Stephen Malkmus has loved Can’s 1972 album Ege Bamyasi for a long, long time. In 1992, before hardly anyone knew who Malkmus was, he told Simon Reynolds in Melody Maker, “All that German music is really important to us. . . . I played Can’s Ege Bamyasi album every night before I went to sleep for about three years.”
Last year was the 40th anniversary of the album’s release, so late last year Malkmus visited Week-End Fest in Can’s home town, Cologne, Germany, and covered the full album, backed by Cologne band Von Spar.
The album was relesed in a vinyl limited edition for Record Store Day. The charming cover was designed by David Shrigley.
About halfway through this video, Malkmus tackles a couple of questions about covering the album before being adorably attacked by his own daughter.
Here’s Malkmus doing Can’s “One More Night”:
Here’s his “Pinch” and “Soup”:
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Choose your own adventure as Can’s Damo Suzuki