Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Label: Spoon Records
Cat No.: XSPOON10
Format: Vinyl (2014 reissue)
Matrix/Stampers: (Side A, etched): XSPOON 10 A (stamped): – 30235 – (Side B, etched): XSPOON 10 B (stamped): – 30235 –
Can’s fifth studio album, Soon Over Babaluma, marks a pivotal moment in the band’s evolution—their first release following the departure of vocalist Damo Suzuki. Rather than seeking a replacement, Can embraced a new direction, allowing the music to take the lead. The result is a record that feels unburdened, exploratory, and deeply immersive.
The album opens with Dizzy Dizzy, a hypnotic groove laced with reggae inflections, featuring guitarist Michael Karoli’s airy, almost detached vocals. This leads into Come Sta, La Luna, where Irmin Schmidt takes the mic, guiding the track through a dreamlike bossa nova haze. These early moments showcase Can’s ability to integrate unexpected influences while maintaining their signature sound.
The energy truly ignites with Splash, a driving piece predominantly in 7/8 time. Built around a pulsing rhythmic foundation, it gradually unfolds into a mesmerizing jam, propelled by Karoli’s fluid guitar work and washes of Schmidt’s keyboards. But it’s Side Two where the album reaches its full transcendence—one of those rare musical journeys that listeners return to again and again.
Chain Reaction is a hypnotic, forward-pushing force, its relentless groove and exploratory guitar work foreshadowing the electronic music movements of the early ’80s. It seamlessly dissolves into Quantum Physics, a sprawling, ambient-laced soundscape that feels like a direct precursor to The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld. These two tracks, though distinct, flow together as a single, immersive piece—music that demands you take a moment, breathe, and simply absorb it.
Reflecting on the album, Schmidt, Can’s classically trained and Stockhausen-mentored keyboardist, noted that Soon Over Babaluma pushed the limitations of two-track recording. He expressed particular satisfaction with Dizzy Dizzy and Come Sta, La Luna, two tracks that highlight Can’s adaptability in the post-Suzuki era.
Ultimately, the band realized they didn’t need a conventional vocalist; their live performances were thriving without one, and their improvisational approach had taken on a life of its own. Schmidt, now 87, has since called Soon Over Babaluma “the last of our best albums.”
Can’s legacy continues with an ongoing series of live album releases via Mute/Future Days. For more details, visit Spoon Records.
4.4 out of 5.0 stars
