MAGMA - rfi

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

That Thibault track is very cool.

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.

Cool! Hope it's not super-pricy.

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

3 day residency at Cafe Oto in September:
https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/magma-three-day-residency/

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

(xp) Jesus, they'll destroy the place!

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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)

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

Slag Tanz live videos are addictive.

London show next October:

http://islingtonassemblyhall.co.uk/events/magma-4th-oct-islington-assembly-hall-london-tickets/

Might try and get to that. Vander isn't going to carry on forever.

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

It's in my manor I might go along, I saw them the last time they were in London though.

pricing plane tickets rn

wtf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBI1EL6G5vY

thank you for making my day