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Magma

It was in 1970 that the explosive compound of a cavernous bass and a hammering beat erupted from our record players, as an otherworldly voice chanted in a mysterious language, the sound swelling with incandescent guitar riffs and the full force of a brass section. Thus began a first, double album, quite simply entitled Magma.

Its strangeness and creative force meant that Magma would never appeal to everyone but the Parisian group’s landmark debut immediately guaranteed them a place in music history. Hailing from such diverse musical backgrounds as jazz, classical, blues, rock and pop, the eight founding musicians had all the talent required to bring this unique and visionary music to life. The band has since gone through an almost constant stream of personnel changes, but the alumni list looks like a who’s who of top caliber French musicians. So common was it for musicians to subsequently launch their careers as sidemen or soloists that people sometimes refer to the Magma school of music

In 1973, Magma gained international recognition with Mekanïk Destruktïẁ Kommandöh. Produced by eccentric impresario, Giorgio Gomelsky, this extended suite of devastating power dropped yet another musical bombshell. The brass was toned down to give the choir, driven by an implacable rhythm, pride of place; this was the first album to feature the voice of Stella Vander.

Between 1974 and 1979 the group experienced its most intense period of work, both in the studio and on stage: Ẁurdah Ïtah, a quartet which provided the score for the film Tristan et Iseult; Köhntarkösz, an album dominated by its somber and majestic title piece. Üdü Ẁüdü was the culmination of the perfect symbiosis between Christian Vander and Jannik Top, including the legendary De Futura. Attahk, with cover design by Swiss surrealist painter H.R. Giger brought this cycle to a close, along with the magnificent live recording of the 1975 concert, Magma Live. After taking time out to focus on various related projects (Christian Vander Trio, Offering, Les Voix de Magma) and to build the “live” archive (Konzert Zünd, a definitive box set of 12 CDs released in Christmas 2015), Magma returned in 1985 with Merci.

Since 1996 MAGMA has returned to the stage with a group of talented young musicians, playing the mythic works of the 70s repertoire, as well as new material, to an audience mainly comprised of young people.

Between 2005 and 2015 were released 5 albums:

K.A. The hypnotic tension, the explosive climaxes, the fantastic pyrotechnic drumming, the massive and intricate vocal arrangements, the gut-wrenching bass lines and the classical pomposity fused with almost jungle-strength R n’ B – all the hallmarks of Christian Vander’s special genius are found here intact.

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Album Review

Various Artists: Hur! Hommage a la Musique de Christian Vander

Read "Hur! Hommage a la Musique de Christian Vander" reviewed by John Kelman


When French drummer/composer Christian Vander put together the first incarnation of his since-enduring group Magma, releasing Kobaïa (Seventh Records) in 1970, it's unlikely that he'd have known the musical subculture he was spawning. A unique blend of fusion, neoclassicism, symphonic, and progressive rock, heavily reliant on relentless repetition and chanting in Vander's created Kobaïan language, Zeuhl has evolved into a musical label, not just attached to Magma's science fiction-driven universe, but also to Magma-influenced groups from countries including France (Minimum ...

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3

Recording

MAGMA Announce Lavish 50th Anniversary Vinyl Box Set Of 'Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh'

MAGMA Announce Lavish 50th Anniversary Vinyl Box Set Of  'Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh'

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

MAGMA is making the world of progressive music a massive birthday present in celebration of their iconic third album in the shape of a lavish box set, which is limited to 2,000 copies. Entitled Une histoire de Mekanïk – 50 Years of Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh, the French avant-garde pioneers and inventors of zeuhl follow the trail of their classic full-length from the remastered original recording through decades of various incarnations on 7 vinyl LPs! MAGMA comment: “With this box set, ...

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Recording

Magma 'Bourges 1979' (2CD) Remastered Edition Now Available

Magma 'Bourges 1979' (2CD) Remastered Edition Now Available

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

This particular concert stands out as a moment of grace, partly due to its extreme tension and the risks taken collectively, which the audience still reminisces of to this day. While chosen for their rich and original musical content, rather than strictly technical qualities per se, these archives are a testament to the astounding talent of cult band Magma during its 50 year career. In addition to the remastering, the original tape, which had suffered before being found, has been ...

2

Recording

Magma's “AKT XVIII - Marquee - Londres 17 Mars 1974” 2CD Now Available on Seventh Records

Magma's “AKT XVIII - Marquee - Londres 17 Mars 1974” 2CD Now Available on Seventh Records

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

In the ongoing series of rare live Magma recordings, AKT XVIII- Marquee- Londres 17 mars 1974 2-CD is now available on Seventh Records! At the time of this concert, “Köhntarkösz” was still in its phase of elaboration, although the recording of the studio album began only 2 months later. Large sequences were still not composed, others were borrowed from “Köhntarkösz Anteria” and were taken away, then used later in the “K. A” recording of 2004. In a similar way, “Theusz ...

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Performance / Tour

French Music Legends Magma To Perform With The Mëtalïk Orkestra At The Olympia In Paris - February 2 & 3, 2017

French Music Legends Magma To Perform With The Mëtalïk Orkestra At The Olympia In Paris - February 2 & 3, 2017

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Bands and trends might come and go, but some of it is meant to stay. Far beyond a mere jolt to the music world or a fad phenomenon, Magma imposed themselves as early as the 1970's thanks to their unconventional and cliché-free approach to music. An unparalleled music, which is as violent as it is clever. Founded by drummer and singer Christian Vander, the band quickly set itself apart from its contemporaries through heavy and ruthless polyrhythmic beats. With a ...

3

Performance / Tour

French Music Legends Magma To Play Select North American Dates Spring 2015

French Music Legends Magma To Play Select North American Dates Spring 2015

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France: One of music's most innovative and eclectic ensembles Magma will be performing select North American dates beginning in April 2015! Swirling riffs in odd time signatures, theatrical choir arrangements, heavy and distorted pulsing bass guitar, bombastic and minimalistic (sometimes both at the same time), dark and brooding, adventurous and angelic, jazzy or classical, but always with the highly innovative and original drums of founder and main composer Christian Vander. On the forthcoming US dates the legendary ensemble will ...

Recording

French Music Legends Magma Release EPOK 5 On DVD

French Music Legends Magma Release EPOK 5 On DVD

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France - After the success of the DVDs EPOK 1-2-3-4, published in 2006 and 2007, the jazz club Le Triton again welcomed Magma in June 2011. This was for a nine concerts cycle to complete the DVD series “Myths & Legends."
 EPOK 5 not only includes pieces from 1971, 1977 and 1978 but also Félicité Thösz , the latest MAGMA release, heard here in a version prior to the recording of the album. There are, in addition, 20 minutes ...

2

Recording

French Avant Garde Music Trio Sidony Box Release New CD Recorded By Magma/Gong Legend Venux Deluxe

French Avant Garde Music Trio Sidony Box Release New CD Recorded By Magma/Gong Legend Venux Deluxe

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France - Much to the anticipation of music aficionados around the world, French avant-garde music troupe Sidony Box have released their third album 'Sidony Box Rules'. Award-winner of the “Rezzo Jazz a Vienne 2010” showcase and selected for the AFIJMA's “Jazz Migration 2011” tour, Sidony Box has earned its scenic reoutation through Europe and already released two albums acclaimed by international press. Sidony Box is back on stage with a luminous and heavenly third album recorded by Venux Deluxe, ...

Recording

Music Legends Magma To Release New CD "Felicite Thosz"

Music Legends Magma To Release New CD "Felicite Thosz"

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France - One of music's most innovative and eclectic ensembles, Magma, has released a new CD titled 'Felicite Thosz' internationally on Seventh Records (June 2012). Having emerged unscathed from STAR WARS, don't just sit there waiting for the end of the world. Take a leap into the MAGMA universe and grab their new studio album which is not to be missed under any circumstances: a trip which will lead you from Japan to the Urals via Central Asia with ...

83

Recording

Magma Legend Christian Vander To Release Tribute To John Coltrane

Magma Legend Christian Vander To Release Tribute To John Coltrane

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France—Music visionary and Magma legend Christian Vander will be releasing a tribute to jazz innovator John Coltrane on October 15, 2011—l'homme suprême . “On July 17, 1967, time stopped. The great saxophonist John Coltrane left us. I was lucky enough to discover, at a very young age, an exceptional musician. The beauty, the spirituality, the strength, the softness, as well as the fragility of notes. The expression of that sound which spoke to me like a voice. From that ...

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Recording

Historic Recordings by French Jazz Trio Alien Featuring Magma Legend Christian Vander Sees CD Release

Historic Recordings by French Jazz Trio Alien Featuring Magma Legend Christian Vander Sees CD Release

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Paris, France—Much to the elation of Magma/Christian Vander fans worldwide, a rare recording of jazz trio Alien live in Antibes, France in 1983 has been released on CD. Part of Seventh Records AKT collection (AKT XVI), Alien features Christian Vander on drums Michel Graillier on piano and Alby Cullaz on bass. The CD is also highlighted with long extracts from fully unreleased studio sessions. In February 1988 the trio entered the studio to work on an album, but the project ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Une histoire de...

Prophecy Productions
2023

buy

Bourges 1979

Seventh Records
2020

buy

AKT XVIII - Marquee -...

Seventh Records
2018

buy

Hur! Hommage a la...

Downhill Studio
2009

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Attahk

Eurodisc
1979

buy

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