MAGMA - rfi

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.

without a doubt

i should go as xian vander for halloween this yr -- i have the crazyface for it already.

its killing me that they're in Chicago tonight and I won't be able to go

I mean it's a 3 hour drive through a tornado watch so it wouldn't be easy but damnit damnit damnit

Cool interview, thanks! Very, uh, expansive, ha. I never had a black and white dream but I have a friend who always dreams in b&w. Recurring dreams are strange as hell and so is the notion of astral traveling or whatever it is he's talking about!! Jealous of everyone who is going to see them this time around!

froggie, the show's totally sold out anyway so you'd brave the storm for nothing. :(

chicago iss nikt de hundin right now ;_;

Decided to give Merci a chance last week. I'm glad I did. It reminds me a lot of the album they did as Univeria Zekt in 1972. Side 2 and "Otis" are really great.

oh man, if you love Vander's scat singing, Offering is the band for you!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6_o-fsArzU

Listening to "Concert 1975: Theatre Du Taur" and man, what a version of "Kohntarkosz." Sound quality is fucking great, too, raw but you feel like you're sitting about 50 feet from the stage. Can we get a Dick Pick's style series of Magma live recordings, please?!

Vander's Ganders

Top's Pops

Blasquiz's Mass Kisses (had a bit of trouble with that one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar5sXdM9Jr8

been loving this album from Jacqueline Thibault, wife of Laurent Thibault

Stell's Belles