Magma Attahk [Import]

Christian Vander, Magma | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 6, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ryko
• ASIN: B0000074QI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,554 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Last Seven Minutes: 1970-77, Phase 1 [1970-71, Phase I]

2. Spiritual (Negro Song)

3. Rind (Eastern Song)

4. Lirïïk Necronomicus Kanht (In Which Our Heroes Ürgon and Gorgo Meet) [I

5. Maahnt (The Wizard's Fight Versus the Devil)

6. Dondaï (To an Eternal Love)

7. Nono (1978, Phase II)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ah Lahk Itt, July 29, 2000

By 

Stephen E. Witham (Somerville, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magma Attahk (Audio CD)

I love music with lots of energy that's hard to classify. This is closest to rock, heading toward jazz-fusion and maybe opera. I would say the rhythms are the most attractive aspect, followed by the vocals that include spiritual chorouses, growling, operatic crooning, tweedling, donald-duck moaning and burping. All in a language I don't understand. That a drama is going on is clear even without the English subtitles of the songs: 1. The Last Seven Minutes (1970-71, phase I) 2. Spiritual (Negro song) 3. Rindle (Eastern song) 4. Liriik Necronomicus Kanht (in which our heroes OURGON & GORGO meet) 5. Maahnt (The wizard's fight versus the devil) 6. Dondai (to an eternal love) 7. Nono (1978, phase II)

The front cover art, by R. Giger, shows a couple musicians/characters from the story (Ourgon & Gorgo) wearing safety-pin goggles. The back cover shows all seven musician/characters' heads in informative x-ray view, plus a b&w photo of Vander.

In short it's lots of fun and it rocks.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars what the hell is this????, August 20, 2000

By 

"maxxroach" (felona's big blue bacalada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magma Attahk (Audio CD)

I still don't know what planet this is from, but I would like to visit it if I could. This whole monstrosity is beyond classification, definition, or even category. It should be put into a class of its own. I don't mean that as negative publicity because I enjoyed the stuff quite nicely. What comes across as dissonant gibberish over some sci-fi cult film sountrack while the post-apocolyptic mutants glow in the radioactive aftermath actually encompasses that mindset and the ability of Christian Vander to weave some complex rhythms and sensitive compositions together in one of the most bizarre and hard to define rock/funk/fusion/opera/new wave/.../.../.../.../etc. bands in history. "Unique" is not even close to an adequate term to describe this incredible form of musical trash. "Original" would be eeven more of an insult. Music is pure emotion, and Magma is absolutely an emotional experience. Play this one for your MTV crowd and see the emotional perplexment that it gives them. Looking to expand your horizons? Magma is the craft for your intergalactic journey. Be prepared. DONDAI!!!!!!!! By the way, the band is from France and the lyrics on this and other Magma releases are in a non-existant laguage fabricated by the band that better represents the musical themes... 'nuff said?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A truly bizarre album, August 24, 2001

By 

Kenneth Burton "brdnrd" (Arcata, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magma Attahk (Audio CD)

I picked this album up in vinyl, at random, years ago in a used record store. At first, I didn't understand or like it, but I kept it and over time it grew on me, although I still don't understand it. The style ranges all over the map, from "soundtrack" rock to modern choral to techno-pop. It's essentially uncategorizable, which perhaps is why I like it. Some of the high-register male vocals are a bit annoying, but the mixed-sex vocal arrangements, particularly on Track 3 (Rinde), are quite nice. It might be fun to get some friends together and write a story to go with the music.