Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Magma - Magma (1970)


Wot's this? Kobaian jazz? Proto-Zeuhl? Avant-garde jazz rock from another planet? However you might classify the overall style of the debut, it's remarkable that Christian Vander and co were already a kicking unit when they released their debut in 1970. What makes this stand out compared to other albums is the presence of a horn section (including flute, lots of it!), along with the combination of acoustic piano and electric guitars (with a bit of acoustic thrown in too), which makes the overall sound seem like that of an avant-jazz combo (or even big band, given the combination of seven instrumentalists backing the vocals), with a bit of rock'n'roll audacity thrown in for a good measure. Throw in the dynamic Klaus Blasquiz on lead vocals with his strong, operatic voice alternating between creepy basso profundo and manic wailing, interacting with Vander's own distinctive screeching; and you have a jazz fusion sort of album that not only works with vocals, but kind of benefits from their presence. That they sing in their own constructed language, makes it all sound even more eccentric.

The music itself is swell as well, all tracks have something to offer, whether it's the awesome riff and groove of "Kobaia", the haunting flutes of wind player Teddy Lasry's composition "Sohia", the insane vocal operatics with free-jazz backdrop on "Stoah" or the eclecticism of the multi-part "Naü Ektila", where they move from pastoral chamber music like parts to rocky grooves to folky melancholy with acoustic guitar and flutes to jazz-rock jamming with awesome horn riffage and great piano soloing. There's even an awesome Pharoah Sanders like section with shimmering percussion and jovial flute in the final composition "Müh". The music can sound alternately intense and mellow, beautiful and ugly, melodic and dissonant. For every gentle flute passage you'll get to hear strident and dangerous horn blasts. Meeting of jazz and rock implies some sort of duality co-existing and Magma's music here is a challenging array of juxtapositions. All held together by Christian Vander's kick-butt drumming. While it's all more jazz-infused and very different from Magma's later work, it's still remarkable that they pulled off a double album this compelling.

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