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Magma - Üdü Ẁüdü CD (album) cover

ÜDÜ ẀÜDÜ

Magma

 

Zeuhl

3.79 | 477 ratings

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bartymj
3 stars After Kohntarkosz, things get a little disjointed for Magma. The main trio of Vander, Blasquiz and Top are still here (although Vander and Top were by this point not very fond of each other and Top would leave after this album), as is the occasional appearance from Mrs Vander. Elsewhere we have some guest musicians on the first two tracks, notably Gauthier and Paganotti who played a major part in the second track Weidorje, and would subsequently release their own LP under the same name the next year.

It's a very different style to preceeding Magma albums. The title track is a call and response with several guest female vocalists. Its build around an incredibly repetitive piano riff and has almost a latin funk feel to it with the brass accompaniment. It's catchy but very far removed from their output up to now.

Weidorje is where Paganotti is given the chance to trial his Zeuhl songwriting. It's a bit weak if I'm honest, but is more reminiscent of earlier Magma style.

When you get to Troller Tanz, you realise the funkier groove is here to stay. Here synths are far more important than they've ever been, and are used to pretty good effect.

Soleil d'Ork is a Jannick Top track that he would also re-use in his solo work. Again, with very funk bass grooves, and the percussion gives it a Middle Eastern/Indian feel.

Zombies, for me, is the best track on the album, probably because it is the most reminiscent of Magma's first couple of albums rather than the "new" funk style.

Now to the big track. Written by Jannick Top, De Futura is full of strong bass, ghostly high pitched synths, and unusually basic drumming, and is where Magma seem to disappear into the world of lengthy psychedelic space jams. Thing is, it gets a bit boring. Pretty boring actually. There's no need for 17 minutes of it.

All in all, for me its Magma's weakest album since the beginning, and is perhaps a little disjointed given Christian Vander hands over a lot of the song writing to the rest of the band. But it is important in the development of 'later' Magma, and the solo careers of the personnel involved.

bartymj | 3/5 |

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