MAGMA - rfi

from "unclemeat":

They did re-record "Riah Sahiltaahk", and, along with a couple of new pieces and "Axium", this is (apparently) going to be the next CD. Also in the pipeline : the Offering DVD (and - possibly - a Vander solo DVD and a tribute to Michel Graillier, all filmed at le Triton).

I see -- well, I guess it makes sense, because I don't know any other new Magma songs that are unreleased.

just noticed a recent update to the magma discography at wikipedia:

2014: Rïah Sahïltaahk

http://www.rythmes-croises.org/traversesmag/modules/news/article.php?storyid=540

As previously announced, several album releases MAGMA (new and reissues) will be spread in the fall.

Here is what would be the program:
September 23 will see the official release of the new version of Riah Sahïltaahk on CD and LP; and November 4 will that Axiom (ie Slag Tanz) 'd.

In between, Oct. 7, will be published in LP size the three volumes of the trilogy Ëmëhntett-Re, namely Könhtarkösz, Köhntarkösz Anteria and Ëmëhntett-Re. Incidentally, this is the first time that the last two albums cited benefit of vinyl media.

that's very good news, I'll be picking up all of that for sure

I've been playing "Attahk" an awful lot lately. Such a cool, one-of-a-kind disc, and I'll be damned if it doesn't sound like Vander is trying to invent drum n' bass a decade and a half early. Curious to hear the new stuff. I haven't actually heard a recording of "Slag Tanz" yet.

I think the 2 new releases are EPs rather than full albums? I still haven't heard Félicité Thösz, any opinions?

Félicité Thösz is... ok. Less rocking than many of their other records. It has yet to click with me like the previous two (amazing) albums.

I actually like Felicite Thosz very much, have listened to it more than any other Magma record pretty much since it came out. I love the vocals, and think it's a cohesive piece (working better on record than the live versions I'd heard beforehand). Energy-wise, it's not as intense as some of their other records -- and in that way, is maybe more similar to Offering. But form-wise, and certainly music-wise (ie the kinds of melodies, harmonies and rhythms I associate w Magma), it's totally in line with Vander's past stuff. As an added bonus, the final track, which isn't part of the title suite, is one of my favorite things he's written since the 70s.

Yeah that last track is lovely. I expect I'll come around to the album eventually, just need to spend more time absorbing it all.

I fucking love Félicité Thösz - it is very much like Wurdah Itah for me, composition and style wise. It does also have an Offering vibe but only because it's very clean sounding and the focus is on the singing - the more I listen to it, the more I think comparing it to Offering is a little misleading. It is actually pretty damn heavy for something so pretty. I have so much more time for it over the other recent albums.

The new ones are indeed almost certainly EPs but anything is possible. Slag Tanz is heavy as all get out - twisted guitar riffs, intensity and chanting. A cd of that is certain to be good. Riah Sahïltaahk on the EPOK 5 dvd is totally whatever, kind of uninspired, so that doesn't get me very excited... we already have a perfect version of it from 1971 is the way I feel.

At this point, I mostly just hope they get around to doing a definitive Zess someday...

Super belated response to the post above, I agree those VanderTop things are all terrific and actually all of them just got repressed on cd so they are now readily available after a few years of being hard to find. Essential, really.

yeah I'm not sure what a re-recorded "Riah Sahilttahk" would even be like, the original sounds great and it's a really tight composition, so I don't really know what can be done. but I'm glad they haven't forgotten about it

speaking of jannick top, anyone ever hear utopic sporadic orchestra? or his solo albums? seems like infernal machina and soleil d'ork are his 'zeuhl' releases?

and echoing the felicite thosz love, wurdah itah comparison is spot on.

Pretty much. Infernal Machine is newer and kinda like Zeuhl nu-metal... kinda gross but still cool. He sounds the same and the compositions are good! Just the production is questionable with lots of crunchy guitars.

Soleil D'ork is super good - an essential Magma single called Mekanik Machine combined with lots of demos of all his compositions from that time period if I remember right. Things like De Futura with Top playing every single instrument. Sound is a little rough but not bootleg-rough and it all hangs together pretty well, really! A lot of synth work. It's all very futuristic and sci fi. In case anyone has missed this monstrous little thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s0TwBJ8gf0

Utopic Sporadic Orchestra is like a Magma big band with most everyone from the Magma universe and is pretty cool. I think the one CD I have is live; a 20 minute version of De Futura and a 20 minute version of another song from Soleil D'ork. Overall it is not too different from the VanderTop live albums, just denser!

awesome, thank you. big fan of "makanik machine" so I might start with soleil

magma big band also sounds exciting!

lol "zeuhl nu-metal"

I've been playing Attahk a lot lately, there isn't anything else quite like this is there? Almost feels like Vander's playing drum n' bass back in 1978.

Slag Tanz out Jan 27, here's an excerpt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec1oFgi6hcU

oh wow

http://www.cadoganhall.com/event/magma-150508/

Live in London May 2015! Other UK dates happening too I think.

so, who's heard slag tanz?

can't imagine a magma fan wouldn't like it, I mean, the song IS pretty killer. but I do mean "song"... the whole album is about 20mins long! :-o

seeing you bump this thread and the Hosono thread at roughly the same time, I gotta ask: is it just me or is there a lot of overlap between the YMO and Magma fanbases? its not just ILX, it seems to be that way on last.fm, discogs, and RYM, even a lot of the music blogs I follow, am I crazy?

(and no, I haven't heard Slag Tanz, I'm just kinda surprised it's actually out!)

(also, can we use this bump to talk about the possible (or probable?) US tour dates!?)

don't really hear too many musical similarities there but those are two of all-time fave bands...

so, what's this about US tour dates??

Magma supposed to announce April US tour dates next week, but per their FB page:

The dates of april in north america will be definitely confirmed this week.
North america April concerts: Dates and venues tbc next week.
Vancouver
Seattle
Portland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Chicago
Boston
New York City

anyone else gonna try for that Chicago date??

Maybe Kraftwerk are the glue between Magma and YMO - weird electro-pop on the one hand and crazy euro prog on the other.

From a prog message board :

Chicago is April 10, as I noted above, at Reggie's Music Stage in the south Loop. Show will be announced next week, and it will be held in the larger of the 2 ballrooms (Cactus is playing in the other at the same time. The mind reels!).

Maybe Kraftwerk are the glue between Magma and YMO

hah, I like this theory

psyched for this tour, they're so great live!

Got mine today, starting listen #3 now. If you've heard the Epok V DVD version of this piece, I'd say the new version is pretty similar, if not *quite* as fiery. However, this also has the new middle section ("les silence des mondes"), and a new ending -- and obv things like vocal precision and general clarity is better here. IMO Slag Tanz is already a classic Magma piece, and if nothing else, this album (or EP, really) has me incredibly psyched about the future of this now-45 year old band.

magma are definitely in a very, very small circle of acts that can still crank out top-notch material this far down the line. and this aggressive too!! this one's a classic, for sure.

I do wish there were more to the recording, but like with the last one, I just play it a few times in a row

http://frenchculture.org/music/news/magma-tour-north-america#.VMgLpkSDM_g.facebook

yep, got my NY tix

fuuuck i think i might have to go to the portland show

slag tanz is excellent, i had no idea

Yeah, it's really good!

While this isn't a "Classic or Dud?" thread, I'll just pretend it is...

Dud.

I mean, I love and have time for a hell of a lot of progressive rock (and prog-related) bands and fully embrace the overblown, over-the-top, pompous, masturbatory, so-ridiculous-it's-actually-sublime nature of the genre... but these guys are too ridiculous even for me.

What else don't you like? Can we get a top 5?

serious prog question btw

seconding that request

I only did one close listen, and a few background spins, to Slag Tanz and so far think it is just okay as a mini-album. GREAT live piece, though. I might be overexposed to it in that context, having caught it in concert a few years ago and having looked at EPOK V quite a bit. It is not really opening up any new and exciting Magma sound universes for me, at least not in the way something like Felicite Thosz continues to do. The jury is still out, though. I can imagine my opinion changing after listening to it really loud sometime!

Slag Tanz is, however, probably Vander's shining studio-recorded moment as a drummer. He is really killing it and firing on all cylinders! Those kinds of people interested in prog for the athletic aspect should dig the hell out of the thing!

Incidentally, I don't find Magma ridiculous at all! Well, maybe a little, but not in any way that detracts. Mostly I detect seriousness, 100% commitment to the concept and a little bit of humor when they incorporate a bit of James Brown and Stax/Volt R&B into the sound. I guess the concept is certainly inherently and undeniably ridiculous but the strength and intensity of the actual compositions and performances easily transcends that. Even on Merci! I fucking love Merci!

Also, Dominique, how do ya feel about the vibes player?! Does he totally take the band to a whole new level or what on the EPOK V dvd? He so thoroughly steals the spotlight for the new pieces that I can't imagine how they'd be without him. A secret weapon: not only a strong musician but also simultaneously a keyboard player AND a drummer! A perfect foil for Vander. I can't help but wonder if his inclusion a few years back is what ultimately kicked off this new cycle of works?

I like Benoit Alziary on vibes, and when I saw Magma play a few years back (so far the only time, until April), he was one of the highlights. Agree that mallet percussion seems a great fit in Magma, and also happens to tie them a little closer to what I always thought was the non-rock counterpart to zeuhl, minimalism a la Steve Reich.

The non-rock non-Les Noces counterpart, you mean

Lengthy interview w Vander from the LA Record in advance of Magma's show Monday.

http://larecord.com/interviews/2015/04/04/magma-christian-vander-interview

Show in Seattle was absolutely fantastic. If anyone is on the fence, just go.

Yeah, the Vancouver gig was mind-blowing. Incl. a large chunk of MDK, Kohntarkosz, side 1 of 1001 Centigrades...just go if you get the chance.

kicking myself for not getting tix before they sold out here :(

Just got home from their SF show - 1:45 of towering, pulsating, transporting music. Setlist as far as I could tell was Kohntarkosz, MDK, Slang Tenz, Zombies.
So glad I got the chance to see them.

SO GOOD

No merch table - guess you gotta earn one of those shirts

A guy who used to work at Rhino's store back in the day said the manager there owned a Magma necklace and kept it on display; he'd let the employees try it on but then they'd be obligated to wear it for their whole shift. Wish I worked there, man, I'd be Magmaing hard all day every day.