ÜDÜ ẀÜDÜ

Üdü Wüdü is an album that I hadn't been paying much attention to yet. Quite unrightfully so. It's an album where Vander eased his control a bit and let the other musicians contribute to the writing. By consequence it is the most varied Magma ever.

The title track is a great RIO piece. Magma's zeuhl is of course closely related to that style but still the differences are clear: this is more playful then anything else they had done, and it introduces experimental elements from classical modernists into their sound. Weidorje comes closer to their normal zeuhl fare with a heavy bass groove and - I think - the first synths on a Magma album.

Troller Tanz is another RIO piece. For people not similar to this style, this Magma album might be a difficult album because of this recurring element. It sure has also cost me some time to fully absorb it. It uses totally different tonalities, that are closer to Arnold Schönberg's experiments then to your average Camel album (to name something). No, this is not your usual sugary-sweet melodious prog snack to say the least.

And on it goes, Soleil D'Ork continues the experimental tendencies. The album is just a good 10 minutes on its way and I've heard more inspiration already then on many artists entire careers. Zombies and Da Futura will probably please most people as these pieces are a continuation of the Köhntarkösz sound. But they're very good so no issue with that.

I think it's a shame Magma only continued one more album down this path. But, as you often see, the fans didn't appreciate the style changes. More of the same is what they wanted and that's what they got in the 30 years since: Magma revisiting their old style on endless compilations and live albums. I'll be very curious to hear what the fuss around the Ëmëhntêht-Rê album is all about... I'll sure hold that 2009 release against this one. In the meantime, 4.5 stars for Üdü Wüdü.