Krautrock #17: Can - Future Days

I was going to be a total meany here and only offer the title track; it takes up half of what would have been side one of the lp. For me it’s one of the groups finest moments. In contrast the end of the side Spray and Moonshake feel like codas. The monster track which almost didn’t make the cut is the twenty minute Bel Air which is more a suite of numbers, though it flows together in that unique Can style. Although the drumming is still propelling things along with some urgency, echoed by Karoli’s high guitar notes it still feels as if its grounded in some pastoral stasis. Maybe even floating in a lagoon. It approaches beauty for me in a way that surprises every time I listen. Anyway as long as you lot promise to buy the album I’m sure we can get away with a little more research material.
Two years on from Tago Mago and the sound has changed. I think this was the groups first use of a sixteen track studio (previously wonder-kid Czukay had had made do with only two tracks). The sound is consequently fuller without being slick. It could be down to a sheen of string synth type keyboards from Irmin Schmit, anyway it adds atmosphere without being intrusive
I’d say that this was a fully integrated album, the quintet are working as a cohesive unit and Damo has started singing actual English phrases, even if they still don’t mean anything.
Future Days was Suzuki’s last outing which hasn’t stopped him from trading on his reputation for the last 34 years, not bad for a vocalist (and more successfully than the only other similar singer that comes to mind Arthur Brown). If you like this album (and you’d better) then I’d point you to the mighty Vernal Equinox, two albums down the line on Landed - as being something of a lost masterpiece.
Future Days
Bel Air
ripped at 320 feel the force
djh