CHRISTIAN VANDER: TRISTAN ET ISEULT [AKA: ẀURDAH ÏTAH] (OST)

Not very different from MDK, so another masterpiece. The second chapter of this "reverse- order" trilogy is at the same level of its predecessor with just two main differences: first of all as many other reviewers have correctly underlined this is officially a Christian Vander's solo album. Second difference, no brasses or orchestra here.

Being played by less instruments/instrumentists, doesn't make it sound flat and allows a full appreciation of the composing and arranging skills of Vander.

The repetitive parts are what I prefer in Magma's music. I mean when vocals are rhytmically repeated to increase the strength of the rhythmic parts. The way they alternate with jazzy moments is unique.

The best tracks are, for me, the two with the word Kobaia in the title. I don't speak Kobaian and I'm not intentioned to learn it. I sometimes take care of lyrics as they can provide a key to understand what an artist is trying to communicate. This is not the case with Magma.

I have never payed attention to the Kobaian stuff and I have learned that there was a trilogy only reading other's reviews. The reason why I listen to Magma is that I like their music and their vision of music. In their specific case, not knowing what the songs are about leaves me the possibility to imagine situations, build images in my mind and give to the music a meaning that it may not have.

So even if there are lyrics and choirs (and the incredibly voice of Stella Vander), I listen to this album as to a long instrumental suite able to evocate imagines and situations as other great instrumental suites are able to do.

Sticking more to this album, it's a classical Magma release in the vein of MDK and reaches the same huge results even without the orchestral parts. Vander is more known as drummer but let me remark his piano playing, too.

It's a masterpiece. Of course one has to be a Zeuhl fan or at least wishing to discover what Zeuhl is to appreciate it, so not for neo-prog fans but I can't rate it with less than 5 stars. C'est la vie qui les a menés là.....