Magma (band)

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For other uses, see Magma (disambiguation).
Magma
Magma performing live at Roadburn Festival, 2017
Magma performing live at Roadburn Festival, 2017
Background information
OriginParis, France
GenresZeuhl, progressive rock, avant-rock, art rock
Years active1969–1984, 1996–present
Labels
Websitemagmamusic.org/en/home
MembersChristian Vander
Stella Vander
Isabelle Feuillebois
Rudy Blas
Hervé Aknin
Francis Linon[1]
Simon Goubert
Thierry Eliez
Jimmy Top
Sandrine Destefani
Sylvie Fisichella
Laura Guarrato
Past membersFrancis Moze
Jannick "Janik" Top
Klaus Blasquiz
Didier Lockwood
Bernard Paganotti
Benoît Widemann
Teddy Lasry
Himiko Paganotti
Antoine Paganotti
Emmanuel Borghi
Bruno Ruder
Laurent Thibault
Jérémie Ternoy
Jim Grandcamp
James MacGaw
Jérome Martineau-Ricotti
Philippe Bussonnet
Benoît Alziary
Claud Angel
Jean-Pierre Lambelt
Patrick Gauthier
Yochiko Seffer

Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a "vision of humanity's spiritual and ecological future" that profoundly disturbed him. In the course of their first album, the band tells the story of a group of people fleeing a doomed Earth to settle on the planet Kobaïa. Later, conflict arises when the Kobaïans—descendants of the original colonists—encounter other Earth refugees. The style of progressive rock that Vander developed with Magma is termed Zeuhl, and has been applied to other bands in France operating in the same period, and to some recent Japanese bands.[2]

Vander created a fictional language, Kobaïan, in which most lyrics are sung.[3] In a 1977 interview with Vander and long-time Magma vocalist Klaus Blasquiz, Blasquiz said that Kobaïan is a "phonetic language made by elements of the Slavonic and Germanic languages to be able to express some things musically. The language has of course a content, but not word by word."[4] Vander himself has said, "When I wrote, the sounds [of Kobaïan] came naturally with it—I didn't intellectualise the process by saying 'Ok, now I'm going to write some words in a particular language', it was really sounds that were coming at the same time as the music."[5] Later albums tell different stories set in more ancient times; however, the Kobaïan language remains an integral part of the music.

In 1986, the French label Seventh Records was founded to (re-)publish Magma's and Vander's work. Over the years, Seventh has also released albums by related artists such as Stella Vander, Patrick Gauthier, and Collectif Mu.[6]

History[]

Beginnings (1967–1971)[]

In early 1967, drummer Christian Vander played in the Wurdalaks and Cruciferius Lobonz, two rhythm and blues bands. With these groups, he wrote his first compositions, "Nogma" and "Atumba". The death of John Coltrane saddened Vander, who left the groups and traveled to Italy. He returned to France in 1969 and met saxophonist René Garber and bassist and conductor Laurent Thibault. Together with singer Lucien Zabuski and organist Francis Moze, they created the group Uniweria Zekt Magma Composedra Arguezdra, shortened to Magma.[7]

After their first tour, Magma experienced significant lineup turnover. Vocalist Lucien Zabuski was replaced with Klaus Blasquiz, and pianist Eddie Rabin, double bassist Jacky Vidal, and guitarist Claude Engel also joined the group. The group worked on material for three months in a house in the Chevreuse Valley. Eddie Rabin was replaced by François Cahen on keyboards, and Laurent Thibault abandoned bass to devote himself to production. Francis Moze became the new bassist. The band also expanded with a brass section, consisting of Teddy Lasry on saxophone and clarinet, Richard Raux on saxophone and flute, and Paco Charlery on trumpet. The group's first album, Magma, was released in the spring of 1970 by Philips Records. The group caused a sensation but audience reactions were mixed.[7]

After the album was released, Claude Engel, Richard Raux, and Paco Charlery left the group. Jeff Seffer replaced Raux on saxophone, and Louis Toesca replaced Charlery on trumpet. Their second album, 1001° Centigrades, was released in April 1971. The album won the band more exposure, including a performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.[7]

Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh, to Üdü Wüdü (1972–1977)[]

In August 1972, Magma released the album The Unnamables, under the alias Univeria Zekt. However, the album sold only 1,500 copies. Many musicians left the band that year, including François Cahen, Louis Toesca, Jeff Seffer, Francis Moze, and Teddy Lasry.[7] That same year, Christian Vander recorded the soundtrack for Yvan Lagrange's film Tristan et Iseult.[7]

In 1973, Vander formed a new lineup of the band, adding Stella Vander as a second vocalist, Claude Olmos on guitar, Jannick Top replacing Francis Moze on bass, René Garber on saxophone and clarinet, and Jean-Luc Manderlier on keyboards, among others. This new version of the band would release their most famous work Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh, which would later become their most acclaimed album, and gave them international fame,[7] including a spot at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival, their first American performance. In 1974, under Vander's name, the band released a soundtrack album accompanying Yvan Lagrange's 1972 film Tristan et Iseult, also known as Ẁurdah Ïtah; under Magma's name, they followed up with Köhntarkösz, which was successful among fans, but not received as well among the public as Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh.[7] The band would then go on a long, year-and-a-half long tour of France, and after another member shakeup (Bernard Paganotti replacing Jannick Top on bass, Didier Lockwood added as a violinist, Jean-Pol Asseline and Benot Widemann replacing Gerard Bikialo on keyboards, and Gabriel Federow replacing Claude Olmos on guitar), released their first live album, Live / Hhaï, in December 1975, recorded at the Taverne de l'Olympia in Paris.[8]

In 1976, Top briefly rejoined the band for the recording of the album Üdü Ẁüdü, but left soon after due to strained relations with frontman Christian Vander. More lineup turnover followed in 1977, with Jean DeAntoni replacing Gabriel Federow on guitar, Guy Delacroix replacing Bernard Paganotti on bass, and Clement Bailly hired as a second drummer.

Changing sound and breakup (1978–1984)[]

In 1978, Magma released the album Attahk. Vying for more commercial success,[9] the album included elements of soul, rhythm & blues, and funk music.

Celebrating 10 years as a band, in 1980, Magma performed three nights at L'Olympia in Paris, with guest appearances from many of the group's past musicians. These were recorded and released as Retrospektïẁ (Parts I+II) and Retrospektïẁ (Part III). The concerts were successful, and allowed Magma to play a number of shows around France, including a three-week residency at Paris's Bobino in 1981, which was recorded and filmed, and later released as Concert Bobino 1981.

In 1984, the band recorded the album Merci, and disbanded shortly afterwards. Christian Vander formed other projects such as Offering, and various jazz projects including the Christian Vander Trio.

Reformation (1996-present)[]

While performing as Offering, Vander would occasionally perform Magma songs. In 1989, professional snooker champion Steve Davis convinced Vander to perform a reunion tour (at least six shows[10][11]) which led Vander to consider reuniting Magma.[12][13]

After the dissolution of Offering, this was fully realised in 1996 after friend Bernard Ivan asked Vander if he was considering reviving Magma, as he was confident he could get Vander concert dates. Vander agreed, but confessed that he didn't think there would be any remaining interest in the band. Ivan came back to Vander to tell him he fully booked a number of gigs for Magma and Vander, surprised, quickly cobbled a lineup from Offering and friends in the music scene to create a new 14-piece Magma.[14]

Vander decided to revive some sections of tracks he had written back in 1972-1973 while working on Köhntarkösz on this new tour. Eventually, these merged into one big composition K.A (Köhntarkösz Anteria), which released in 2004 to acclaim and surprise at their comeback. K.A is conceptually the prequel to Köhntarkösz, which was then followed up by a sequel Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré in 2009, ending a narrative trilogy between the three albums.

Magma still tour today.

Style and influences[]

Christian Vander has described the style of progressive rock that he developed with Magma in France from 1969 onwards as "zeuhl".[15] Dominique Leone, writing for Pitchfork, says the style is "about what you'd expect an alien rock opera to sound like: massed, chanted choral motifs, martial, repetitive percussion, sudden bursts of explosive improv and just as unexpected lapses into eerie, minimalist trance-rock."[16] The term comes from Kobaïan,[17] the fictional language created by Vander for Magma.[18] He has said that it means celestial;[17] that "Zeuhl music means 'vibratory music'"[19] and that zeuhl is "L'esprit au travers de la matière. That is Zeuhl. Zeuhl is also the sound which you can feel vibrating in your belly. Pronounce the word Zeuhl very slowly, and stress the letter 'z' at the beginning, and you will feel your body vibrating."[20]

Originally applied solely to the music of Magma, the term "zeuhl" was eventually used to describe the similar music produced by French bands beginning in the 1970s.[21] In addition to Magma, bands who are associated with the term include: Happy Family,[22] Kōenji Hyakkei,[23] and Ruins[24] from Japan, and French band Zao.[25]

Vander was musically influenced by John Coltrane and Carl Orff.[citation needed]

Legacy[]

The band is widely considered to be musically adventurous and imaginative[26][27][28] among music critics. Magma uses choirs extensively in a way reminiscent of the composer Carl Orff.[29] Magma's music is also highly influenced by jazz saxophone player John Coltrane, and Vander has said that "it is still Coltrane who actually gives me the real material to work on, to be able to move on".[30]

Many of the musicians who have played with Magma have also formed solo projects or spinoff acts. The Kobaïan term Zeuhl has come to refer to the musical style of these bands and the French jazz fusion/symphonic rock scene that grew around them.[2] Besides Christian Vander, other well-known Magma alumni include the violinist Didier Lockwood, bassist-composer Jannick "Janik" Top,[31] and spinoff act Weidorje.[32]

Fandom[]

The band has a number of high-profile fans. Punk rock singer Johnny Rotten,[33] metal musician Kristoffer Rygg,[34] Steven Wilson formerly of Porcupine Tree,[35] Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth,[36] Cattle Decapitation vocalist Travis Ryan,[37] magician Penn Jillette, and Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky have all stated their admiration of the band.

In the 1980s, British World champion snooker player Steve Davis declared himself a passionate follower of the band since his youth and used some of his winnings to promote a series of concerts by Magma in London.[38]

Television journalist Antoine de Caunes wrote a biography of the band entitled Magma.[39][40]

In 2017, documentary filmmaker Laurent Goldstein directed To Life, Death and Beyond – The Music of Magma. Interviewees include Christian Vander, Stella Vander, James MacGaw, Trey Gunn, Robert Trujillo, and Jello Biafra.[41]

Discography[]

Studio albums
Live albums
  • 1975: Live/Hhaï
  • 1977: Inédits
  • 1981: Retrospektïẁ (Parts I+II)
  • 1981: Retrospektïẁ (Part III)
  • 1989: Akt X: Mekanïk Kommandöh (earlier studio recording of Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh from 1973) [different from the bonus track mentioned above]
  • 1992: Akt I: Les Voix De Magma (from August 2, 1992 at Douarnenez)
  • 1994: Akt IV: Theatre Du Taur Concert, 1975 (from September 24, 1975)
  • 1995: Akt V: Concert Bobino 1981 (from May 16, 1981)
  • 1996: Akt VIII: Bruxelles 1971 (from November 12, 1971 at Theatre 140)
  • 1996: Akt IX: Opéra De Reims, 1976 (from March 2, 1976)
  • 1999: Akt XIII: BBC 1974 Londres (from March 14, 1974 at the London BBC studios)
  • 2001: Trilogie Theusz Hamtaahk (Concert du Trianon), CD + DVD
  • 2008: Akt XV: Bourges, 1979 (from April 17, 1979)
  • 2009: Live in Tokyo 2005
  • 2014: Zühn Wöhl Ünsai – Live 1974 (2 CD; Radio Bremen recordings)
EPs
  • 1998: Floë Ëssi/Ëktah
  • 2014: Rïah Sahïltaahk
  • 2015: Šlaǧ Tanƶ
Compilations/boxsets/other material
  • 1972: The Unnamables (studio album released under the alias "Univeria Zekt")
  • 1986: Mythes et Légendes Vol. I (compilation)
  • 1992: Akt II: Sons: Document 1973 (recorded in 1973 at Le Manor, featuring a scaled-back line-up of Christian Vander, Klaus Blasquiz, Jannick Top and René Garber)
  • 1997: Kompila
  • 1998: Simples
  • 2008: Archiẁ I & II (included in the Studio Zünd: 40 Ans d'Evolution boxset)
  • 2008: Studio Zünd: 40 Ans d'Evolution (12 disc box set, includes Kobaïa to K.A plus Archiẁ I & II)
  • 2015: Köhnzert Zünd (12 CD; Live recordings, from Magma Live to Trilogie Au Trianon plus Triton Zünd and Alhambra 2009)
  • 2017: Retrospektïw (3 LPs. Includes Retrospektïw I, II & III series. Limited edition of 1,500 numbered copies. Also includes the comic strip.)
Videos
  • 1995: Akt VI: Concert Bobino 1981 (DVD) also released on VHS video cassette
  • 2001: Trilogie Theusz Hamtaahk (Concert du Trianon), CD + DVD
  • 2006: Mythes et Légendes Epok 1, DVD
  • 2006: Mythes et Légendes Epok 2, DVD
  • 2007: Mythes et Légendes Epok 3, DVD
  • 2008: Mythes et Légendes Epok 4, DVD
  • 2013: Mythes et Légendes Epok 5, DVD
  • 2016: Nihao Hamtaï – Magma in China, DVD
  • 2017: Ëmëhntëhtt-Rê Trilogy, DVD

Personnel[]

Christian Vander at Roadburn Festival 2017

Members[]

  • Violinist: Didier Lockwood
  • Guitarists: Claude Engel, Claude Olmos, Gabriel Federow, Marc Fosset, James Mac Gaw, Jean-Luc Chevalier (currently guitarist with Tri Yann ), Jim Grandcamp, Rudy Blas, Brian Godding.
  • Bassists: Jannick Top, Bernard Paganotti, Guy Delacroix, Francis Moze, Laurent Thibault, Michel Hervé, Dominique Bertram, Marc Éliard (currently bassist with Indochine), Philippe Bussonnet, Jimmy Top
  • Keyboardists: Benoît Widemann, Michel Graillier, Gérard Bikialo, Jean Luc Manderlier, François "Faton" Cahen (ancien leader du groupe Zao), Guy Khalifa, Sofia Domancich, Patrick Gauthier, Simon Goubert, Pierre-Michel Sivadier, Jean Pol Asseline, Jean Pierre Fouquey, Frédéric D'Oelsnitz, Benoît Alziari (plus vibraphone and theremin), Emmanuel Borghi, Bruno Ruder, Thierry Eliez
  • Saxophonists: Teddy Lasry, Richard Raux, Alain Guillard, René Garber and Jeff "Yochk’o" Seffer
  • Trumpeters: Louis Toesca and Yvon Guillard
  • Male vocalists: Klaus Blasquiz, Christian Vander, Guy Khalifa, Antoine Paganotti and Hervé Aknin
  • Female vocalists: Stella Vander, Isabelle Feuillebois, Maria Popkiewicz, Liza de Luxe, Himiko Paganotti, Sandrine Fougère, Sandrine Destefanis, Sylvie Fisichella, Laura Guarrato
  • Drummers and percussionists: Christian Vander, Michel Garrec, Doudou Weiss, Simon Goubert, Clément Bailly, Claude Salmiéri, François Laizeau.[42]
History of the members (a hidden table)

Timeline[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Magma 2020". 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Zeuhl, a progressive rock music sub-genre [sic]". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  3. ^ Stump, Paul (July 1995). "Different Drummer: Magma – interview with Christian Vander, page 2". The Wire. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanïk is kobaïan for Magma". Danbbs.dk. 1996-08-20. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  5. ^ Interview by David McKenna and Ludovic Merle, translated by David McKenna (2009-11-12). "Magma, c'est moi". Rockfort.info.
  6. ^ "Seventh Records". Seventh Records. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Magma - Rétrospective (1)". www.bigbangmag.com. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  8. ^ "MAGMA - HHAI - Solution eCommerce PEEL". V2.seventhrecords.com. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  9. ^ "CD ATTAHK". www.seventhrecords.com. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
  10. ^ "Magma Flyers 1". Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Magma Flyers 2". Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  12. ^ "FORBIDDING PLANET". Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Magma's Retrospektïẁ, Reviewed By Snooker's Steve Davis". Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Christian Vander interview". January 2001. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  15. ^ Jeff Wagner (2010). Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal. Bazillion Points Books. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-9796163-3-4.
  16. ^ Dominique Leone (9 Dec 2004). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Magma: K.A".
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Paul Stump (July 1995). "Different Drummer: Magma – interview with Christian Vander, page 3 (dead link)". The Wire. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  18. ^ Culshaw, Peter (1 October 2009). "Magma interview for Celestial Mass". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  19. ^ Allan MacInnis (30 March 2015). "Immersing oneself in Magma: a Christian Vander interview". Big Takeover. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  20. ^ John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg (Winter–Spring 2000). "Marching to the beat of a very different drummer". Progression, issue 34. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  21. ^ Anderston, Chris (2010). "A many-headed beast: progressive rock as European meta-genre". Popular Music. Cambridge University Press. 29 (10): 417–435. doi:10.1017/S0261143010000450. JSTOR 40926943.
  22. ^ "Ye Gods: The Twenty Greatest Prog Rock Record Sleeves". The Quietus. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  23. ^ Dominique Leone (11 March 2002). "Koenji-Hyakkei: NIVRAYM Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  24. ^ Leonard Pirce (14 January 2010). "Japanese noise-rock". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  25. ^ Laurent Berger (14 April 2015). "Los Imprescindibles del Progresivo, Parte III: Cos - Viva Boma" (in Spanish). Rock the Best Music. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  26. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Magma – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  27. ^ "Ground and Sky review - Magma - K.A". Progreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  28. ^ "Ground and Sky review - Magma - Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh". Progreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  29. ^ François Couture. "Wurdah Ïtah/Tristan et Iseult - Christian Vander, Magma : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  30. ^ "Christian Vander Interview by George Allen and Robert Pearson, April 22, 1995". Furious.com. 1995-04-22. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  31. ^ Jannick Top. "Jannick Top - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  32. ^ "WEIDORJE music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  33. ^ "Interviews | 'The Public Image', January 2004". John Lydon.Com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  34. ^ "Stories: Ulver – Born Again From The Merciless Mother". Avant-garde Metal. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  35. ^ "Perfect 10: Steven Wilson interview and photograph". Cartiledgeworld.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  36. ^ "Seminal Progressive Rock Pioneers Magma Confirmed For Mikael Åkerfeldt's Curated 2014 Roadburn Event". Roadburn. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  37. ^ "Cattle Decapitation Interview". sonicbandwagon.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  38. ^ Lee Honeyball (2004-03-07). "My obsession". The Observer. London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  39. ^ Magma (Rock et folk) (French Edition) (1978). Magma (Rock et folk) (French Edition): Antoine de Caunes: 9782226005632: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN 2226005633.
  40. ^ "Antoine de Caunes, fan de Magma". Leparisien.fr. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  41. ^ Goldstein, Laurent (Director) (2017). To Life, Death And Beyond – The Music Of Magma (DVD) (in English and French).
  42. ^ "Magma Web Press Book". Robert.guillerault.free.fr. Retrieved 10 April 2018.

External links[]

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