Doom & Gloom From the Tomb

CAN - Olympia Theatre, Paris, FR, May 12, 1973

Got a request to re-up this one a while back, but never got around to it. But Infinite Fool’s got it for you now! Here’s what I wrote the first time around. 

All hail Jaki Liebezeit! No slur on the rest of Can’s amazingly talented lineup, but listening to this fine, fine 1973 recording of the band in Paris, I’m in awe of the drummer’s endurance, imagination and pure awesomeness. He lays down a bed of rhythms that is both rock-solid and light as air. All that his bandmates have to do is ride the wave. And ride it they do, especially on the opening 35-minute (!) “Queuing Down,” a jam that splits the difference between “Sister Ray” and the electric explorations of Miles Davis’ Agharta-era band. Or something like that! It might just be indescribable. This recording comes from the Ege Bamayasi tour, which means that it captures Can at pretty much the height of their powers as a live act. Exploratory, expansive and exciting — CANNNNNnnnnn.