Ranked #86 in the Soul Strut 200

It took German experiemental rock group Can its third album to hit their stride.  1971's Tago Mago is a minimal, groove-heavy, atmospehric psychedelic ride that pushed the boundaries of rock and its recording techniques (recorded in a castle and it sounds like it!).  The album was so ahead of its time that it could be played today and fool listeners into think it was a new band.  Commanded by the crazed vocals of Damo Suzuki, the distinct powerfully tribal rhythms of Jaki Liebezeit, the thick grooves of bassist Holger Czukay, and the understated single coil guitar of Michael Karoli, Tago Mago starts off innocently enough with "Paperhouse" peaks mid album with 18 minute funky freak out "Halleluhwah" and goes full on experimental for the rest of the double album leaving the average listener dazed and confused. Its an approach and sound that is difficult to write about yet makes perfect sense.  Obviously, this album and the followup Ege Bamyasi got the most shine on here due to the intense proto-hip hop rhythms by Liebezeit, but with that aside the music is undeniably alluring and strangely beautiful.

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