Movies is the second album by Holger Czukay, released in 1979 through Electrola. Holger Schüring (24 March 1938 – 5 September 2017), known professionally as Holger Czukay (/ˈʃʊkaɪ/),[3] was a German musician best known as a co-founder of the krautrock group Can. Described as "successfully bridg[ing] the gap between pop and the avant-garde", Czukay was also notable for having created early important examples of ambient music, for having explored "world music" well before the term was coined, and for having been a pioneer of sampling.
Oh, thank god! Finally something weird. This 1001 album experiment works best for me when there's something I've never heard, or even better, never heard *of*. The layers, the sampling, the clear influences of people like Zappa, this is fantastic stuff. Instant add to my library.
This album must have JUST been added because as I'm writing this there is only one other person who has left a review here. How lucky for me <3 I liked Future Days a ton, and most of Tago Mago. I can see some slight similarity between Can and this guy's solo work, but of course it's not on the same level, as is usual with solo albums from members of awesome bands. I liked the two long tracks well enough. I didn't care for the two shorter ones much. Probably won't return to this one. I'm gonna go listen to some more classic krautrock now
In the (technically) solo debut of the leader of the krautrock giant CAN, he follows many of the artsy electronic principles that CAN was so renowned in its innovation, but incorporates that with more accessible genres, including Bowie-esque disco in "Cool in the Pool" or world music in "Persian Love." I like how distinct each of the 4 songs is in style, but I never felt bored or tired of any of them. The jammy space rock "Oh Lord Give Us Money" was both soothing and intriguing to see which direction they'll go. "Holly Symphony", the most intense of the songs, reminded me heavily of afrobeat and disco. The most remarkable aspect is the innovation in sampling, which was still very new in 1979, and yet he spams it all over this record in a way that seems to work from my perspective, likely influencing old school hip hop like Malcolm McLaren.
Krautrock tends to cross paths with progressive rock a lot, since they take inspiration from each other at different points in time. So I’m pretty familiar with this kind of music. And Holger Czukay’s previous group Can has ventured into prog territory before, so I went into this album keeping an ear open for it. But I didn’t find much that really “popped” from the album. A lot of meandering, like uninspired jazz, permeated about the record. And while it didn’t sound bad, it didn’t really do much to sound good either. A shame, I guess. Back to “Future Days” for my kraut-prog fix then.
I'm often a fan of experimental music but this was terrible. Experimental albums usually have their high points and their low points, this was just the latter. Just seems to be rambling, directionless, no emotion/soul behind it.
I love Holger, he was the secret sauce in Can; the engineer, the editor, the true experimenter. Here he's using samples in a way that was way ahead of its time. Before even Eno and Byrne made their acclaimed "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" (81). You know Eno listened to this and took notes.
Dat slechte accent! ‘Koelllll in ze poelllll’.
10/10 super funky, super weird, based af
That was really cool
Really enjoyed this - lighthearted and innovative at the same time. I love the idea that he was improvising scores for his amusement as he watched movies. I think "Cool in the Pool" is my new favorite song.
I liked basically everything about this recording, from the careening vibe to the great sample work. Let's get cooooool... in the pool
I was prepared to not like this album because I don't usually listen to this genre. I had heard some tracks from his former band Can and I was not impressed. Was I wrong. Every track on this album is amazing. It is the perfect marriage of experimentation and pop music.
Track 2 is insane. This album is a trip in itself.
Quirky and idiosyncratic, I really liked this.
Surprisingly, it's much more enjoyable than I thought. The songs were interesting with various sections on the longer songs and although a little avant garde, it's one that was fun to listen to with nice guitars and other idiosyncratic sounds.
Plus one for a wild playlist
I know Can but I have never heard a solo album from Holger Czukay yet. This is the type of music I like to discover during my 1001 albums challenge so it was a nice surprise. It is something different, strange, interesting, experimental. It's not amongst the very best albums I've listened so far but it is definitely those albums that it deserves higher ratings. 7.0-7.5/10.
Whoa, this was a cool album! Very early, proto-electronica type stuff. Never heard of this guy, but I'm impressed. The opening track reminded me of that silly Autobahn song by Kraftwerk, aside from that I found myself digging all the other (three) tracks on the album. I appreciate an album with a few, long tracks like this. A lot of strange instrumental sounds and textures, just like a mad scientist goofing around in his lab. There's cool stuff all over this. Shout out to Holger man, this was a pleasant surprise. Favorite tracks: Persian Love, Oh Lord Give Us More Money, Hollywood Symphony. Album art: I take it that's Holger himself, and he seems to be looking at a tv screen from inches away. It's really weird, but I really like it. His handlebar mustache and slicked back hair is giving me comfort, reminding me that this space-age stuff is coming from the '70s. 4/5
Gets off to quite the light-hearted start for being so Teutonic, no? But the larky, novelty-act effect is gone after a few songs -- "Persian Love" continues is deeper and more interesting fare in a slightly exotic vein and "Hollywood Symphony" sprawling and cool. Overall, this is weird and wonderful-ish particularly if one hears in the right mood/context.
A very mixed bag but 'Hollywood Symphony' is an absolute gem.
I thought this was going to suck. I kinda dug it. A little out there, but not too far out there. I probably would've liked this in my early 20's when I was into anything remotely "weird". I'll give it a 4. It's about a 3 for personal enjoyment but the overall score so far is too harsh.
What a great album. Not an aficionado of Can, maybe I should dig deeper. Can hear elements of Zappa in this.
In some ways, I liked this more than Future Days. The variety of music really showed off where the music could be taken, this is definitely my favorite experimental album so far (it's also the most pop-y). Each track has at least one interesting part. Persian Love is beautiful, the middle to end of Hollywood symphony is great, Oh Lord Give Us More Money is insane and Cool in the Pool is generally fun. Someday, I may get this kind of music.
I was prepared to shoot this album down. But as I listened to each track, I found "Movies" to be light and inventive. You can write the whole thing off as an experimental prog-rock cut-and-paste job, I suppose; instead, try to get in a playful mood and have fun with it.
Mukava nähdä hauskojakin levyjä tällä listalla taas, ja varsinkin kun on musikaalisesti mielenkiintoinen myös! Varsinainen kollaasi. 4/5
Täähän oli upea! Ihan Canin veroista. Pihtaan vielä vitosta, mutta saattaisi joskus noustakin.
Great Experimental avant type stuff, but may be lacking a special something to drag me back.
First of all - terrible vocal, really off-putting. But otherwise, it's a nice combination of songs on this album. We're starting with a nice and short funky track, then we move into some psychedelic territories (best song in "Movies" by far). Later on we have more experimental electronic stuff, which is not my favourite, but thanks to solid start sounded quite nicely. Good album, a positive surprise.
Huh. I don't know what to make of it, but I like it. Four tracks of bizarre samples and jazz, but pleasant listening. Oh it's from a Can man. Makes sense.
I remember one time I was doing so much cocaine with Holger Czukay, that I forgot that I was fucking his daughter and showed him a bunch of dirty pictures of her on my phone. He punched me in the mouth.
wonderfully batshit. like captain beefheart refined by some berlin bowie.
4.5
Whatever the hell this is, I love it. This is what I love about this album. Here I was, not expecting to hear 70's funk cowboy porn music but this is how I round out my week. 4/5.
Except for being way too long, I got a strange enjoy from this record. Never heard it before, never heard of Holger Czukay before, but I’ve already listed through the record twice. My very first reaction was “what IS this weirdness?” That continues to be my reaction. But I guess I kind of like that weirdness.
Bewildering and funny. Great musicianship and some nice melodies amongst the chaos.
I've nver heard of Holger Czukay before and nothing on the album Movies was familiar to me. There is a chance I might come back to this album because I don't quite know what to do with it. The opening track "Cool in the Pool" was a little silly, but did not completely distract from the overall listening experience. I don't know how to classify what I've heard. With the various clips of dialog laced throughout the album, I was reminded a little of Friends of Mr. Cairo (Jon and Vangelis), but not entirely in that category either. I do like longer tracks in general, because of the opportunities for the musicians to experiment and explore. I liked the longer tracks here. I'm rounding up to 4 stars.
El segundo álbum del cofundador de la banda de Krautrock, Can, es una recopilación sorprendente de sampleos y extractos teatrales que construyen paisajes exóticos y envolventes, adelantándose al género del ambient y el de la “música global”. Sin duda, un indispensable del catálogo de los 1001 álbumes.
Not what I expected at all! Great experimental album.
Sounds like an overly complex ambient-electronica album. Like most experimental music, it's quite interesting and it has ups and downs. A notable up is of course the surprisingly charming oriental inspired "Persian Love".
Didn’t like it, didn’t hate it, and I appreciate the presence of original ideas here even if they don’t all land. 5/10
Not a single movie on this album just music
Homien til David Sylvian, jo. Gøy å endelig få hørt litt. Masse bra synth på siste sangen
Top Three Songs: 1) Persian Love 2) Hollywood Symphony 3 ) Cool in the Pool Bottom Three Songs: 1) Oh Lord, Give Us More Money 2) Cool in the Pool 3) Hollywood Symphony
Surprisingly nice and pleasant music! I’ll put it this way, it’s way better than the bulk of the crap “music” I’ve been served with here.
I’m a big fan of Krautrock and Can in particular but this just didn’t quite measure up for me. I enjoyed the idiosyncratic bits and the electronic art rock format, but there’s just something missing from this. It was a fun listen to though and I can see why this album is on this list.
Four songs for 40 minutes, not bad except I remember I skipped two of the songs so this album felt really quick. I liked Persian Love but more so for the samples than the actual song. I can kind of see how this one snuck on this list but it makes me want Sabbath again.
I mean, that song about the pool was fantastic. Put that in a movie right now, please. The rest? Eh. But I’m all for more EPs on this list.
A dopey song about a swimming pool followed by three largely shapeless, tuneless longform tracks that veer between sublime, boring and eccentric? Honestly, quite the chad move.
Cool in the Pool was sort of fun. And even though the rest of it didn't hold my attention, what I did hear was interesting. But there's not much to come back to for me.
Not much I can say about this. I am confused but not displeased
This gets at least 2 stars just because of his bitching mustache. The music itself is fine, good even! I think I liked this better than the actually Can album on the list (Future Days). Wouldn't turn off if it came up on a playlist, but also probably wouldn't personally put it on a playlist. THREE IS MY JUDGEMENT
Interesting, but not entirely for me Fav track: Cool in the Pool
This was a silly album that didn't make much impression, but the first song was so ridiculous and entertaining I listened twice and that's gotta be worth an extra star
It’s a bit ridiculous, but a little fun too. I was leaning toward a 2 initially but it charmed me to a 3.
I came into “Movies” as a cautious fan of Holger Czukay’s work as the co-founder, bassist and visionary engineer of Can. Those delicious, neverending grooves in “Halleluhwah”, “I’m So Green”, “Mother Sky” and many more, as well as the widescreen, immersive soundscapes of “Aumgn”, “Peking O”, “Bel Air”… they were mostly down to Czukay. Reading that he went on to become a prominent early force in sampling, becoming a big influence on Eno among others, I was expecting a proto “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts” to sink my teeth into. I was not- repeat, NOT- expecting “Cool in the Pool”: a blissed out funk jam that treads an uncomfortable line between the ridiculous and the sublime. Interspersing crystal clear funk rhythm guitar with bursts of abrasive synth, brass and various vocal tics shouldn’t work… but it somehow does, right up until the jarring “cutaway” ending. At first baffling, on subsequent listens it’s got under my skin. Credit to Czukay: placing material like this alongside the rest of the tracks here is how to truly confound an audience. The remaining three pieces are much more expansive, moving through a bucketload of moods and motifs like a five year old with a pick n mix. Speech samples are woven throughout, alongside distracted vocal hooks or instrumental lead parts. Every time we appear to be grounded in a primary chorus or hook, the idea is abandoned and we’re off somewhere else. It’s a restless, sometimes frustrating album which also starts to really sag somewhere in the middle. “Oh Lord, Give Us More Money” peters out towards the end, lacking a satisfying climax, while “Hollywood Symphony” rarely sticks with a groove for long enough to sink in, going all over the map with little sense of purpose. “Persian Love”- supposedly exemplifying Czukay’s interest in the music of other cultures- is a pleasant diversion and groove, but nothing otherworldly. “Movies” may not feel as groundbreaking or “out there” as I would have expected- particularly in the context of Czukay’s earlier career with Can- but it’s mostly an intriguing listen, a sonic journey where you have to get out and walk a little way for the best views. Perhaps further listens will bring it up in the ranks, but for now it strikes me as a middling effort from a singular mind.
avant guard, fun
When I was browsing the Wikipedia page for this album as I do when time permits, I was wondering why all the players' name links showed I'd visited them already. Then figured out this was pretty much just more CAN. Which there was already plenty of on this list. Try as I might I can't get into it. Too much of it just seems silly and affected.
Anyone who can try to make experimental music more accessible deserves commendation. But many of the most interesting nuggets of ideas are lost among aimless noodling.
Usually you're in for a bad time when all Wikipedia can tell you is that it's "art rock," but this wasn't terrible. Best track: Hollywood Symphony
This was an enjoyable listen. I had not heard of the artist or heard any of his music, and given the year in which it was released, I can hear how it was at the forefront of a few popular trends to come. Very talented composer, arranger, and performer.
kinda cool actually its like a predecessor to prog rock with a bunch of electronics and rock mixed
Very interesting and playful. I enjoy the backstory of the album and can really see it reflected in the sound. I'm not sure it's something I'd seek out often but it's a really unique vibe that I can definitely see myself returning to someday.
Quirky and unusual, but infinitely more approachable than the Can album we previously experienced. Though Cool in the Pool is mostly weird on the first listen, it did grow on me a bit. Persian Love seems the best of the rest, though overall reasonably interesting.
Weird experimental music that sometimes hits the marks and other times misses it completely.
Very experimental, preferred the shorter tracks to the 10+ minute ones
Weird, experimental, kinda goofy at times.
interesting more than good but defo a 3
I didn't hate that nearly as much as I thought I was going to. Eclectic and musical enough to be intriguing throughout and not get boring.
Never heard of him, uneven listening
Pretty good
It's some music alright. Good for a single listen since the songs just meander into different shapes and forms, but not much to bring me back to it. 5/10
A bit weird
Some interesting and at times pretty entertaining experimentation here, but overall maybe a little lacklustre for me. If the opening track comes on at a party though it’ll be hard not to go mental. Fave track: Cool in the Pool
krautrock. Popurrí instrumental. Ni fu ni fa.
Really weird. But…… I kinda liked it?
Feels like a national progression for a member of Can, but skirts into early fascinations with world music which feel quite meh today. Lots of neat ideas but it doesn't really coalesce into something I'd frequently want to hear.
Got weirder as it progressed but still not so weird or bad to rate it down
Cool fusion album, in the format of classic jazz works. It was a good listen, but nothing I would necessarily go back to.
It's some pretty alright experimental, but it's a far cry from CAN
Niet slecht, maar ook niet persé zeer goed
Alistaa meikäpojan.. pakko antaa respect.. avantgarde.. viimeine kapale uskomaton.. konsanaan..
Really weird, yet I still liked it.
Innovative and exuberantly weird. Nicely crafted blend of the pleasing and the dissonant, with a good dose of whimsy. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Cool in the Pool; Persian Love; Oh Lord, Give Us More Money; Hollywood Symphony
This was very strange. Like really really out there weird. But there is something compelling in it, I didn't hate the thing. I'm not planning on listening to it anytime soon, but there is just something about it.
I never hard this one before but I'm a causal fan of CAN, so this wasn't completely novel for me. I rather enjoyed it not as much as the early CAN records. Though more than likely in 6 months I probably won't recall listening to it.
Odd, but not offputting. Interesting to see that the 5ish minute long tracks have a couple million listens while the 10 minute plus tracks have a few tens of thousands. Same opinion for me; I prefer the 2 shorter tracks.
interesting. Not my everyday style
This is super weird in the best way. It holds together really well and holds up despite being from the 70s. Probably won't listen again, but this was good.
Nice to hear something new
Crazy sampling album. No idea who Holger was prior to listening to this. I'll check out his other works.
3.5 - I can see why this record would have impressed other artists with its colorful display of electronic ambience and sampledelia. It sounds like Czukay intentionally kept these compositions rough, noodling between sour notes on guitar and smatterings of synth sounds that don't layer so much as slosh around. Moby would take these ideas decades later and add a professional sheen on "Play", effectively sanitizing this record's more shaggy/human elements. For me, this project is a mixed bag. I admire its playfulness but find it overall pretty goofy, with the exception of "Persian Love", which is a stunning reinterpretation of traditional folk music that blends Persian and African influences as well as novel electronics.
That first song was amazingly strange. I loved it. After that there wasn’t much I was excited about.
More of a soundtrack vibe than an album vibe. It started out strong and continued to have strong parts throughout, but also a couple rather annoying sections such as the Hawaiian bar sounds (?) on Persian Love. Overall, not a horrible experience, but not something I really needed to hear either.
Was expecting a “noodling” CAN/ELP/YES-style escapade and it was better than expected, but still a bit weird. First song was fairly funky, but I’m not going to be listening again. 2.5 stars.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I may. I was dreading going into this with what I assumed to be mostly instrumentals and they turned out to be my favorite part of the album. It's so weird with beeps and bloops and what seems like an entire sampling board being throw into a song. If this book wants to include all kinds of music, this weird avant-garde shit has to be in there too. I don't necessarily connect with the music, but it's interesting to listen to.
Not to my taste tbh. Too many styles colliding
Interesting guitar, not quite like anything I familiar with. Wouldn't seek it out, but didnt hate it. Had a Caribbean vibe to it, but says its Persian/Krautrock
Double digit songs are bad but this has some good parts
This was... Interesting. Not actually GOOD, mind. Avant garde noodly meandering funk almost? Although it covers quite a few genres, I suppose. And it definitely has really cool moments, I think. But 40 minutes of it? Nah.
Es curioso como funciona esto de las influencias. Un disco puede ser la cosa mas extraña a los oídos modernos, pero basta con que haya sido escuchado por un artista en ciernes para que cualquier aspecto que le ha llamado la atención se contagie como se contagia una idea. Como un meme. Imagino que algo así ha pasado con este disco, pero el sitio proporciona poca información al respecto y no tengo el libro en mi poder. El disco está compuesto de 4 temas que varían en duración, siendo el tercero, Persian Love, el único que me ha gustado. El resto los califico como experimentos no exitosos, intentos de exploración que no terminan de cuajar.