Magma?

It's about a soul that becomes mechanic, and loses itself  and disintegrates into a  sensless machine

Yes but...........the music??????!!!!!!!!

It's an extract from a longer piece, which is part of Magma's epic about Earth's contact with the planet Kobaia. To be brutally frank, the story's a load of old toffee but the music is fantastic - Magma sang in their own language most of the time, so nobody except them really understands the lyrics.

nacho wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Yes but...........the music??????!!!!!!!! Music? What music? OK, give it some time: every time I listen to it I find it less disgusting...

I've listened to the Mekanik Kommado one about 3 times.  I still find it impenetrable and plain weird.  Zeuhl is not for me.  I rather like the language/concept aspect (big science fiction fan), nice tough Vander.

I was immidiatly hooked to Magma's musick, quite accesible actually.

Before listening to it I expected something more strange, but I like them a lot, from first listening on.

I happen to download a bunch of canterbury and zheul songs from the archives, for make a compilation: Magma, National health, Gong, Picchio, Egg, Samla, Soft machine and Shub Niggurath. Very challenging to get from the beginning, but awesome stuff. Magma, very operatic: it brings to my mind memories of Carmina Burana.

The concept of Magma is not that interesting, IMO. But the music is FANTASTIC!

I've never thought Magma was very weird... no more weird than 20th century classical or Zappa might be. They just make damn good music (to my ears), and that's enough for me.

I love Magma. Definitly an aquired taste. Their music is rather hipnotic and has many constant rhythms. I saw them in San Francisco(1999) for their first American appearance. A total religious experience. There is always mixed feelings from this band. They went through lots of personell changes and are still around today.  

Edited by strawberry

I absolutely love Magma, my aquaintance with them started likewise with the download of "Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanik" off this website, first I thought "what the heck?", secondly I began to think it was funny, and material for a good laugh with all the high-pitched voices and wierd language, and finally it really got to me as a truly fantastic piece of music, and I couldn't rest until I got hold of a copy of the "Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh" album. I have now Magma's first 4 albums (all on vinyl of course) and It's really hard to tell which one is the best, as they are all GREAT.            

As to what it is about, here is what Chrsitian Vander wrote in the linear notes of the vinyl:

"End of Side 1 & Start of side 2 (where "Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanik" begins.):

Now they can chant the exercising hymns which take one to the State of Grace - The Supreme State. Eternety is nearing and they can feel it."

(Vander 1973)

It's a bit silly, but if understood correctly, "Da Zeuhl Worts Mekanik" is a hymne that will take you to the State of Grace   

btw here are "the lyrics":

HORTZ FUR DEHN STEHKEN WEST
HORTZ ZI WEHR DUNT DA HERTZ
HORTZ DA FELT DOS FUNKEHR
HORTZ ZEBEHN DE GEUSTAAH
HORTZ WIRT TLAIT UTS MITLAIT
HORTZ WIRT TLAIT UTS MITLAIT
HORTZ WIRT TLAIT UTS MITLAIT
HORTZ WIRT TLAIT UTS MITLAIT
HORTZ FUR DEHN STEHKEN WEST
HORTZ DA FELT DOS FUNKEHR
HORTZ ZEBEHN DE GEUSTAAH
HORTZ WLASIK KOBAIA (twice)

Fuh mehn fuhl ehndoh litaah , ehndoh litaah, ehndoh litaah (4 times)
Dowisehndo siwehn do loi, siwehn do soi, iuwahn sin doh (4 times)
Iss iss wihl iss wowosehndo (4 times)
Dowisehndo siwehn do loi, siwehn do soi, iuwahn sin doh (twice)
Iss iss wihl iss wowosehndo, iss iss wihl iss wiwidondai (twice)
Wiwidondai (8 times)

owerïsi wehlo woseweh, owerisi wehlo woseweh (16 times)
Fuh mehn fuhl ehndoh litaah , ehndoh litaah, ehndoh litaah (16 times)
Fuh mehn fuhl ehndoh litaah (4 times)

Ioss owehri, oh oh rehbidoi (4 times)

eweleweh soi soi, eweleweh loi (4 times)
Ist iih dowehriso (8 times)
Ehl ehl ehl ehl ehl Wlasik KOBAIA (8 times)

 

      

Edited by ummagumma08