Can - Tago Mago

Tago Mago was released in 1971 as a double album on United Artists Records. It was Can's second studio album and their first to feature vocalist Damo Suzuki as a full-time member. The album was recorded at Schloss Nörvenich, a castle near Cologne.

The core lineup on Tago Mago includes Jaki Liebezeit on drums, Holger Czukay on bass, Michael Karoli on guitar, Irmin Schmidt on keyboards, and Damo Suzuki on vocals. Liebezeit's motorik, hypnotic drumming is one of the record's defining characteristics. This lineup recorded three albums together before Suzuki's departure in 1973.

Tago Mago is widely cited as an influence by artists including Radiohead, the Talking Heads, the Fall, and Public Image Ltd. Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols famously praised it, helping bring Can to British punk and post-punk audiences. The album's blend of improvisation and rhythm also shaped later electronic and post-rock acts.

Tago Mago runs roughly 74 minutes across two LPs, with side four dominated by longer improvisational pieces like 'Aumgn' and 'Peking O.' 'Halleluwah' alone clocks in at over 18 minutes and is often considered the centerpiece of the album. The sprawling runtime is central to its reputation as a landmark avant-garde rock release.