- 1970 German original pressing
Soundtracks is a soundtrack album by the Krautrock group Can. It was first released in 1970 and consists of tracks written for various films. The album marks the departure of the band's original vocalist Malcolm Mooney, who sings on two tracks, to be replaced by new member Damo Suzuki.
Released in 1970, "Soundtracks" stands as a pivotal moment in the career of the German experimental rock band Can, and in the broader landscape of Krautrock. A soundtrack album by nature, it captures the band's unique approach to music composition for film, while also showcasing a period of transition and musical exploration.
Historical Context
"Soundtracks" emerged during a fertile period for West German cinema, often referred to as the New German Cinema movement. Filmmakers were pushing boundaries, exploring social and political themes, and Can's music proved to be a perfect complement to this spirit of experimentation. The album features compositions created for films like "Deadlock" (directed by Roland Klick) and "Deep End" (directed by Jerzy Skolimowski).
Musical Exploration
The album is marked by a distinct shift in Can's sound. It sees the departure of their original vocalist, Malcolm Mooney, who lends his voice to two tracks, "Soul Desert" and "She Brings the Rain." His raw, expressive style contrasts with the more ethereal and improvisational vocals of Damo Suzuki, who makes his debut on the remaining tracks. This juxtaposition highlights the band's willingness to embrace change and explore new sonic territories.
Genre-Bending Soundscapes
Musically, "Soundtracks" embodies the eclectic spirit of Krautrock. It melds elements of psychedelic rock, funk, jazz, and avant-garde experimentation. The band's rhythm section, featuring the propulsive drumming of Jaki Liebezeit and the melodic basslines of Holger Czukay, anchors the music, while the dual guitars of Michael Karoli and Irmin Schmidt create a tapestry of atmospheric textures and hypnotic riffs.
The album's most iconic track, "Mother Sky," is a sprawling, 14-minute odyssey that epitomizes Can's improvisational approach. It's a trance-inducing journey through shifting rhythms, swirling soundscapes, and Suzuki's otherworldly vocals.
Production Team and Recording Studio
Can produced "Soundtracks" themselves, a testament to their DIY ethos and desire for creative control. The album was recorded at their own Inner Space Studios in Cologne, a converted cinema that became the band's creative hub. This environment allowed them to experiment freely, resulting in the album's unique sonic character.
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Music Genre: Krautrock , Psych, Acid, Movie Soundtrack |
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Album Production Information: The album: "CAN - Soundtracks" was produced by: The CAN for Prom, Recorded at Inner Space Studios Album Cover Design: Albert Leuthenmayr |
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Record Label & Catalognr: Liberty LBS 83 437 |
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Media Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone RecordTotal Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
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Year & Country: 1970 Made in Germany |
Band Members and Musicians on: CAN - Soundtracks |
CAN's Line-up:
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Complete Track Listing of: "CAN - Soundtracks" |
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The Songs/tracks on "CAN - Soundtracks" are
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This is the front cover of the 1970 vinyl album Soundtracks by the German experimental rock band CAN, released by Liberty Records. The design is vibrant and unmistakably rooted in psychedelic aesthetics, using bold, contrasting colors and surreal visuals.
The background is a deep, vivid blue. Dominating the top section is the band’s name, CAN, and the album title SOUNDTRACKS, written in an exaggerated, all-caps 3D-style font. The letters are in a striking combination of red and yellow, creating a pop-out effect. In the top-right corner, the Liberty Records logo appears in white against blue, with the word “STEREO” above it.
The central image features a large spherical shape resembling a distorted, globe-like reel of photographic film. This sphere contains multiple horizontal film strips, each with repeating frames showing sequences of human figures in various poses. These look like snapshots from different film scenes, reinforcing the album's theme as a collection of soundtrack pieces.
Scattered around the spherical film reel are the names of the films from which the tracks originate: Cream, Bottom, Deep End, Deadlock, and Mädchen mit Gewalt. These are written in a bold serif font in bright pink or red, providing visual balance to the intense central motif.
The entire composition evokes a sense of cinematic mystery and avant-garde creativity, perfectly aligning with CAN’s experimental Krautrock sound.
This is a photograph of the back cover of the album "Soundtracks" by the band Can. The cover is primarily a light blue color, and the text on it is in black and white.
In the upper left corner, there's a section of text that reads:
"CAN SOUNDTRACKS" is the second album of the CAN but not album no. two. "CAN SOUNDTRACKS" means a collection of title songs and soundtracks from the first five movies for which THE CAN wrote and made music. Album no. two will be released in the beginning of 1971.
To the right of this text, there's a track listing divided into two columns, labeled "Side 1" and "Side 2". The track titles and durations are listed. Below the track listing, there's more text describing the origins of some of the tracks from movies like "Cream" and "Mädchen mit Gewalt".
In the lower half of the image, there are five individual black and white photos of the band members. From left to right, we see:
Damo Suzuki, who is seated and appears to be singing into a microphone. He has long dark hair and is wearing a dark outfit.
Next to him is Michael Karoli, who is bending over and appears to be adjusting or working on some equipment. He has short dark hair and is wearing a light-colored shirt.
Jaki Liebezeit is seated, facing away from the camera, and appears to be playing an instrument. He has long dark hair and is wearing a dark outfit.
Irmin Schmidt is standing and appears to be playing an instrument. He has long dark hair and is wearing a light-colored shirt.
Finally, Holger Czukay is seated, facing the camera, and appears to be holding or adjusting something. He has long dark hair and a beard, and is wearing a light-colored shirt and dark pants.
At the very bottom right, there's a logo for Liberty Records.
The entire image is well-lit and the text is clear and legible.
This is a close-up photograph of the record label on Side One of the vinyl LP "Soundtracks" by the band Can. The label is predominantly black with white text and a small amount of color.
At the very top, there's a thin band of text in German that wraps around the top half of the label's circumference. It reads: "URHEBER- UND LEISTUNGSSCHUTZRECHTE, BESONDERS VERVIELFÄLTIGUNG (AUSSER ZUM PERSÖNL. GEBRAUCH), VERMIETUNG, AUFFÜHRUNG, SENDUNG VORBEHALTEN."
Directly below this text, in the center of the label, is the word "STEREO" in white capital letters.
Beneath "STEREO", the album title "THE CAN - SOUNDTRACKS" is printed in white capital letters.
To the left of the center hole, there's a small logo for Liberty Records, featuring a stylized image of the Statue of Liberty in white on a multicolored background. Below the logo, the word "LIBERTY" is written in white.
To the right of the center hole, the catalog number "LBS 83 437 I" is printed twice, once in a larger font and once in parentheses below it. To the right of the catalog number, there's the number "1", indicating Side One.
Below the center hole, the GEMA logo is visible.
The track listing is printed in white text in the lower half of the label. It includes the track titles, durations, and the films they are from, such as "Deadlock", "Tango Whiskyman", and "Soul Desert".
At the bottom of the label, it reads "All Compositions written and arranged by The Can", "Produced by The Can for Prom", and "Recorded at Inner Space Studios".
The entire label has a slightly textured appearance, typical of vinyl records.
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