Zeuhl 5

‚Ý‚±‚·‚è‚Í‚ñ wrote: I love the Weidorje album...! It would make my Top 30...It's just one of those records that I never get the urge to play for some reason... Hey Oliver...! A few years back I got offered their unreleased 2nd album on tape. I couldn't confirm if it was Weidorje or not...maybe just a rumour. Do you know anything about this...?

I recently acquired a CD-r of a Zeuhl comp that includes Eider Stellaire's un-released LP and the infamous Weidorje 2nd LP. The sound is not too good [esp. on the E.S. - sonic hell one might even say as the volume levels dip..., but let me tell you, it's frigging sublime anyway, imho. The titles are "1) "Nihil II" 2) "Arclis III"]. The Weid. tunes don't have titles on the disc I have. There are also 2 exceptionally good UPPSALA tunes on the disc:   3) "Everum" 4) "Sans Titre." Another by an unheard of French zeuhl group called EVOHE. No info on where this stuff came from/the source I'm afraid. The hack-job editing on the disc is a horrid terror often, but the music makes is well worthwhile, I promise you!

If anyone's interested, let me know and I can copy some CD-Rs. PM me. I will copy 5 or 6. If there are more requests, we could do a 'tree' - that is, each of the folks I burn a disk for, burns a few too, and passes them on, etc...

Cleo

There are several versions of Kohntarkosz out there, and the 'original' two parter is the one I like least. The Seventh records reissue contains version 2, which is played straight through as a single piece and somehow works a lot better without being radically different. The killer version of the piece, though, is on Live-Hhai. At about the 13 minute mark all the instruments stop except for the Fender Rhodes (which is where the part 1 of the vinyl version ended). The badn re-enters, and Gabriel Federow unleashes an electric violin solo of rare ferocity and precision - the rhythmic interplay between violin, bass, drums and keyboards leaves me breathless every time. There's also the ever ascending scale in part 1, and the conclusion to the piece is pretty stunning as well. It's all a matter of personal taste, though.

And did I mention the version of Theusz Hamtaahk on BBC Londres 1974?

Hey Syzygy,

Forgive me if I'm being over-persistent, but can you give me a better idea of what about or where within Kohntarkosz you get "The Blast." It's a trip but doesn't give me that rush, that shot into the stratosphere, that, say, MDK does. For example, in MDK, there is the concluding movement that just picks up steam and explodes into bar after bar of increasing intensity, peaking and peaking till it all comes to its strong conclusion. MDK has the highs/lows, brights/darks, heavy/lights, male/female choirs and a propulsive force. What about Kohntarkosz moves you in this way?

As for KA, it is truly great and I love it in the way I love almost everything that Magma has released. However, I remember Stella mentioning the album back at a show in, like, 2000 so delayed desire left me with overly-high expectations. As good as KA is, I can't say there is anything compelling enough about it to make me throw it on rather than MDK or WI.

captainbeyond wrote: ‚Ý‚±‚·‚è‚Í‚ñ You're obviously a Zeuhl machine. I deeply appreciate that since Magma is also my favorite band and I've been fortunate to see them 4 or 5 times in the past 6 years or so, although I do not know a fraction of the Zeuhl that you do. Great stuff you've suggested and thank you for sharing your knowledge. The hunt for great Zeuhl continues. However, I was surprised that you (and others) consider Kohntarkosz to be Magma's greatest. I like it, but it is neither my favorite, second favorite, nor third favorite. I find the title track(s) to be a bit clattery and unfocused while not quite matching the force, catharsis or bliss of the greatest Magma material (MDK, WI, De Futura or even Eliphas Levi, in its way). Ironically, the most revelatory track on the album is the atypical and McCoy Tyner-esque "Coltrane Sundia." Let me know what you see that I do not.

 A wonderful track that saves an otherwise disappointing album.

For me Kohntarkosz is Vander's most successfully realised large scale composition, although Wurdah Itah is my overall favourite album from Magma's classic period. And what about the stunning K.A. ?

‚Ý‚±‚·‚è‚Í‚ñ

You're obviously a Zeuhl machine. I deeply appreciate that since Magma is also my favorite band and I've been fortunate to see them 4 or 5 times in the past 6 years or so, although I do not know a fraction of the Zeuhl that you do. Great stuff you've suggested and thank you for sharing your knowledge. The hunt for great Zeuhl continues.

However, I was surprised that you (and others) consider Kohntarkosz to be Magma's greatest. I like it, but it is neither my favorite, second favorite, nor third favorite. I find the title track(s) to be a bit clattery and unfocused while not quite matching the force, catharsis or bliss of the greatest Magma material (MDK, WI, De Futura or even Eliphas Levi, in its way). Ironically, the most revelatory track on the album is the atypical and McCoy Tyner-esque "Coltrane Sundia."

Let me know what you see that I do not.

Great thread,

 I am just starting to enter 'Zeuhl' through the front door with Magma;  as I luckily found nearly all their records in the Parisian library system, I am doing a chronological retrospektive. I just arrived at Live/Hai and up to now my favourite 3 are:

-Köhntarkösz/ Live-Hai/  -1001° Centigrades

to be continued... BTW what band/record should I continue with in terms of musical continuity after Magma?