Magma (band)
Magma | |
|---|---|
 Magma performing live at Roadburn Festival, 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Paris, France |
| Genres | Zeuhl, progressive rock, avant-rock, art rock |
| Years active | 1969–1983, 1996–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | magmamusic.org/en/home |
| Members | Christian Vander Stella Vander Isabelle Feuillebois Rudy Blas Benoit Alziary Hervé Aknin Jérome Martineau-Ricotti Philippe Bussonnet |
| Past members | Francis 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 |
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.
Vander invented a constructed language, Kobaïan, in which most lyrics are sung. 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."[1] Vander himself has said that, "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."[2] 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 in order 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.[3]
Contents
1 History
1.1 Beginnings (1967-1971)
1.2 Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh to Udu Wudu (1972-1977)
1.3 Changing sound and breakup (1978-1984)
2 Legacy
2.1 Fandom
3 Controversy
4 Discography
4.1 Studio albums
4.2 Live albums
4.3 EPs
4.4 Compilations/Boxsets/Other material
4.5 Videos
5 Personnel
5.1 Members
5.2 Timeline
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
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 Rene 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. [4]
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 Phillips Records. The group caused a sensation but audience reactions were mixed.
[4]
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.[4]
Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh to Udu Wudu (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.[4] That same year, Christian Vander recorded the sountrack for Yvan Lagrange's film Tristan et Iseult. [4]
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, Rene Garber on saxphone 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[4], 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.[4] 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. [5]
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[6], 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 would be 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.
Legacy
The band is widely considered to be musically adventurous and imaginative[7][8][9] among music critics. Magma uses choirs extensively in a way reminiscent of the composer Carl Orff.[10] 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".[11]
So many of the musicians who have played with Magma have formed their own solo projects and/or spinoff acts that 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.[12] Besides Christian Vander, other well-known Magma alumni include the violinist Didier Lockwood, bassist-composer Jannick "Janik" Top,[13] and spinoff act Weidorje.[14]
Fandom
The band has a number of high-profile fans. Punk rock singer Johnny Rotten,[15] prolific metal musician Kristoffer Rygg,[16]Steven Wilson formerly of Porcupine Tree,[17] and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth,[18] 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.[19]
Television journalist Antoine de Caunes wrote a biography of the band entitled Magma.[20][21]
Controversy
Magma has been criticised for supposedly embracing fascist aesthetics and ideology in their art, accusations the band has called a "myth" and attributed to journalistic misrepresentations of their performance style.[22] However, in an interview with Richie Unterberger, Gong's Daevid Allen remembered that Christian Vander "had swastika flags all over his bedroom and pictures of Hitler and would leap up and do kind of imitation Hitler speeches in the middle of his drum solo".[23] Vander has also been under attack for a 1970 interview in which he had described the people of India and Africa as "degenerates".[24][25]
Discography
Studio albums
- 1970: Magma (reissued as Kobaïa)
- 1971: 1001° Centigrades
- 1973: Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh initial copies of the CD included a vinyl rip of the album with a different version of the album as a bonus track
- 1974: Ẁurdah Ïtah (originally released as 'Tristan & Iseult' by Christian Vander)
- 1974: Köhntarkösz initial copies of the CD included a vinyl rip of the album with a different version of the album as a bonus track
- 1976: Üdü Ẁüdü
- 1978: Attahk
- 1984: Merci
- 2004: K.A. (Köhntarkösz Anteria)
- 2009: Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré (CD + DVD)
- 2012: Félicité Thösz
- 2014: Rïah Sahïltaahk
- 2015: Šlaǧ Tanƶ
- 2019: Zëss[26]
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 27, 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: Kohnzert Zund (12 CD; Live recordings, from 'Magma Live' to 'Trilogie Au Trianon' plus 'Triton Zund' and 'Alhambra 2009' )
- 2017: Retrospektïw (3 LP’s. Includes Retrospektïw I, II & III series. Limited edition of 1,500 numbered copies. Also includes the classic 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 MacGaw, Jean-Luc Chevalier (actuel guitariste du groupe Tri Yann), Jim Grandcamp and Rudy Blas
- Bassists: Jannick Top, Bernard Paganotti, Guy Delacroix, Francis Moze, Laurent Thibault, Michel Hervé, Dominique Bertram, Marc Éliard (actuel bassiste du groupe Indochine), Philippe Bussonnet
- 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
- Saxophonists: Teddy Lasry, Richard Raux, Alain Guillard, René Garber and 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 and Sandrine Fougère
- Drummers and percussionists: Christian Vander, Michel Garrec, Doudou Weiss, Simon Goubert, Clément Bailly, Claude Salmiéri and François Laizeau.[27]
History of the members (a hidden table)
| Period | Formation |
|---|---|
| 1969 |
|
| April 1969 – August 1969 |
|
| August 1969 – October 1969 |
|
| October 1969 – January 1970 |
|
| January 1970 – August 1970 |
|
| October 1970 – December 1970 |
|
| mid January 1971 – end December 1971 |
|
| end December 1971 – beginning January 1972 |
|
| beginning January 1972 – end December 1972 |
|
| end December 1972 – mid January 1973 |
|
| mid January 1973 – March 1973 |
|
| March 1973 – May 1973 |
|
| May 1973 – end December 1973 |
|
| January 1974 – March 1974 |
|
| March 1974 – August 1974 |
|
| September 1974 – November 1974 |
|
| January 1975 – August 1975 |
|
| September 1975 – February 1976 |
|
| March 1976 – September 1976 (first split) |
|
| November 1976 – January 1977 (first reformation) |
|
| January 1977 – mid 1977 |
|
| mid 1977 – end 1977 |
|
| January 1978 – mid 1978 |
|
| mid 1978 – beginning 1979 (second split) |
|
| mid 1979 – end 1979 (second reformation) |
|
| end 1979 – January 1980 |
|
| January 1980 – June 1980 |
|
| June 1980 – end 1980 (reunion of old members for 3 shows) |
The following musicians are not on the record sold:
|
| end 1980 – mid 1981 |
|
| mid 1981 – beginning 1982 |
|
| beginning 1982 – mid 1982 |
|
| mid 1982 – beginning 1983 |
|
| beginning 1983 – end 1983 |
|
| end 1983 – end 1984 |
|
| end 1984 – beginning 1985 |
|
| 1986 – 1990 solo projects of Christian Vander, Magma on stand by | |
| February 1990 with OFFERING |
|
| 1991 |
|
| 1992 |
|
| 1992 – 1996 |
|
| 1996 |
|
| 1997 |
|
| October 1997 – 1998 |
|
| 1999 – 2001 |
|
| 2002 |
|
| March 2003 – 2005 |
|
| beginning February 2006 – 2008 |
|
| beginning February 2008 – 2012 |
|
| beginning 2012 – present |
|
Timeline
See also
- Sound poetry
- Romantic Warriors II: A Progressive Music Saga About Rock in Opposition
References
^ "Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanïk is kobaïan for Magma,". Danbbs.dk. 1996-08-20. Retrieved 2011-10-30..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
^ Interview by David McKenna and Ludovic Merle, translated by David McKenna (2009-11-12). "Magma, c'est moi". Rockfort.info.
^ "Seventh Records". Seventh Records. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
^ abcdefg "Magma - Rétrospective (1)". www.bigbangmag.com. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
^ "MAGMA - HHAI - Solution eCommerce PEEL". V2.seventhrecords.com. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
^ "CD ATTAHK". www.seventhrecords.com. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
^ Ankeny, Jason. "Magma - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Ground and Sky review - Magma - K.A". Progreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Ground and Sky review - Magma - Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh". Progreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ François Couture. "Wurdah Ïtah/Tristan et Iseult - Christian Vander, Magma : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Christian Vander Interview by George Allen and Robert Pearson, April 22, 1995". Furious.com. 1995-04-22. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
^ "Zeuhl, a progressive rock music sub-genre [sic]". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ Jannick Top. "Jannick Top - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "WEIDORJE music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Interviews | "The Public Image", January 2004". John Lydon.Com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Stories: Ulver - Born Again From The Merciless Mother". Avant-garde Metal. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Perfect 10: Steven Wilson interview and photograph". Cartiledgeworld.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Seminal Progressive Rock Pioneers Magma Confirmed For Mikael Åkerfeldt's Curated 2014 Roadburn Event - Roadburn". roadburn.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
^ Lee Honeyball - The Observer (2004-03-07). "My obsession". London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ Magma (Rock et folk) (French Edition). "Magma (Rock et folk) (French Edition): Antoine de Caunes: 9782226005632: Amazon.com: Books". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ "Antoine de Caunes, fan de Magma". Leparisien.fr. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
^ ZEUHL. "Magma Web Press Book". robert.guillerault.free.fr. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
^ Unterberger, Richie. "Daevid Allen Interview". www.richieunterberger.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
^ ZEUHL. "Magma Web Press Book". robert.guillerault.free.fr. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
^ "Some Words About the Recent Controversy With Vander and His Beliefs". kohntarkosz.blogspot.de. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
^ https://www.instagram.com/p/BngsFS8hQIL/
^ "Magma Web Press Book". Robert.guillerault.free.fr. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magma (band). |
Seventh Records, Christian Vander's record label
Utopic Records, Jannick Top's record label
Magma discography at MusicBrainz
Magma at AllMusic
Authority control  |
|
|---|
