Magma
Background information
Origin	France
Genre(s)	Progressive rock, Zeuhl
Years active	1969- present
Label(s)	Seventh Records
Website	seventhrecords.com myspace.com/magmaofficial
Members
Christian Vander Stella Vander Isabelle Feuillebois Himiko Paganotti Antoine Paganotti James MacGaw Emmanuel Borghi Frédéric d'Oelsnitz Philippe Bussonnet
Former members
Francis Moze Jannick Top

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. A remarkable aspect of Magma's albums is that Vander actually invented a constructed language, Kobaïan, in which most lyrics are sung. Later albums told different stories set in more ancient times; however the Kobaïan language remained an integral part of the music. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Zeuhl is an adjective in Kobaïan, the constructed language created by Christian Vander, drummer and founder of the French band Magma. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Christian Vander (born February 21, 1948) is a French drummer and musician and founder of the band Magma, whom sing their songs in Kobaïan, a constructed language. ... Francis Moze is a French bass player, best known for his work in Magma, Gong and Pierre Moerlens Gong. ... Jannick Top is a French bass player and composer, born in Marseille. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) The Eiffel Tower in Paris, as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Christian Vander (born February 21, 1948) is a French drummer and musician and founder of the band Magma, whom sing their songs in Kobaïan, a constructed language. ... A constructed or artificial language — known colloquially as a conlang — is a language whose phonology, grammar, and/or vocabulary have been devised by an individual or group, instead of having naturally evolved as part of a culture. ...

Considered by many to be musically adventurous and imaginative, Magma makes extensive use of the choral format, their album Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh being particularly reminiscent of the classical composer Carl Orff, while Wurdah Itah reveals connections to Béla Bartók's piano music and "Les Noces" by the Russian master Igor Stravinsky. Work by Magma is also highly influenced by jazz saxophone player John Coltrane. This article is about choirs, musical ensembles containing singers. ... Carl Orff Carl Orff (July 10, 1895 – March 29, 1982) was a 20th-century German composer, most famous for Carmina Burana (1937). ... Béla Bartók in 1927 Béla Viktor János Bartók (March 25, 1881 – September 26, 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and collector of Eastern European and Middle Eastern folk music. ... Igor Stravinsky. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ... John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967), nicknamed Trane, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. ...

So many musicians played with Magma over the years, who then went on to form their own solo projects and/or spinoff acts, that the Kobaian term Zeuhl came to refer to the style of these bands and the French jazz fusion/symphonic rock scene that grew around them. Beyond Christian Vander, the drummer/composer, the most well-known of the old Magma lineup was probably Jannick Top, the bassist/co-composer. Zeuhl is an adjective in Kobaïan, the constructed language created by Christian Vander, drummer and founder of the French band Magma. ... Jazz fusion (or jazz-rock fusion or fusion) is a musical genre that merges elements of jazz with other styles of music, particularly pop, rock, folk, reggae, funk, metal, R&B, hip hop, electronic music and world music. ... Symphonic rock is a subgenre of rock music, and more specifically, progressive rock. ... Christian Vander (born February 21, 1948) is a French drummer and musician and founder of the band Magma, whom sing their songs in Kobaïan, a constructed language. ... Jannick Top is a French bass player and composer, born in Marseille. ...

While Magma's recordings remain relatively hard to find, Christian Vander and Jannick Top together keep Magma's back catalog in print on CD.

Discography

Excludes numerous compilations. The compilation "Spiritual" is pirated material lifted from other albums. Magma sees no profit from either this recording or from releases by the Charly and Tomato labels (primarily "Üdü Wüdü" and "Live/Hhaï").

Studio Albums

• 1970 Magma
• 1971 1001°Centigrades
• 1972 The Unnamables (as Univeria Zekt)
• 1973 Mekanïk Kommandöh (not officially released until 1989)
• 1973 Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh
• 1974 Wurdah Ïtah
• 1974 Köhntarkösz
• 1976 Üdü Wüdü
• 1978 Attahk
• 1984 Merci
• 2004 K.A. (Kohntarkosz Anteria)

Other Material 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Singles from Magma Released: 1970 (Philips 6009-59) Magma (reissued under the name Kobaïa) is the debut album by Zeuhl artists Magma, which was released as a double-LP in 1970. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh is an album released by French progressive rock band Magma in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Singles from Köhntarkösz Released: 1974, Vertigo Records 6061-800 Köhntarkösz is an album released by French progressive rock band Magma in 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... K.A. (Kohntarkosz Anteria) is an album released by French progressive rock band Magma in 2004 (see 2004 in music). ...

• 1975 Live/Hhaï
• 1976 Inédits
• 1981 Retrospektiw (Parts I+II)
• 1981 Retrospektiw (Part III)
• 1986 Mythes Et Legendes Vol. I (compilation)
• 1992 Les Voix de Magma (live)
• 1994 Akt IV (Theatre Du Taur Concert, 1975)
• 1995 Akt V (Concert Bobino, 1981)
• 1996 Akt VIII (Bruxelles - Theatre 140, 1971)
• 1998 Floë Ëssi/Ëktah (EP)
• 1998 Simples
• 1999 Akt XIII (BBC 1974 Londres)
• 2001 Trilogie Theusz Hamtaahk (Concert du Trianon), DVD
• 2006 Mythes et Légendes Epok 1, DVD
• 2006 Mythes et Légendes Epok 2, DVD
• 2007 Mythes et Légendes Epok 3, DVD

Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Discographic notes

Magma's Theusz Hamtaahk trilogy is composed of three movements : Theusz Hamtaahk (first appearing on the Retrospektiw (Parts I+II) album), Wurdah Ïtah, and Mëkanïk Dëstruktïw Kömmandöh.

The K.A. (Kohntarkosz Anteria) and Köhntarkösz albums are respectively the first and second parts of a second trilogy. Although never surfaced in full, at least parts of the missing movement Emëhntëht-Rê have been recorded, two snippets appearing as a bonus tracks on the Seventh Records CD reissues of Live/Hhaï and Üdü Wüdü. Emëhntëht-Rê is currently being completed by the band and is expected to be their next album, for release in 2008.

The Unnamables was recorded as Univeria Zekt and is widely considered to be an easier listen than most of Magma's recordings.

Wurdah Ïtah may technically be a Christian Vander solo project, in that it was composed entirely by him, bore his name during its original release as the soundtrack for the film Tristan et Iseult, and did not feature all of Magma's then-current musicians. It did bear the Magma logo, however, and Vander has referenced it as a Magma album.

After Hhaï, the focus shifted away from the spiritual/epic poem aspects of their music. While Attahk and Üdü Wüdü do have some songs written in Kobaian, it was never revealed how these fit into the earlier story structure Magma had built.

Les Voix and Floë Ëssi/Ëktah were performed by Vander with a completely new lineup. The style was somewhere between the classic Magma sound and the more jazz-influenced music of Vander's post-Magma band, Offering.

Simples consists of several earlier Magma prog-rock epics edited down to a length that the band had originally hoped would garner them radio airtime during the 1970s.

In November 2004 Kohntarkosz Anteria or K.A. was released on Seventh Records, the first recording of a lengthy work written 30 years before, bridging the gap in the Kobaian saga between MDK and Kohntarkosz. Magma's lineup was different for this disc; the only original members were Christian and Stella Vander. Reviews were almost unanimously positive, many considering K.A. the equal of any of the '70s classics.

Critical reception

The band has a number of high-profile fans. World famous snooker player Steve Davis is one of their biggest fans, and even organised a concert in London so he could watch them.^[1] Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. ... Steve Davis OBE (born August 22, 1957) is an English professional snooker player who was born in London and lives in Brentwood, Essex with his wife and two sons. ...

Prolific drummer Zach Hill (best known for his work in Hella) stated in the August 2006 issue of Modern Drummer magazine that Christian Vander is his favorite drummer of all time. Punk rock singer John Lydon stated that he loved Magma.^[2] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hella is a musical duo from Sacramento, California. ... John Joseph Lydon (born January 31, 1956), also known as Johnny Rotten, is an EnglishIrish rock musician. ...

Antoine de Caunes wrote a biography of the band. Antoine de Caunes (born 1 December 1953 in Paris, France) is a television comedian, actor and writer. ...

References

1. ^ My Obsession (The Observer, March 7, 2004)- Steve Davis interview
2. ^ "The Public Image" - John Lydon interview.

Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

External links

• Seventh Records, Christian Vander's record label
• Utopic Records, Jannick Top's record label
• Magma at MusicBrainz
• Magma at All Music Guide
• Partial Kobaian to English dictionary
• Magma playing Mekanïk Kommandöh in 2006 at YouTube (Vander, Top, Blasquiz present)
• http://www.furious.com/perfect/magma.html Magma site, includes interview with Christian Vander
• http://members.aol.com/sleeplessz/ Fan Site
• http://www.danbbs.dk/%7Em-bohn/magma/ Fan Site