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Tago Mago

Some mis-steps delayed my gaining a proper appreciation of Can. I'd heard their name mentioned more than once as influential innovators, but had no idea what was what in their back catalogue. The first thing of theirs I acquired was a cassette copy of Delay 1968, which I don't think I was quite ready for; nor, in any case, is it their finest work.

I'd evidently persuaded myself that their early stuff must be the best, as, six or seven years later I tried again, picking up Monster Movie on CD, and also the Unlimited Edition compilation.  The former, I thought, was more like it, though it still didn't quite hit the spot I'd hoped it might. A further seven or eight years passed before I happened to hear the track 'Future Days', which I loved, prompting me to buy the then-new SACD issue of the album with the same name. This was around the same time I'd belatedly discovered NEU!, Cluster, et al. I ordered a copy of Ege Bamyasi soon after.

And there, with my mind on other things, matters rested for another decade. One day, ca. 2015, Gideon Coe played the track 'Halleluwah' in full on his radio show and I listened with rapt attention throughout. An order for a copy of the 2004 SACD release of Tago Mago soon followed (I don't have an SACD player, and don't know if I'll ever get one - I just wanted the album in a format consistent with the two others of theirs I already owned). You don't need me to tell you what a wonderful thing this is. 'Halleluwah' remains my favourite track.

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