SOLEIL D'ORK

Jannick Top was a Magma bassist for years. This album is his debut (but in fact it is a collection of his solo pieces, recorded during some years). Some Magma musicians participated on this recording, so it is not strange that music there is zeuhl.

I am not a Magma maniac, even if I can find many their moments quite interesting. So, speaking non-Kobaian language, what the listener can find there?

Very characteristic bass from Jannick for sure. Then, tribal drumming, strongly Carl Orff influenced neo-classical chorals. Dark industrial atmosphere. Some funky groove. Hypnotic pulsation. In whole - strange parallel world. Can't imagine someone can love this music, but for sure it is not your regular sleepy neo-symphonic clone. Music for adults with interest on other side of life.

Are these compositions interesting? Yes, for sure. Is this music pleasant? No way!

Possibly I am not enough deep in Kobaian world, but if early Magma's albums sounded as picture of outer world (space?) for me, with all that meKaniK dark industrial totalitarian sound, this Jannick album, strongly Magma-influenced, sounds as soundtrack for excursion to cold-war time Soviet bunker (we have such kind of entertainment for tourists there, and it is an expensive one).

Great thing with this music is - it works. Bad thing - how much I am interested to accept this soul-destruction meKanism flying around of my rebel's soul. Anyway, this music is not soundtrack for escalators.

Possibly valuable release for Magma fans. For all others - just think twice before you will push "Play" button.