with groups like the AOS Ensemble and Modern Percussion Quintet and was the drummer in Helge Schneider's Big Band.

Produced by  Blue Box


Purchase

Label: Tiptoe – CD 888 801
Format: 320
Country: Germany
Released: 1989
Genre: Jazz, Rock
Style: Future Jazz