Advice on Magma Request

 

I don't think I fully appreciated Magma until I developed an obsession with the Japanese Zeuhl scene. I was really drawn to the over the top nature of most of the Japanese bands (and the more rock oriented approach to zeuhl most of the bands have). Upon revisiting Magma, I found a greater appreciation of the subtle nuances in the vocal and music arrangements (which I feel is Magma's strength). Live/Hai and K.A are the albums that got me hooked.

To be honest, it sounds like you've acquired a lot of their albums...by all means keep trying, but at some point couldn't you just conclude that you don't like them?  I've certainly dismissed bands based on far less data.

I missed this thread before.

I liked Magma immediately, but my appreciation deepened over time.  Many people have been unimpressed with Magma, wondered what there was to get, or just didn't like it.  Quite  a few of the Magma topic have been on that.  Out of six pages of Magma results, here are some you might find interesting (the first link was not intended in a very serious manner):
Magma
Magma, what's there to get :-)
Magma ... is persistence the key ?
Magma - am I missing something?
Magma?
Magma

Often Live Hhai is suggested as an entry to Magma, but I won't suggest you get another album at this time (though a great album imo).  Watching Magma play live on youtube might help: CLICK

I noticed your topic, Advice on Italian Prog needed where you said

npjnpj wrote: ...The thought of swamps of synth and keyboard seems very interesting, but I have this thing about vocals: I find it very distracting listening to non-English lyrics. So what Italian Prog can you point me to with English lyrics, pereferably without foreign-sounding pronounciation. Oh, by the way: No discrimination intended at all, it's just how it is. Can't listen to most of Krautrock for the same reasons.

So, if that's the case, then I suppose that would make Kobaian harder for you to take.

In my case, I gradually got to know Magma.  I didn't get a whole bunch of albums to start with and listen to them, I started with a  few tracks and had time to let them sink in.  Slowly I got more albums, and each time I gave it time to really absorb it.  I'd take breaks from the music.  Of course there would be tracks that would immediately appeal more than others, and those I'd play more (repeat).  Then really get into the rest of the album when I felt the urge.  Some tracks took longer to really appreciate as I never forced myself to listen to the music (though listening with headphones, of which I now have none always helped me).  I think getting that many albums at one time could present problems if you don't give each album enough time and spins to really sink in.  I'd focus on the album and tracks that you find most appealing.  So much depends on the kinds of music you already like and your particular musical journey.  Magma was an easy fit because it had music that fit my tastes well.

If you haven't explored other Zeuhl, you might get to Magma through other bands.  Maybe try looking for samples of Eskaton, Dun, Weidorje, Zao, Koenji Hyakkei, Shub Niggurath, Bondage Fruit, Nebelnest and others.  But it depends on the music you like -- helps if you're already into jazzy chamber rock, and various music with similar qualities to Magma.

There is also a chance the music of MAGMA does not suit your personal taste.....MAGMA is definitely not for everyone. I like the band, but i can understand, not everyone will turn into a groupie of C. Vander.

febus wrote: There is also a chance the music of MAGMA does not suit your personal taste.....MAGMA is definitely not for everyone. I like the band, but i can understand, not everyone will turn into a groupie of C. Vander.   If i were you, i would start with KHONTARKOSZ or LIVE/hAI......MDK is great but not recommended to start with as maybe the never-ending choir might throw you up!

npjnpj wrote: Cheers for your replies and the links. I'll have to start getting into Magma a bit of a break though, I've been trying too hard and I've got to a stage where I'm almost dreading putting an album of theirs on. I'll give it a break of a few weeks and then see what happens. It's worked in the past, so I haven't given up hope.

It's a band I love, so my exuberance can get the better of me when talking to those who find issue with it.  As Natural Science and Febus said, as well as me in a less direct way, it may be something you never get into.  Trying to like music is not something I do.  I prefer to let it wash over me -- if I dislike it then it's not likely I will develop an appreciation for the music, but if I kind of like it, find something to like, or am intrigued by the music then usually I grow to like the more.  Sometimes I start out liking music and it quickly palls (especially as I get into other music and other other styles of music).

Taking a break is definitely a good thing.  Sometimes I have to evaluate music that I dislike, bur normally I don't try to force myself to listen to music.  It happens to me so often that an album doesn't get me that much on first listen (though I can pretty much always tell if it's something I will grow to like), but some time alter I have the urge to go back to it and it all clicks.  This leads me to play those albums rather incessantly.

For some reason with K.A., which has a retro feel because it's based on work done before by the band, only the first track initially got me, but subsequently the whole album took my fancy in a big way.  I'm not that patient with music. I do tend to look for instant gratification, but sometimes that which is not that gratifying at first I get a strong desire to revisit -- like while not listening to the music my brain has become wired to the music.  If music isn't playing on the stereo, there's almost always music in my head anyway.

There's no reason to feel like you should like the music.  It's a matter of tastes largely -- the kind of music you listen to now, and your music history.  Lots of people don't like Magma, and many people are resistant to, or largely dislike, some or most of my favourite "prog" "genres": Zeuhl, RiO Avant, Canterbury, Electronic, Krautrock, Prog Folk.... Eclectic is a mishmash, so I didn't include that.  Some of my favourites are in that category, and some I really dislike.  Canterbury and Zeuhl may be the categories I most consistently enjoy.

Oh, incidentally, most every Magma thread turns into an appreciation thread (with some detractors).


Edited by Logan - May 30 2008 at 13:46

Logan wrote: Magma Magma, what's there to get :-) Magma ... is persistence the key ? Magma - am I missing something? Magma? Magma