Live [Import]

Magma | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Japanese Import
• ASIN: B00005R14O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,547,591 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Köhntahk, Pts. 1-2

2. Kobah

3. Lihns

4. Hhaï

5. Mekanik Zain

Editorial Reviews

Japanese 20 bit remastered reissue of the French prog-rock act's 1990 album that's unavailable in the US. Packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magma live, loud and thrilling!, April 29, 2000

By 

DAC Crowell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

Imagine, if you would, a curious intersection where a whole mass of roads collide. And imagine these roads having some musical names, such as Sun Ra, Leos Janacek, Carl Orff, John Coltrane, Hawkwind, and so on. You'd be getting close, in that intersection, to an idea of what Magma is about. Their magnum opus is, of course, the searing and intense "Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh", but I happen to think this runs a close second. Recorded live in Paris in the mid-70s, Magma here is presented in fine, fit form, and they dive into their material with a wild zeal that seems as if it would be nearly impossible to capture on disc, yet they managed! There's both an aggressive and ecstatic feel to the music on this set, and the playing in this concert setting blows away many of the other 'prog' bands of the same period. Echoing the prior reviewer, "Hhai' is a standout, but the live version of "MDK" presented here is attacked with a dervish-like furor that will have most people scrambling to pick their jaw off the floor! Things reach an primal pitch toward the end of this thing, the chanted lyrics taking on the sound of some shamanic incantation. For those who think they're down with the prog sound, I'd recommend this. You'll _learn_ something! But Magma's appeal definitely goes beyond just the prog-rock venue, and I'd also recommend this (and the aforementioned "MDK") for those into 'minimal' New Music such as that of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams et al as an outstanding example of just where repetition in music can be taken.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The high musical intensity of zeuhl wortz!, March 13, 2000

By 

Mathias Jonsson (Enköping, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

This is an amazing live document from one of the best and most progressive bands of all time! This group has had its members come and go, with Christian Vander being the leader and the main composer.

This line-up is arguably the best, featuring Christian Vander (on drums/perc,vocals), Klaus Blasquiz (on vocals, percussion), Stella vander (on vocals), Bernard Paganotti (on bassguitar), Didier Lockwood (on violin), Gabriel Federow (on electric guitar), Benoit Widemann and Jean-Pol Asseline (on Fender Piano and Organ). They perform "Köhntarkösz" (the amazing piece from the same album) and three shorter tracks "Kobaïa" (a different version of a track that appears on Magma's first studio album), "Hhaï" and "Lïhns" (with lead vocals by Christian) has never appeared in any studio versions. At the end there is about half of "Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh" (here entitled "Mekanïk Zeuhl Wörtz" and "Mekanïk Zaïn").

The whole album shows its band-members displaying their highly technical and emotionally expressive talents, individually as well as a unified and highly synchronized musical force. The intensity is simply breathtaking, it can be equaled to that of ELP or Mahavishnu Orchestra, but I find it much more interesting and uplifting than that of these bands.

The shorter tracks are calmer, and have a slightly funky groove with some jazz overtones. "Hhaï" is a beautiful song that more than any other expresses "hope and life". Hhaï means life or alive.

This album might not be recommended for people with weak nerves, as it's truly a musical assault, even though a highly musical one. I recommend to all who likes true progressive music!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kobaia iss de hundin, January 27, 2001

By 

DV "relayer66" (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

One of Magma's best recordings. The production and sound quality are very good, and the versions of the songs have more energy and sound better than the studio versions, and they have been liberal in their re-arrangement of their songs. In this regard, it is comparable to Gentle Giant's "Live-Playing the Fool", another of the greatest live abums of all time. Also the versions of the songs seem more fusion-inspired than their studio counterparts, which make them more accessible. For this reason, it is true that this album is a good introduction to Magma. The song Kohntarkosz is an obsession for me, and I cannot get enough of it. The riffs are so simple, yet so powerful and haunting. The version of Kohntarkosz Part 1 is the best I have heard so far, but I somewhat prefer the studio version of Part 2 which is more pounding and unrelenting. The song Hhai is absolutely beautiful, and reminiscent of Gayle Moran-era Mahavishnu Orchestra. Stella Vander's soprano voice is beautiful. The song Kobaia starts funky and upbeat, then slowly disintegrates into darkness and dissonance, until the trademark Magma chanting in its most gorgeous form...then in an incredible odd-metered jerk it throws you back into the funk realm. Amazing! The version of Mekanik, though incomplete, sounds better than the original, which is somewhat tinny and the drums are buried in the mix. The live version rocks hard until the final mind-boggling riffs which close the album. Overall, the drumming, bass playing and singing are incredible. But the inspired violin playing sets this apart from other Magma albums. If you like interesting and original progressive rock and fusion, you really should open your mind to Magma Live.