Holger Czukay, London Roundhouse

Holger Czukay

May 14, 2009

A three-hour sound collage by 72-year-old Holger Czukay of krautrock legends Can, it’s the unravelling of one of the most extraordinarily enthusiasm-infused rundowns you’re ever likely to witness.

As either an introduction to the German legend or a chronological hard-hitting realisation of his impact on electronica, the songs and visual accompaniments are interspersed with Czukay’s humourous, moving commentary.

His integrity, drive and wit are essentially screaming brilliance through the sonically boundless space of the Roundhouse.

The videos comprise a series of strikingly close close-ups of Czukay in inimitably dreamlike form, a foreword and biography on a unique, always pushing forward 50-year career. Ranging from his role as CAN’s founder and after leaving CAN, a solo pioneer, via way of Eno collaborator and Stockhausen afficionado, it’s astounding to watch, hear and think about; the joy he experiences when playing the gracious audience these flagship moments is almost tangible. A live remix of ‘Canaxis’ is absolutely astounding, to boot.

The catalogue takes us through headless hedonism (‘Ode To Perfume’), the sparse funk of ‘Mushroom’ and the sheer daftness of ‘Photosong’ – via some unreleased Can specials. Around a third of the way through this extravaganza, the woozy visuals are replaced with a water droplet-afflicted clone of Czukay, ever surreal.

The pioneer of shortwave radio sounds and sampling is a reverable figure, even at this stage of his life. His little anecdotes about major labels telling him to make records with the Pope amuse, confound and astound in equal measure, and it’s breathtaking to hear him talk of his reverence for the great Stockhausen.

The free improvisation that defines Can and Czukay to an extent is as chronologically anti-structured as possible within the confines of a setlist here at the Roundhouse tonight. The whole experience is closer to that of an incessant series of hallucinations over the period of a god’s life.

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