Holger Czukay

Review: Last year saw the passing of two monumental figures in rock history, legendary drummer Jaki Liebezeit and bassist Holger Czukay, the unrivalled rhythm section of influential krautrock group Can. Following Czukay's death, Gronland Records offer 'Cinema', a five LP posthumous retrospective that spans fifty years of his recording career. Numerous tributes have cited Czukay as a crucial cult figure, famed for collaborations with artists in a broad field; David Sylvian, Jah Wobble, Brian Eno and Karlheinz Stockhausen are to name but a few. This compilation covers such a broad catalogue of released and unreleased material - his most popular being from the iconic 1979 record 'Movies' - that it's essential listening for Czukay and Can lovers alike, as well as a fine introduction to the man's body of work. Released the day before what would have been Czukay's 80th birthday, 'Cinema' serves as a respectful and fascinating insight into a musician and composer who consistently and intelligently defied description.