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Joined: December 20 2010
Location: Tomorrowland
Status: Offline
Points: 12422
Posted: May 22 2012 at 16:07
The Hemulen wrote:
Zombywoof wrote:
Sounds like more exciting music from Christian Vander, to me. Why are we so apprehensive about new releases from classic bands around here? Let's just enjoy the fact that Vander still feels like there's something for him to say.
It would appear also, that I'm the only one who actually likes the new cover art, even the hand-written style of the font.
I'm not, as a rule, apprehensive about new releases from old bands and certainly not when it comes to Magma. I adored K.A. and thought E-Re was pretty spiffy too (though perhaps not quite up to the same standard). I was merely saying that the actual content of those clips didn't really grab me and coupled with the pretty lean overall length of the album left me feeling a lot more underwhelmed than I'd expected.
It seems strange to me that they chose not to record more of the swathes of Magma material which they've been playing live for years but remain without a studio release. A studio version of Theusz Hamtaahk or Sl*g Tanz would have really helped to beef up what's looking to be a pretty lightweight record.
Of course, I could be wrong and when I hear the piece as a whole it may well blow me away. But for now, I'm a lot less excited than I thought I'd be!
I'm afraid I agree with everything here (except that I prefer E.Re to K.A). And the cover looks cheap. Everyone with photoshop can make something better than that in five minutes.
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
Status: Offline
Points: 166183
Posted: May 22 2012 at 16:16
Padraic wrote:
When is this going to be released?
I believe the offical date is May 30th. (Wayside says they shall have it in my mid June.)
Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
Status: Offline
Points: 166183
Posted: May 22 2012 at 21:16
Padraic wrote:
Man With Hat wrote:
Padraic wrote:
When is this going to be released?
I believe the offical date is May 30th. (Wayside says they shall have it in my mid June.)
Thanks.
Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
Joined: April 02 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 202
Posted: July 12 2012 at 16:58
Now that the new album is out, I haven't seen much discussion of it on PA. Rather than starting a new thread I thought I'd resurrect this one so that I can counter some of the earlier negative opinions a little.
I think it's a great album. Even though I'd heard live versions of FT a few times, it hadn't made much of an impression with me but this studio version blew me away first time. It would be fair to say that there's nothing ground breaking about it but it sounds great to me and I'm more than happy with it.
Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Offline
Points: 37232
Posted: July 12 2012 at 17:44
I like it a great deal despite having known all the music off it. I think it's expensive for a short CD. What I like much more about the studio "Felicite Thosz"" is the piano rather than keyboards, which gives it a much fuller and more satisfying sound to my ear. I do wish Magma had made it longer with more material. I can think of some music off Vander's Les Cygnes et les Corbeaux that would would have fit in nicely, or he could have added some more variations. "Les Hommes Sont Venus" could be developed more/ expanded. "Zahr" I would have liked to see trimmed -- not that I'll complain about something so short, but it's just so silly to me.
I guess it's not really a bad thing, but it feels too short for me, which is far better than feeling too long. Maybe because I'm a Morricone nut, but I find listening to some of his music with Edda Dell'Orso after finishing Felicite Thosz somehow gives the album more closure.
Aside from the piano, I really love the vocals on this album. Christian Vander is exuberant, Stella Vander's are beautiful, and the others are terrific. There's a really great male singer on it.
The only two albums I've heard released this year are Rush's and Magma's. I'm not really a Rush fan, but I have a good friend who is, and what a huge difference there is between those albums. I saw an interview with Geddy Lee talking about how Clockwork Angels was one of the band's greatest and how he felt he could finally really do "mellow", which he's struggled with. I think Lee could learn a thing or two from Vander, who I think very good at contrasts.
Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Offline
Points: 37232
Posted: July 12 2012 at 18:16
It is, I think, overpriced for such a short album of music that many of us know earlier versions of already.
It really does surprise me that Vander didn't choose to make a longer album. Most places aren't even selling it already. I think that prices will go down.
Joined: July 31 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 5964
Posted: July 13 2012 at 05:21
Having heard some longer samples on Youtube I'm really excited to hear this one in full now, but I must echo the comments on the offputting price-to-length ratio. I'm generally not a fan of padding out albums, but an extra 10-15 minutes would have made this a much more tempting prospect.
The completist in me shudders at the thought, but I may just get a digital copy from amazon/itunes once it's released on those platforms. It would certainly be cheaper.
Joined: July 02 2008
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 14258
Posted: July 13 2012 at 06:42
hMMM THESE TRACKS ARE VERY DIFFERENT:
That one is repetitive but some nice female vocals, and hardly any music with a tingling hypno rhythm - OK not bad but a bit dull
That was quite easy on the ears for magma, and more of a song then normal, beautiful vocals and really grows on you.
Beautiful piano solo very much just a ELP type piano piece and quite emotional and executed with wonderful drama.
This is more like it - typical Magma, great rhythm, vocals superb and Vander a master on percussion as always. Ver nice female vocals dreamy and haunting.
Hmmm, more very quirky percussion, and weirdness with narratives, spoken word and a French sounding vocals though its perhaps Kobaian. Ok thats enough for me - will have to get this album sometime when I pass a CD shop.
Joined: April 02 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 202
Posted: July 13 2012 at 17:24
Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:
It may be overpriced for a short album but it is excellent and I really enjoy it. Well worth it for me.
I agree. Quality over quantity for me any day.
I accepted a long time ago that my Magma habit was an expensive one. I got off to a reasonable start with the box set but after that I have had to pay full price for everything. But I enjoy the music so much that I don't mind. I even paid £13 for the Floë Ëssi/ Ëktah single, which was much worse value than FT on a pounds per minute basis but I had no regrets.
Anyway, on the whole, CDs are much cheaper these days than they used to be so I look at the bigger picture.
Joined: April 02 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 202
Posted: July 13 2012 at 17:29
The Hemulen wrote:
The completist in me shudders at the thought, but I may just get a digital copy from amazon/itunes once it's released on those platforms. It would certainly be cheaper.
I've done that before now. The "Londres 1974" was one example where I wanted to hear it but couldn't justify the cost of the CD vs the download. If I recall, because it was only 2 tracks, on Amazon it was only £1.98 or something! The thing is that I loved it so much I ended up having to buy the CD anyway!
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Magma releases early version of new album art
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The Hemulen wrote:
Album's been out for a while. 
