INFERNAL MACHINA

This album is HUGE for people who think that Jannick Top is underrecorded and underappreciated. He is a master of his instrument on a level that few besides maybe Coltrane and Vander have accomplished. We first saw his composing style in the epic De Futura from Udu Wudu. His next major composing efforts were in his band STS with the jazz epics Spirales and Systeme Solaire. Now this. I believe it is part of the third cycle of the Theusz Hamtaahk Trilogy, of which De Futura is also a part, given the extensive list of Magma personnel on the album(including Vander himself) and Magma quotes including a long passage featuring the De Futura anthem. Top's composing style is much more minimalistic and atmospheric than Vander's and has more of a rock feel, but the effect is on par with the Magma compositions. Top's playing on this album is brilliant, demonstrating both his control and wide range of styles and technique throughout. And the second half of the album with Vander on drums is something Magma fans have been waiting for since Fusion in 1981: a studio recording with a Vander/Top rhythm section. This musical pairing is unrivaled. This album is something to be thankful for for Magma and Jannick Top fans.