Wednesday 8 August 2012

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.
read more@Head Heritage

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