ATTAHK

After the disjointed Udu Wudu album and departure of Jannick Top, Christian Vander took Magma in a slightly different direction, building on the funkier feel to try and get more commercial success, with some R&B styles thrown in.

This is signified by the aptly titled "The Last Seven Minutes" opening track, which holds all the hallmarks of Zeuhl style in a frantic, fast paced opener which is almost an overture of the entirety of Magma Zeuhl to date. I quite like this track.

'Spiritual', also aptly named, is pretty much a Zeuhl Gospel choir. The female vocalists may even be singing 'Happy Day'. Its very very far removed from Mekanik Destruktiv Kommandoh! Probably the first ever Zeuhl track you could get up and dance to. On that basis, wont' be for everyone, but perhaps a guilty pleasure for many.

Rind-e is one of a few tracks dotted around the Magma repertoire that would later be wrapped up into the Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré saga. Although still beautiful in its own way with some lovely piano work its a sudden departure from the previous track.

In Liriïk Necronomicus Kahnt we're back to funk, with vocals sounding like they're being mumbled through a kazoo over disco-like drumming and bass. Not a fan of this one.

Maahnt brings back in the fast paced drumming and bass riffing similar to the opening track, but coupled up with a range of bizarre noises, shrieks, belches plus some brass. Another I struggle with.

Piano-based beauty returns in Dondai, a much calmer track than the last couple, and with a Stella Vander-led choir. The track is made even better by a slow build into more dramatic vocals and fuzzy bass in the second half. Probably the best track on the album for me.

Nono - the track of the hi-hat. A strangely suspense building closing number.

All in all, better than Udu Wudu, but not at the heights of "proper" Zeuhl. Worth repeat listens though. 3.5 stars