MAGMA [AKA: KOBAÏA]

Like many reviewers have noted before me, there aren't many bands that have the guts to start their career with a double album. Allow me to take this fact one step further - not only did Magma debut with a double album, but they also invented a whole language and a damn interesting science-fiction story to go with it! And was it worth it? Well, let's see...

"Magma", sometimes called "Kobaïa", is where it all begins. The first disc tells us about the voyage of a group of disillusioned Earthlings, towards the newly discovered planet Kobaïa. Their goal is to start anew - to create a spiritual, advanced and above all peaceful society, unlike that of their doomed home planet. Disc two chronicles the first time on Kobaïa and eventually, a disastrous attempt to reunite with the people of the Earth.

"Magma" is a different vehicle - Zeuhl had not yet been developed when this was recorded, so the music is genrally much closer to pure avant-garde jazz with only a few links to later masterpieces such as "Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh" or "Köhntarkösz". Make no mistake, though - it's a fantastic album. The first disc does not contain a single moment of filler. Vander and his colleagues pull all stops to tell the story, and considering that most of the words are unintelligeble, they're doing a damn impressive job. In my humble opinion, the first half of "Magma" is probably the best thing they ever recorded. Disc 2 is unfortunately a bit weaker and experimental to the point where it begins to grate a bit. Only this prevents the album from being a sheer masterpiece.

All in all, this is probably one of the better starting points for people who want to give Magma's music a try. Had the second half been on the same level as the first, I wouldn't have hesitated giving this album 5 stars - however, it is still a very solid album and a worthy and important part of Magma's catalogue!