‘Mushroom’ - Can, 1971
This is the song that got me into Can [Wikipedia link], a very influential ‘krautrock‘ band. The drumbeat is so shuffly and slinky, and Damo Suzuki’s vocals give it a real otherworldly feel. My impression is that the song is about about a nuclear attack - “mushroom head” kind of gives it away. ‘Course, it could be about a guy who likes the ’shrooms. Either way, you’ve got to give Suzuki credit for his oblique lyrics.The explosion that starts the next song on Tago Mago (the equally brilliant ‘Oh Yeah’) leads me to believe it’s the former explanation.
Can are a hard band to get into, I’m finding. While I like the Tago Mago album, there are a couple of 15-minute-plus songs that are quite laborious. Nonetheless, the album is considered a classic, as is the Ege Bamyasi and Future Days (the last with Suzuki as lead singer) albums.
So, 15-minute-plus songs, ponderous concepts, incomprehensible album titles? Yep, it’s definitely on the pretentious side. Anyway, here’s the mandatory Youtube link. Enjoy!
Last 5 posts by Dave
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