The third in a series of official concert releases by
Can,
Live in Cuxhaven, 1976 is another real-time document of the group's creative process demonstrated in front of an audience. One has the opportunity to hear the group work out ideas, shifting through rhythms and moods, sometimes landing on patterns they would return to on their studio albums, and other times ending up elsewhere.
Jaki Liebezeit's fluid drumming keeps everything in motion, as the other members cycle through guitar riffs and try out synth textures, seeing what sticks and what doesn't work. The band definitely has chemistry, and every moment on this recording is driven and energetic, even if it seems to meander a bit. The album seems to stumble in on the group mid-jam, as scratchy guitars and glowing keyboards flow atop a strong rhythm. The second track is a bit darker and moodier, and has some shades of familiar chords and melodies that aren't fully fleshed out yet. "Drei" is much faster and looser, with a speedy, heavy backbeat and flailing guitar riffs, as well as some brief vocals that are easy to miss. The fourth piece has some bluesier riffs and some more daring synth experimentation, which seems to contrast with the more traditionally minded rhythm. And then the tape runs out, with the entire album stopping just shy of 30 minutes -- both of the previous live releases were three times longer than this one. What's here sounds fine, but it's nothing revelatory, and there aren't any sections that tap into some sort of divine inspiration. This may as well just be a bootleg recording of a dress rehearsal, certainly of interest to fans, but not one of
Can's essential releases. ~ Paul Simpson