Magma release- 40th anniversary boxset

 

 

 

Also, it would be awesome if someone could scan the booklets and upload them somewhere!

Overall, I think it's a wonderful thing - with some minor complaints. 

 

Besides the two discs of new material, it's great to have the accompanying booklets for each album, with liner notes from various people and commentary from Christian Vander. The box looks wonderful, and the discs are designed beautifully, allowing you to remove the booklets from the digipack if you wish. Bravo!

On the nit-picking side... since they're making most everyone buy albums they no doubt already HAVE, I think it would have been nice if they would remastered the discs to include bonus tracks. I stupidly sold off my original CD of "Kohntarkosz" years ago, so the alternate version of that piece found on the early issue of that CD would have been nice to have. It would also have been highly interesting to hear outtakes from the rest of the albums, or at least pad the discs out with "Simples" and the various other studio recordings that have been legitimately issued here and there. As it is, all the new material is confined to the last two discs – and they're nothing to get very excited about. The alternate "MDK" was already available on the early issue of THAT CD, the film soundtrack material – while interesting, has been squashed with noise reduction, while the 1st album acetates HAVEN'T had noise reduction applied - and should have, since they're full of crackle. The most interesting thing, for me, was the version of "Eliphas Levi" with drumming - then again, I'm probably one of the few people who actually LIKES "Merci." 

Finally, I would have liked to have seen the BACK cover artwork reproduced somewhere in the booklet – and maybe even the original record labels and discographical information. 

Nit-picking aside, however, I'm delighted to have the set – and it's certainly a great way for someone who's just getting into the band to pick up the most important part of their catalog.