MYTHES ET LÉGENDES, VOLUME III

Wow! Much like volume 1 and 2, volume 3 of the Mythes et Legendes series is absolutely stellar. The series is a true culmination of everything Magma has accomplished, and on this volume we see what is to be of Magma in the future. The Kohntarkosz here is everything it was meant to be. The band does a wonderful job of combining the cryptic and eerie elements of the studio version and the energy and instrumental flourishes of the version heard on Live/Hhai. Benoit Widdemann's solo on this version is particularly noteworthy. To me it is one of the peak moments in Magma history, much like the MDK on volume 2. Next they play Lihns to finish off the first set. This is a beautiful song and a much more beautiful version is seen here than on Live/Hhai. Christian's singing is just so gorgeous. Next they play a large portion of Emehnteht-Re which is intended to be the next studio release, but I believe the recording process was severely screwed up with the departure of Antoine, Himiko and Emmanuel. Anyway this is a fantastic performance of an incomplete Emehnteht-Re. All of the parts have been recorded before(Part 1 on Live/Hhai, Rindoh on Attahk, Part 2 on the bonus material of Udu Wudu, Hhai on Retrospektiw 3 and various other places, and Zombies on Udu Wudu) but never together. The instrumental section features a mind boggling solo by Emmanuel Borghi and a spectacular duet with James Mac Gaw and Benoit Widdemann trading 8's and 4's. For the completed version of Emehnteht-Re, look for current bootleg recordings. They're out there somewhere. Next the band plays two smoking hot renditions of compositions from Attahk. Both are much better than the originals and The Last Seven Minutes features another ridiculous solo by Borghi. If you are at all interested in Magma's music buy this DVD. It is a very good starting point for people curious about their music. But I warn you: once you pick up one epok, you'll want the whole damn thing.

It is really important for me in this moment to thank Magma and 7th Records for these DVDs releases, with quite astonishing sound quality and performances. EPOK 3 is definetely the BEST DVD in the serie, mainly by its even more powerful line-up with the addition of Benoit Wiedeman and his wild synthesizers and for the EXCELLENT job of Bussonet and MacGaw, simply driving their instruments like hungry beasts! If EPOK 1 shows a jazzy-Magma, and EPOK 2 the birth of the Magma as we really like and know, this DVD bring us a more developed Magma in therms of "downtempos", improvisation, musicianship connection and spirituality, exactly as it was in the time covered by the show (74-77), from Kohntarkosz to Attahk. The versions presented here are consistent enough to bring fans a lucid picture of Zeuhl at its most impressive and competent way. MacGaw, Bussonet, Widemann and Borghi bring us a climatic and very atmospheric version of Kohntarkosz, similar to that present in Hhaï/Live. The version of Hhaï, sang by Vander is memorable, and shows the "master" in top form, guiding Wideman and MacGaw to an unforgetable duel. NONO, Rindoh and The Last Seven Minutes (especially this last one) are presented with an evil taste of anger, and vander shows, at each note, that his drumming is unique... To those who saw or listened to Magma at his most Zeuhl-Fusion moment, without ruin themselves in cheesy-late 70's ballads, this is the point.

What a group, and what a concert...

If I were to recommend one of the Epok series to a Magma newcomer, it would definitely be this one.

This setlist showcases Magma's range quite well, from the dark, oppressive atmosphere of Kohntarkosz to the uplifting neo-gospel stylings of Linhs and 'm'hnt'ht-R', as well as the more accessible jazz fusion stylings of Nono and The Last Seven Minutes. This setlist feels rich and fulfilling and hits all of the major emotional beats one expects from this incredible group of musicians, from the crushing weight of hell, to moments of poignant reflection and finally to the heights of ecstasy.

This particular DVD, Epok III, sees a considerable step up in sound quality compared to the last two releases. Christian Vander's drums are more appropriately mixed, still full of nuance and texture but not as overbearing and overtly harsh as they were at times on Epok I and II.

While Magma are excellent on album, they're truly a world apart when performing live and thanks to these DVDs, we finally have a small fraction of this integral part of their legacy available on relatively high quality video and audio. The performances here are precise and charged, and although the sound and video quality still isn't quite as fantastic as it could be, it captures far more than any other live Magma offering to date has managed.

If you're new to the group or already a fan of the studio albums (but have never heard Magma live and in high quality,) this DVD and the next in the series, Epok IV, constitutes the holy grail of zeuhl. The apocalypse of humanity has never sounded quite so beautiful.