KÖHNTARKÖSZ

Another magnificent album BY Magma, I liked it the first time I listened to it and was convinced straight away that this deserves five stars because of the energy and imagination in the music. This is probably the darkest sounding album in the Magma catalogue. Kohntarkosz part one kicks off with a dark jazzy introduction, Vander punishing his drums, Topp's bass roaring, then starts the theme tune, Blasquiz fine operatic voice singing away in their bizarre Kobaian language, Its full of darkness energy and dynamite, slowly building up with great mysterious keyboards, and the beautiful female backing voice of Stella Vander, after the dramatic introduction, the darkness continues, but it is beautiful!,sinister but devine, mysterious and glourious. To some Kohntarkosz part one may sound slightly repetitive, but you have to be in the moment you have to really listen not recommend driving music or easy listening. The music is more of a show, and audio theatre, and a passionate building trance; treat it like that and you'll be immersed into a world of power and wonder. You can hear great subtlies such as great guitar and hissing vocals. It ends with lovely soothing piano which also is the sound of the introduction to Kohntarkosz part two, it somewhat raises the mood, don't be mistaken this piece is not depressing its dark but fulls me with a great joy and happiness because this music is excellent.

The version of Kohntarkosz that I own, has Kohntarkosz part two start straight away, the soothing piano continues where it left off on part one, with some lovely singing by Vander, it is very pretty and uplifting, but then it gets sinister again with those again mysterious sound keyboards and Vander quietly rumbling at his drums, the piano creates a building tension with the keyboards giving the music a sense of uncertainty and anxiety, both Stella Vander and Klaus Blasquiz have scared ghostly voices, that soon add to a mounting and tense music, Topp adds his rich dark throbbing bass which I think is wonderful, that energy of Kohntarkosz part one is building up again taking you away into into that mad world again. The guitar does excellent exercises and adds a fine screetching nightmarish addition, you feel that the whole bands is going to explode with their energy with the speeding up the climbing vocals where is this climax leading us to?. The voices screatch, and chant away with passion and excitement, this is what I love about Magma they were always passionate about the music they performed and gave it their all. The piece ends with the merciless sounding beats of the bass and drums and thenwith dark deep voices that sound similar to the chants of buddist monks, but herwe it is to add to the dark textures and richness to the music.

Ork Alarm is just incredible Jannick Topp wrote this piece, showing that he was an emerging songwriter in the band. It has great dark feel to it it reminds me of the gargoyles in Notre Dame. It sounds very classical with the violins and cellos and may have been a key influence on Inivers Zero. The voices are wonderful ; deep and rich. I cannot describe it in much detail bacause I don't have words to describe it except for that it is wonderful and grand sounding, and is perhaps the epitome of dark prog or just darkness itself, a surreal nightmare of beauty ( a contridiction I know but listen to it yourself and you'll now what I mean). Great guitar on that piece as well but the drums appear to be absent. The music ends with this evil laughter and stamping sound.

Coltrane Sudia, I presume was a tribute to the late John Coltrane, whom Vander is a great fan of. Primarily piano, guitar and vocals. The song is a beautiful classical sounding piece, very nice and soothing sounding it has a sound of hope to it, which perhaps is there to relax the listener after such dark and tense music, It ends the album quietly and gracefully, the song is reminiscent of other progressive cotemporaries,in my opinion, the guitar sounds similar to Robert Fripp's work.

Great musicianship, and a sense that a lot of love and energy has been put into this album. Five stars. Get it, its essential and a masterpiece.