Yeah, it's really good!
― pelvic slang (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 28 January 2015 08:09 (nine years ago) link
While this isn't a "Classic or Dud?" thread, I'll just pretend it is...
Dud.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 5 February 2015 02:00 (nine years ago) link
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.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 5 February 2015 02:15 (nine years ago) link
What else don't you like? Can we get a top 5?
― pelvic slang (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 5 February 2015 03:15 (nine years ago) link
serious prog question btw
― pelvic slang (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 5 February 2015 03:17 (nine years ago) link
seconding that request
― Abstinence Hawk (frogbs), Thursday, 5 February 2015 16:10 (nine years ago) link
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?
― liam fennell, Thursday, 5 February 2015 18:47 (nine years ago) link
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.
― Dominique, Thursday, 5 February 2015 23:44 (nine years ago) link
The non-rock non-Les Noces counterpart, you mean
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Friday, 6 February 2015 23:28 (nine years ago) link
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
― Dominique, Wednesday, 8 April 2015 22:58 (nine years ago) link
Show in Seattle was absolutely fantastic. If anyone is on the fence, just go.
― Deverly (Bangelo), Wednesday, 8 April 2015 23:39 (nine years ago) link
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.
― everything, Wednesday, 8 April 2015 23:53 (nine years ago) link
kicking myself for not getting tix before they sold out here :(
― vyvyan vanse (clouds), Thursday, 9 April 2015 04:51 (nine years ago) link
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.
― totally unachievable goals and no incentive to compromise (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 9 April 2015 05:52 (nine years ago) link
SO GOOD
― Milton Parker, Thursday, 9 April 2015 17:13 (nine years ago) link
No merch table - guess you gotta earn one of those shirts
― totally unachievable goals and no incentive to compromise (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 9 April 2015 19:27 (nine years ago) link
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.
― ^^^ NOT METAL (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 9 April 2015 19:30 (nine years ago) link
without a doubt
― totally unachievable goals and no incentive to compromise (Sparkle Motion), Thursday, 9 April 2015 19:31 (nine years ago) link
i should go as xian vander for halloween this yr -- i have the crazyface for it already.
― vyvyan vanse (clouds), Thursday, 9 April 2015 19:47 (nine years ago) link
its killing me that they're in Chicago tonight and I won't be able to go
― frogbs, Thursday, 9 April 2015 20:21 (nine years ago) link
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!
― liam fennell, Friday, 10 April 2015 14:14 (nine years ago) link
froggie, the show's totally sold out anyway so you'd brave the storm for nothing. :(
chicago iss nikt de hundin right now ;_;
― vyvyan vanse (clouds), Friday, 10 April 2015 14:46 (nine years ago) link
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.
― frogbs, Monday, 13 July 2015 13:14 (eight years ago) link
oh man, if you love Vander's scat singing, Offering is the band for you!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6_o-fsArzU
― frogbs, Thursday, 1 October 2015 14:15 (eight years ago) link
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?!
― jimmy falloff (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 7 October 2015 12:39 (eight years ago) link
Vander's Ganders
― jimmy falloff (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 8 October 2015 18:14 (eight years ago) link
Top's Pops
― めんどくさかった (Matt #2), Thursday, 8 October 2015 18:29 (eight years ago) link
Blasquiz's Mass Kisses (had a bit of trouble with that one)
― めんどくさかった (Matt #2), Thursday, 8 October 2015 18:30 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar5sXdM9Jr8
been loving this album from Jacqueline Thibault, wife of Laurent Thibault
― chaki (kurt schwitterz), Thursday, 8 October 2015 18:51 (eight years ago) link
Stell's Belles
― Terry Micawber (Tom D.), Thursday, 8 October 2015 18:51 (eight years ago) link
That Thibault track is very cool.
― jimmy falloff (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 8 October 2015 19:01 (eight years ago) link
FYI they're about to issue a live box, feat remastered of Live/Hhai and the Retrospektiw discs, as well as newer sets. And I'll be getting it.
― Dominique, Thursday, 8 October 2015 19:32 (eight years ago) link
Cool! Hope it's not super-pricy.
― jimmy falloff (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 8 October 2015 20:01 (eight years ago) link
it's out now. anyone got an opinion on how these compare to the originals? heard great things about the new version of "Hhai/Live" at least but I always thought the sound quality on the original was real good, as were the Retrospective discs - amusing that their live recordings sound better than the studio ones
― frogbs, Tuesday, 24 November 2015 03:10 (eight years ago) link
3 day residency at Cafe Oto in September:https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/magma-three-day-residency/
― Barnaby, Hardly, Thursday, 7 April 2016 07:34 (eight years ago) link
really bummed I had to miss the Chicago show...I happened to be moving that same day
heard they're really on fire this time around. hope a live disc comes out. I mean, what's one more
― frogbs, Thursday, 7 April 2016 13:06 (eight years ago) link
(xp) Jesus, they'll destroy the place!
― Terry Micawber (Tom D.), Thursday, 7 April 2016 13:11 (eight years ago) link
Hey, this is the thread that got me into Jacqueline Thibault aka Laurence Vanay. Two more Vanay albums being reissued on CD by Lion, all worth checking out. Folk-psych-jazz-rock does nothing to explain it but it's great stuff that's hard to pin down.
― Hamilton, Joe Frank & Two-Thirds of Asphyx (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 23 August 2016 01:05 (seven years ago) link
Also thanks chaki!
After 3 intense years traveling the planet, Magma will not be on the road in 2018, except for an exceptional event to be announced in March. Our program is recording a new studio album. Keep posted for some new adventures.
what could this be? Zess or something new?
― frogbs, Thursday, 22 February 2018 15:08 (six years ago) link
Oh wow, fingers crossed for studio Zess.
Also, unrelated but can we talk about how gorgeous/hypnotic "Eliphas Levi" from Merci is? Definitely a top 5 Magma track for me, and that includes the album-length epics.
― J. Sam, Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:55 (six years ago) link
Side 2 of Merci is so good. I feel like all the complaining about that album is due to "Call From the Dark" and "Do the Music", cuz the rest of it is great - "The Night We Died" is my pick for the most beautiful Magma tune ever
― frogbs, Thursday, 22 February 2018 19:52 (six years ago) link
Also unrelated but Magma alumnus Didier Lockwood died recently, he's the guy playing ridiculous jazz-rock violin on "Live-Hhai" - recorded when he was about 17, amazingly.
― めんどくさかった (Matt #2), Thursday, 22 February 2018 19:55 (six years ago) link
Steve from Wayside music (who is usually in the know on such matters) says it's Zess
I think the band has always said Zess would be their final recorded piece, which I guess is fine...they've been around 50 years now...but still a little sad
(that said, who knows, bands say shit like that all the time)
― frogbs, Friday, 16 March 2018 13:19 (six years ago) link
apparently coming out in 2019 for a big 50th anniversary blowout. guessing it'll be a wrap after that.
its kind of disappointing that the band has written so little new music in the last 4 decades though I must admit the concept of them "finishing" pieces decades later is pretty fucking cool. probably my favorite Magma moment was listening to Emehntehtt-Re for the first time and hearing them work "Hhai" in there
― frogbs, Saturday, 16 June 2018 21:10 (six years ago) link
Slag Tanz live videos are addictive.
― my dreams in the hell-pits (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 09:53 (five years ago) link
London show next October:
http://islingtonassemblyhall.co.uk/events/magma-4th-oct-islington-assembly-hall-london-tickets/
― GG Allin: The Musical (Matt #2), Monday, 26 November 2018 17:03 (five years ago) link
Might try and get to that. Vander isn't going to carry on forever.
― Bimlo Horsewagon became Wheelbarrow Horseflesh (aldo), Monday, 26 November 2018 22:31 (five years ago) link
yea I can't see them going on too much past 2019 and by all indications they're going to pull out all the stops for Zess, I think this is it
― frogbs, Monday, 26 November 2018 23:14 (five years ago) link