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BOURGES 1979

Magma

Zeuhl


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4 stars This official Bootleg is MAGMA trying to go on from ATTAHK towards a new more funk inspired sound, as evidenced on BOBINO'81 and MERCI. Still, the classic MAGMA sound is definitely there, and Christian Vander has excellent support from Rene Garber, Klaus Blasquiz, Stella Vander, Maria Popkiewicz, Michel & Andre Hervé, Jean-Luc Chevalier. Stand-out tracks are a blasting and fiery RETROVISION (superior to the Retrospekîw III and Bobino'81 versions), MDK, Hhaî are also great, but as another reviewer elsewhere said the elongated drum- improvisation track where Christian adds inspired and intense Indian Raga-style singing to his drumming- improv is perhaps the peak of the record. The sound is very good and superior to other AKT releases, it is sourced from the soundboard, only the vocals are muted sometimes. Still this live Magma cd is a must have for every Magma/zeuhl fanatic!
Report this review (#192455)
Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | Review Permalink
4 stars A very nice example of Magma at its very fast/funky/dark approach! A bit too funky to tell the truth, but the musicianship is astonishing, specially on the tracks from Attahk. If you want a nice and representative document of post 77 Magma, this is the place. More intense than Bobino and less "plastic" also. Pay special attention to the "fat" Rhodes and Moog of Hervé and also the strong and oily bass of Michel Hervé. The MDK version is a bit lost in time and are not completely into the jazz fusion era, but rocks anyway. Quite nice sound quality and set list. The vocals shows Blasquiz not at his really best, but the vocal-guitar interludes that goes in some songs that "The last seven Minutes" are huge! Get it to better understand the post-Attahk phase at its best, unfortunately a bit underrated. Vander bring us some powerfull drumming from beggining to end, nothing really related to the cheesy late-70s drum kit sound tat many good drummers insisted to use, Carl Palmer is a good example... Nothing more to comment, a great realease from 7th records. Thank you Magma.
Report this review (#259199)
Posted Monday, January 4, 2010 | Review Permalink
Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of love for this 1979 live release or the Bobino concert from 1981 I just recently reviewed, but as a MAGMA fan both are essential in my opinion. I do prefer this recording overall to the 1981 release but to be honest they almost seem like companions given this particular era of MAGMA which is more mainstream and at times funky when compared to their classic period. By the way this is a double album and that second disk is killer.

Disc one starts off with the short intro track "Entree En Scene" which is an audio of the crowd clapping and cheering as they anticipate MAGMA live. "Retrovision" is really the only track I struggle with as far as my enjoyment goes. The drums and bass are fantastic to start and when the Fender Rhodes comes in i'm smiling. Female vocals come in and this is where my enjoyment of the song plummets, and i'm talking about the chorus which is repeated many times. Everything else about the song is excellent especially the guitar after 7 minutes as the bass throbs. When the male vocals come in before 10 minutes it signals a change to a more intense soundscape. So good. Depite being tired of the chorus on this one there are so many impressive moments over the 16 1/2 minutes.

"The Last Seven Minutes" is an incredible track with the uptempo drumming as the bass growls and the Fender Rhodes comes and goes. Male vocals join in with female backing vocals as well. Instrumentally this one really is an outstanding listen. Check out the synths around 4 minutes in, what a display of talent right there as it goes on and on. Passionate female vocals when the synths stop around 6 minutes. Love the female backing vocals that eventually join in. The guitar becomes the focus after 8 1/2 minutes. "Urgon Gorgo" has some atmosphere to it to start before the drums and keyboards start to lead. Male vocals follow but they are brief, and man this sounds so good. It's intense late. "Korusz XXVI" is the over 21 minute closer to disc one as we get some tasty dissonant sax and drumming for several minutes before Christian offers up a prolonged drum solo including some scat singing. It actually works.

Disc two begins with a brief intro track of the crowd cheering before "Hhai" kicks in. A classic MAGMA track right here as Fender Rhodes and that familiar melody comes in with vocals in tow. This is such a transcendent song. The guitar comes in before 4 minutes and proceeds to rip it up along with the synths. Cool stuff. Love this one. "Nono" is catchy and dark as it builds. How good is this!? Man I love the sound here, in fact this is my favourite song on this recording. The intensity builds then some fairly raw sounding guitar arrives. The synths half way through impress but not as much as the various vocals do. This is like a religious experience I swear. "MDK" is up next and yes I used the short form but this epic 28 1/2 minute track ends the recording. No need(I don't think) to describe MAGMA's most well known composition i'm sure. Interesting to hear the guitar crying out early on then the bass absolutely shakes the foundations briefly. You can feel the anticipation of the audience here. It's after 2 1/2 minutes before that familiar groove kicks in and we get over 25 minutes of music left to enjoy.

Easily 4 stars and another top notch live recording from MAGMA.

Report this review (#1230735)
Posted Saturday, August 2, 2014 | Review Permalink

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