Magma

The T wrote: Well... Magma for me (the only album I've heard and reviewed, Kohntaktorzs or something) was like a "this is great and very interesting and intellectual but I'm just listening to it because I have to listen to every kind of music" kind of experience. Can't deny the talent and the creativity and anything, but after more than a few listens of the whole thing, I just decided: "Magma.. we have to talk. It's not you, it's me"   Funny how the worst post ever (well, one of them) can lead to interesting discussion. The first post should be deleted, changed to "i don't like Magma. Comment" and everything would be fine.   But of course, nothing beats a good troll-hunting...

Feel the same way T.

I watched some of their videos on Youtube and just said; "Well, I can appreciate this, but it's just not my cup of tea."

The debut is almost symphonic and VdGG/Genesis like in a few places, so that's the most accessible.

Of course, Magma deliberately made the Univeria Zekt album for the purpose of trying to win people over.

I also had an easy time enjoying them.

The first album I heard was Retrospektiw I-II.  Theusz Hamtaahk blew me completely away!

The first time I heard Magma, it was on a bootleg that featured MDK and Sowloi.  I remember that my reaction was that I was intrigued but hardly blown away.   But I did get the real MDK and tried out 1001 Centigrades, and that hooked me.

James wrote: I also had an easy time enjoying them.

Yep, me too.  MDK, first coupla bars, instant love.

James wrote: The first album I heard was Retrospektiw I-II.  Theusz Hamtaahk blew me completely away!

I'm not very well placed to offer 'first Magma' suggestions (given that I'm totally biased, and don't know what it feels like to be put off by hearing them!) but my pick would indeed probably be 'Retrospektiw I-II'.  It's less claustrophobic-sounding than some of the studio stuff and shows off a couple of their best compositions, in an atmospheric live setting.  I'm trying to write a review of it at the moment, so I'll say no more about that for now!

It's quite funny how some people react with sheer outrage simply from hearing some music they don't like very much.  Almost as if the musicians have personally insulted the disgruntled listener's mother.

All I can say about my first impressions is that... before I heard Magma, I assumed they'd be horrible, pompous and unlistenable, and it might just be the fact that they weren't that made such a strong impression on me!  I thought it was going to be undisciplined, self-indulgent pap, but instead I heard unity and sincerity.  I thought the mythology and made up lingo would be silly and annoying, but instead of meaningless 'mouth noises' I heard actual emotion being expressed.

But the original poster probably isn't interested in all that, so I'll shut up.

Chacun à son goût!

^whether or not the OP cares, it's a good post. o:)

I got hooked by listening to K.A. (since it was more easily available than any of the '70s albums) and it only took one attempt. going back through their work I found 1001 Degrees, Kohntarkosz and the debut significantly harder to enjoy but now those are my favourite three recordings by them. I'm fairly sure they've helped me to enjoy jazz as prior to discovering their music I avoided all of its forms - now I'm just extremely wary of the genre, which is an improvement. =P

James wrote: Is Merci that bad is it?

*giggles at how insistent the question sounds*

debut: five stars
retros un et deux: five stars
theusz hamtaahk: fiiiiiive stars
merci: fail

I reviewed Merci and decided it wasn't worth being nice, but a lot of the actually-good reviewers here gave it a more carefully considered three so maybe you'd like it *a little*. Even so, it's not worth trying until you've heard everything else by the band, because this sort of fixation makes you not much better than a Collins-era Genesis still-goodite. o:)

laplace wrote: ^whether or not the OP cares, it's a good post. o:)

D'you mean mine?  Ooh, if so, thank you.

Just posted my 'Retrospektiw I-II' review... which is definitely overlong and quite possibly overly ecstatic, but never mind!  All these opinions must have their outlet!

[And I honestly promise to review something other than Magma next.  Although it might well be something else Zeuhlish...]

I find Magma's world, concept, mythology more interesting than almost any imaginative worlds(Shakespeare has a great writing here on the subject, in the blog section).

Avantgardehead wrote: I liked this band for about a week. Not much going on that would really hold my attention or provide an enjoyable listening experience.

lol

^^^^ I know if I wrote what that OP wrote, people would be friggin taking out contracts on me.

Edited by Squonkman - April 25 2008 at 16:20