Udu Wudu [Import]

Magma | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 6, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Indie Europe/Zoom
• ASIN: B0000C6VSO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,340 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2003 reissue of 1976 album packaged in a digipak. Charly.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Menacing, evil, and positively brilliant., July 11, 2005

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Udu Wudu (Audio CD)

Wow. Another amazing recording that dazzled me with wild daring and technical excellence (the other being Birds of Fire by The Mahavishnu Orchestra). The music on Udu Wudu (1976) is unlike anything I have ever heard - it is not quite prog or jazz rock, although elements of both can be heard along with Carl Orff and Bartok influences. This stuff is very heavy, with positively excellent drumming/percussion work from bandleader Christian Vander and incredible bass work from both Janik Top (who plays on five of the six tracks) and Bernard Paganotti (who plays on Weidorje only). The bass sound Janik Top gets is just awesome, heavily distorted with lots of octave swoops, although much of his bass work is in the lower register (there is one point where he hits a low B - I am not sure if his E string was tuned lower or used a 6-string bass). Scattered throughout the recording are "evil" sounding synthesizer and bass synthesizer parts, bizarre, almost menacing vocal arrangements sung in a fabricated language called Kobaian, and a pretty cool trumpet/sax arrangement written by bassist Janik Top (on the first piece only). Five of the six pieces on Udu Wudu range from 3-5 minutes in length although the centerpiece of the disc is the lengthy 17'37" De Futura. Evidently, De Futura relates the story of a voyage through time and it is only through time-travel that we can see the people of "Ork". Well, that is what the liner notes say at any rate. This is truly distinct music that has been termed "chamber progressive rock" and spawned a number of similar European bands including Univers Zero and Art Zoyd amongst others. If you like this recording as much as I do, grab the 1975 recording Magma Live - it is where I started exploring this extraordinary band and showcases their considerable abilities in a live setting (although it sounds like a studio work). Although earlier recordings such as Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh (1973) and Kohntarkhosz (1974) only seem to be available as very expensive Japanese Imports, they are praised by fans and are next on my list.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You do Voodoo, October 30, 2007

By 

Chromefreak - See all my reviews

This review is from: Udu Wudu (Audio CD)

This is some serious stuff here. As anyone will tell you, Magma music can put you through some altered states of consciousness if you attend seriously to the vibe of the sound. The epic "De Futura" is of course the killer track here; Jannick Top's unbelievably heavy bass lines literally domiante the track. The previous tracks might have been the soundtrack for the concluding scene of Return of the Jedi--festive, sometimes joyous, always primal. Udu Wudu is not for the faint of heart.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2nd try as good as the 1st!, October 2, 2007

By 

C. Johnson (Saint Petersburg FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Udu Wudu (Audio CD)

I'll be brief. Magma was referred to me back when I was in high school (75-78). I finally picked up Ka - The band's 2004 release. Intrigued with Ka, I started searching for videos on YouTube. What I found was a title that was also on this 1976 album release so I thought I might like it. Magma is a dark, Gothic-classically influenced Jazz, hard rock sound with operatic sounding vocals. The sound is uniquely Magma. I am continually intrigued! I check on various web sites and I have not seen any plans for the band to play anywhere in the United States. I wish they would. Music of this caliber appeals to a small but very enthusiastic audience. This is an excellent spin! This is a good starter album if you want to check Magma out. Recommended!