Soon Over Babaluma

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Soon Over Babaluma is the fifth studio album by the German rock group Can, released in November 1974. It followed the departure of vocalist Damo Suzuki in 1973. Guitarist Michael Karoli took on most of the singing, while Irmin Schmidt sang on one track. This was also Can’s last album made with a two‑track tape setup. The music pushes the ambient, open style they explored on Future Days, mixing moody, atmospheric passages with some livelier songs.

Background and production
After Suzuki left, Can auditioned several singers but decided Karoli would handle most vocals, with Schmidt singing on one track. The title, Soon Over Babaluma, comes from a playful conversation about words; the cover art shows a blue, surreal landscape lit by a distant star. The album’s vibe blends their ambient approach with more rhythmic, world-music textures.

Composition
- Dizzy Dizzy: Karoli sings here, and the track features percussive sounds created by Schmidt’s slide guitar effects. It’s one of the more vibrant, rhythmic pieces.
- Come sta, la luna: Schmidt sings this solemn piece, which uses a field recording from a German radio library to create a Palm Court–like atmosphere; a raven sound adds a nocturnal touch.
- Splash: An instrumental track that leans into ambient soundscapes.
- Chain Reaction: A long, trance‑leaning piece with a tribal feel; it’s often noted as a highlight and linked to Can’s interest in world music.
- Quantum Physics: Opens in a bright, major key and shifts to a darker minor mood, ending with a long drone that foreshadows later ambient music.

Lyrics
Dizzy Dizzy and Quantum Physics feature lyrics supplied by Duncan Fallowell, a friend of the band. Fallowell wrote in a free‑associative, fractal style. For Come sta, la luna, Schmidt wrote the words (sung by him and Karoli) and drew inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s dream of flight. The title and imagery—like references to the moon and space—echo the album’s surreal, cinematic feel.

Release and promotion
Can issued autographed promotional postcards after the release. In late September 1974, they began a 16‑date UK tour, finishing with a lengthy show at Hammersmith Palais. During the tour they recorded at Maida Vale Studios, producing material that would surface later as Return to BB City and Tape Kebab. A live performance of Quantum Physics from Brighton in 1975 was later released as Live in Brighton 1975 (2021).

Reception and legacy
At the time, some reviews were mixed, with some writers finding parts of the album hard to access. Retrospective reviews are generally very positive. AllMusic gives it a strong rating, and Pitchfork has highlighted the Chain Reaction/Quantum Physics pairing as a standout. Spin’s guide to Can’s work often places Soon Over Babaluma highly in the band’s catalog, while other critics offered more mixed takes. The album is seen by many fans as Can’s last great, cohesive statement of their early 1970s sound.

Legacy
The album’s influence reaches beyond Can. Mark E. Smith of The Fall once told Schmidt that Can saved his life, and Schmidt has called Soon Over Babaluma one of the last truly great Can records. In 2024, Rolling Stone listed Soon Over Babaluma among the 74 Best Albums of 1974, ranking it 47th. The record’s blend of rock, ambient textures, and world music ideas continues to be cited as a key moment in experimental rock.

Track listing (abbreviated)
- Side A: Dizzy Dizzy; Come sta, La Luna; Splash
- Side B: Chain Reaction; Quantum Physics

Personnel
- Can members: Michael Karoli (vocals on most tracks, violin, guitar, electric violin, backing vocals), Irmin Schmidt (organ, electric piano, Alpha 77, piano, electric percussion, vocals on one track), Jaki Liebezeit (percussion), Holger Czukay (bass)
- Production: Can (producers); Holger Czukay (chief engineer); Ulli Eichberger (artwork); Andreas Torkler (remastering)

Release history (highlights)
Launched as an LP in Europe in 1974, with U.S. release in 1975, followed by later CD and remastered editions. The album has since seen several reissues and formats, including a 2005 remaster on SACD.