Ja ne, Damo

We’re branching off a bit here from the “normal” posts that you typically see on our site. This essay is not purely about travel, even though travel will, indeed show its face soon enough. Let’s set a marker that music is a big deal for us, as we assume it is for you. It just makes life better, especially when the musicians take a left turn from the “standard” music that permeates the repetitive and derivative music scene nowadays.

Youth! Look away. This post talks about musicians who know how to play guitars, or drums, or keyboards or any number of meatspace instruments where you need to master the instrument, rather than press a button. And, going even further, these unusual people often wander into places unknown, where – if you don’t sit down and truly listen – the outputs will sound like someone is strangling a cat, or throwing an automobile down an outdoor staircase. Or, it just may be one individual screaming at the top of their lungs. Noise to most, fresh air to real music fans. So, with great sadness, we say goodbye to a free spirit who encompassed all of that and more.

Yesterday, February 10, 2024, German musician Damo Suzuki left our planet (and journyed to his own.) Originally a free-form multi-media artist, he eventually joined German experimental rock band, Can which was formed in Cologne in 1968. The band was not initially embraced by the music world, but over time their genius captured millions around the globe. But, even if he and the band were somewhat in the shadows, musicians like David Bowie, Radiohead and Talking Heads have all pointed to the German group as influence. Needless to say, they’re excellent. Ja ne, Damo – which means see you later in Japanese.*

Here is the man himself. Keeping progressive rock wild. お休みなさいませ

Some content courtesy of wikipedia.org