kobaia [Import]

Magma | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Import [Generic]
• ASIN: B0000076GB
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #645,077 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Available again at a new low price for a limited time. Digitally remastered and authorised by the group. Reissue of theveteran French prog act's 1970 album. Standard double jewelcase.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dark, thick, funky, heavy, intense, deep, complex, so good, September 28, 2005

By 

Strobe Lights And Blown Speakers (Louisville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: kobaia (Audio CD)

From the beginning, you can clearly tell that it is Magma (I was acquainted with their later work, like _MDK_ and _Üdü Wüdü_ before I had ever heard this, their debut) - the trademark choral-like vocals, Christian Vander's fluid and dexterous jazzy drumming, the experimental aesthetic and engrossing atmosphere. What makes this album much different from any other Magma I have heard is that it is basically full-on JAZZ FUSION with their experimental trademarks and nuances. But not fusion in a "rock band with saxophone" kinda way; they use saxophone, flutes, trumpet, and contrabass more effectively and in a more engaging manner than 99% of all straight-up jazz bands.

AND IT IS PLAYED FIERCELY. The pacing of this album is crazy. _Magma_ announces to the world an incredibly original, innovative, and f---ing amazing band that is bursting with energy and ideas. This album is just so fun to listen to because of the pacing, but it has such depth to it that it is so easy to get lost in by analyzing the instrumentation and complexity of the arrangements.

Basically, if you enjoy Magma at all, this is among their best work (in fact, the only other Magma album I like more is _Mëkanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh_). If you don't know too much about Magma, here's what this album kinda sounds like: Miles Davis _Dark Magus_ (the dark, thick, funky fusion) bred with Godspeed You Black Emperor _Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada_ (the intensity and emotional weight it carries) bred with King Crimson _Red_ (the basic aesthetic and metal-ness that KC has) - but this album predates all of those. This is totally and completely essential.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you have a passion for Magma, you need this album, October 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Nyon, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: kobaia (Audio CD)

You love Magma or you don't. No half measure. If you are in the first category, then you need the complete collection. This double album is somewhat calmer that their usual music, more melodious, with fully developed pieces.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Beginning, December 4, 2005

By 

DigitalMan (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: kobaia (Audio CD)

I have been listening to the music of Christian Vander for many years now, and it is difficult to remember back to how and when I was first really exposed to his life vivifying music. But I do know that this was the first album of his work that I ever owned.

And what an album it is! This is the very first album of Vander's most well known band Magma and it remains to this day an incredible and powerful listening experience. There are other Magma CD's (and indeed, other Vander related projects) which move me even more than this one does, but this one will always hold a special place with me due to the fact that it is the first I owned and the real birth of Vander's exhaustive and wonderful musical output.

For the uninitiated who are truly seeking a rigorous and wonderful musical listening adventure, I do recommend starting here and then continuing on through Vander's incredible body of work.