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Posts tagged Jannick Top
Lockwood, Top, Vander, Widemann – Fusion (1981) (@256)
30 Dec 2009
(Review from progweed.net)
All four of these men were members of Magma at one time or another. On this album the four of them got together to indulge their desires to play jazz fusion outside the setting of Magma, and the result is pretty good. This album is not your standard fusion; it actually leans more to a more commercial ’80s style of fusion than the usually more interesting ’70s fusion, but gives it an interesting kick in the pants.
The first track, “GHK Go To Miles” is 24 minutes long and is the weirdest and most Magma-like track on the album. It starts funky with Janick Top’s percussive bass and Christian Vander’s impeccable drumming stopping and starting in some rather unusual rhythms. The track gets more melodic and includes interesting violin and keyboard solos by Didier Lockwood and Benoit Widemann.
“Overdrive” is a nice melodic track that vaguely reminiscent of Xaal’s more melodic moments on their first album. The third track, “767 ZX” teeters perilously on the edge of cheesy smooth jazz before it veers into a fast, swinging theme complete with walking bass lines and jazzy violin and keyboard solos. This is the most overtly jazzy part of the album, and it is quite nice (even for someone who doesn’t like “real” jazz) once it gets going. “Reliefs” is the fourth and last song. It has a heavy, funky riff that is reminiscent of Birds of Fire-era Mahavishnu Orchestra.
This is an unusual album that should appeal to anyone who likes fusion and Magma. It is an interesting study in how these four very left-field musicians approached the already stagnating genre of jazz fusion.
Line-up:
- Didier Lockwood / Violin
- Jannick Top / Bass
- Christian Vander / Drums
- Benoit Widemann / Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Prophet 5, Kobol
Track List:
01. GHK go to Miles – 23:59
02. Overdrive – 5:00
03. 767 ZX – 6:50
04. Reliefs – 8:12
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Vander-Top – Paris 1976 (Live) (@256)
29 Dec 2009
(Review from rateyourmusic.com)
When Jannick Top briefly reintegrated Magma in 1976, the band toured under the moniker Vander-Top.
Recorded in Theatre de la Renaissance on November 2nd 1976, this is a wonderful and dynamic live performance from one of the more underrated periods of Magma’s history, with Top’s bass and Vander’s drums featured prominently.
Line-up:
- Jannick Top / Bass
- Christian Vander / Drums
- Klaus Blasquisz / Vocals
- Didier Lockwood / Violin
- Gabriel Federow / Guitar
- Michel Grailler / Keyboards
Track List:
01. Hhai – 8:55
02. La Musique Des Spheres – 22:06
03. De Futura – 25:35
04. Troller Tanz – 4:19
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Magma – Live BBC 1974 Londres (@256)
16 Nov 2009
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
These live BBC recordings of 1974, provide the earliest live versions of these two songs and in many ways it shows — both songs seem to meander along at times, in no hurry at all.
Like “Wurdah Itah”, “Theusz Hamtaahk” begins with a part called “Malawelekaahm”, which is played here in what might be its definitive rendition. The vamp throughout its most intense moment is projected in slow motion, letting each note take full effect before the next is played. It’s as if the band wanted to focus on the space between notes, taking full advantage of a somewhat pared down line up and the lack of a present and eager audience. Also of note is that aside from Blasquiz and Vander, none of the other members of this line up appear on future recordings of this song. As the line-ups changed and the song developed, it seems to have lost the passion with which it is put forth here on its earliest recording. The second half of the song is much less well developed, however, giving way to meandering and lack of balance. It wasn’t as excited as it eventually became (seven years later), but this version has its merits.
“Kohntarkosz”, on the other hand, is here played by most of the same band that went on to record it in the studio later that year. It doesn’t really hold up to the studio version, however, missing the heavenly quality of Stella’s voice, as well as the intensity of the changes. This performance is much more ethereal and sparse, which works amazingly well for the first twenty minutes or so. Claude Olmos’ guitar is much more present that Brian Godding or Gabriel Federow’s in future recordings, which gives this version points. The creeping chant of “Hallelujah” at the end is interesting and pulled the song back out of the ether, but Stella is still missed.
Without a doubt, this one is for the die-hards, but the restrained tempo and variations on both songs make it essential nonetheless.
Line-up:
- Klaus Blasquiz / vocals, percussion
- Claude Olmos / guitar
- Michel Graillier / Fender piano, keyboards
- Gerard Bikialo / Fender piano
- Jannik Top / bass
- Christian Vander / drums, vocals
Track List:
01. Theusz Hamtaahk – 30:03
02. Kohntarkosz – 27:26
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Magma – Inedits (Live 1972-75) (@256)
13 Nov 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
This is an interesting cross section of Magma history, featuring most or all of the definitive zeuhl musicians, sadly slightly marred by murky live recording.
“Opus 3″ sets the standard with its cosmic electric keys and jazzy zeuhl rock variations with Jannick Top doing an extended bass solo, so this is obviously a required recording for maniacal born-again Kobaians. Although these songs were performed between 1972-75, they all remind strongly of the main “Kohntarkosz” theme, what with steady yet subtle rhythm work holding around one chord and those unique funeral jazz moments. It’s been said that Kohntarkosz Anteria was written in 1972 and indeed, memorable snatches of the epic do appear on Inedits.
A definite highlight, “Om Zanka” is flowing piece of 7/8 jazz mood management with Vander soloing against the amazing Benoit Widemann, and neither buries the other. Frustratingly, the quality of the production is most punishing here. Once the duel is over (assumedly called as a draw owing to exhaustion) the traditional Kobaian choirs enter to weave in and out of Lockwood’s violin melodies. It’s stunning and frankly over far too quickly.
If you are under Magma’s spell, don’t disregard Inedits merely because it’s not studio work. Magma fanatics should head here because it’ll help them to come to terms with bootleg quality, and to put names to the songs on the ones they’ve already heard!
Line-up:
- Gerard Bikialko / keyboards (1,2,4,6)
- Micky Grailler / keyboards (1,2,4)
- Benoit Widemann / keyboards (3)
- Francois Cahen / keyboards (5)
- Jean Luc Manderlier / keyboards (5,6)
- Francis Moze / bass (5)
- Jean-Pierre Lambert / bass (6)
- Janik Top / bass (1,2,4)
- Bernard Paganotti / bass (3)
- Claude Olmos / guitar (1,4)
- Marc Fosset / guitar (6)
- Gabriel Federow / guitar (3)
- Didier Lockwood / violin (3)
- Klaus Basquiz / vocals & percussion
- Rene Garber / vocals, bass clarinet (5,6)
- Teddy Lasry / saxes (5)
- Jeff Seffer / saxes (5)
- Louis Toesca / trumpet (5)
- Christian Vander / drums
Track List:
01. Sowiloi+KMX-EXII-Opus3 – 13:47
02. KMX-BXII-Opus7 – 6:20
03. Om Zankaa – 5:37
04. Gamma – 4:10
05. Terrien Si Je T’ai Convoque – 4:03
06. Gamma Anteria – 7:58
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Magma – Wurdah Itah (1974) (@256)
05 Nov 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
Officially a Christian Vander solo album, Wurdah Itah is the work of the core members of Magma’s classic 1973-1976 line up. The album was recorded in just 4 days as the soundtrack to a film version of Tristan Et Yseult, which by all accounts was less than a cinematic masterpiece, but the soundtrack more than compensates for that.
Wurdah Itah is the second movement of Theusz Hamtaahk (Time of Hatred). The third Movement, Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, had been released the previous year, while the first movement, Theusz Hamtaahk, would not be released until 1981 on Retrospektiw (though performed live at the time).
This is a very stripped down version of Magma: no choir, no horn section, not even a guitarist or a second keyboard player. Chris Cutler called it the clearest and most concentrated of Vander’s work, and this album is a good demonstration of the melodic side of Magma. Although it is broken down into 12 short pieces, the album is really 2 lengthy sequences – tracks 1 – 6 (side 1 of the vinyl original) and tracks 7 – 12 (side 2). Live, it is performed as a continuous piece in the same way as Magma’s other epics.
The opening bars are the same as Theusz Hamtaahk, while later on in the album themes that would be more fully developed on MDK can be heard. These leitmotivs give the trilogy a sense of cohesion which which really falls into place when the pieces are heard in order. The wonderful Carl Orff style vocals familiar from other Magma albums are the dominant sound on this album, with Klaus Blasquiz heard to particularly good effect. Jannick Top turns in a superbly judged performance; subtle and understated without a single extraneous note. Vander likewise plays the drums with a delicate precision that the larger Magma line ups sometimes drowned out, while his piano playing is solid and assured and shows the influence of McCoy Tyner from John Coltrane’s classic quartet.
Wurdah Itah is an essential part of Magma’s output from their classic era and is a vital addition to any collection which contains MDK or Kontarkohsz. Whilst it may be atypical Magma, it could well be Christian Vander’s masterpiece. It may even be a likely good introduction to Magma’s Kobaian tales of tragedy and quests for salvation due to its stripped-to-the-bone quality.
Line-up:
- Christian Vander / drums, piano, Fender Rhodes, percussion, vocal
- Stella Vander / vocals
- Klaus Blasquiz / vocals, percussion
- Jannick Top / bass
Track List:
01. Malawelekaahm – 3:37
02. Bradia Da Zimehn Iegah – 2:18
03. Maneh Fur Da Zess – 1:36
04. Fur Dihhel Kobaia – 4:55
05. Blum Tendiwa – 3:29
06. Wohldunt Maem Deweless – 3:29
07. Wainsaht !!! – 2:30
08. Wlasik Steuhn Kobaia – 2:46
09. Sehnnteht Dros Wurdah Sums – 3:24
10. C’est La Vie Qui Les A Menes La ! – 4:58
11. ek Sun Da Zess – 2:16
12. De Zeuhl undazir – 3:40
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Magma – Kohntarkosz (1974) (@256)
04 Nov 2009
(Review from progreviews.com)
Kohntarkosz is a repetitive jazz-rock trance album much like its predecessor Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh (MDK), but where the previous is powerful, brassy, choral, tension building and sometimes violent; Kohntarkosz is mysterious, dark, cool, and hypnotic.
The centerpiece is “Kohntarkosz” Parts One and Two, composed by Christian Vander, which really seems like a single piece lasting about 30 minutes. The simple piano, bass and drum patterns repeat over and over and over in trance-inducing cycles, snaking up and down; the sustained blanket of Doors-sounding keys cast a sinister and psychedelic mood; the occasional intense guitar wails away like a buzz saw. The vocals are usually whispery chants that move with the flow of music; they are not aggressive like MDK. The repetitive patterns in the music are like cartoon spider webs or kaleidoscope images. This aspect seems very related to John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things”.
“Ork Alarm” is slashing horror-movie zeuhl composed by Jannik Top, and “Coltrane Sundia” is incredible with the shimmering, ethereal piano, stops and restarts, and lovely melodies.
Line-up:
- Christian Vander / drums, piano, percussions, vocals
- Jannick Top / bass, cello, vocals, piano
- Klauss Blasquiz / vocals, percussion
- Gerard Bikialo / pianos, Yamaha organ
- Michel Grailler / pianos, clavinet
- Stella Vander / vocals
- Brian Godding / guitar
Track List:
01. Kohntarkosz Part 1 – 15:23
02. Kohntarkosz Part 2 – 16:04
03. Ork Alarm – 5:29
04. Contrane Sundia – 4:14
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Magma – Udu Wudu (1976) (@256)
05 Nov 2007
(Review from progressiveears.com, progreviews.com)
Biting at the heels of its highly praised Magma-Live, the band finds itself trying something very different on Üdü Wüdü for the most part. That first thing being shorter songs with nearly singable melodies. Secondly, synthesizers are introduced into the band’s sonic palette for the first time. The production quality however returns to the dark, murky sound of earlier albums. Vander relinquished some control over the group for this album, only writing about half the music.
The album’s title cut, “Udu Wudu” is the most shocking, mainly for the fact it’s so blasted happy and festive sounding, quite un-Magma-like for certain, but somehow oddly engaging, with it’s Brazilian samba rhythm and huge vocal choruses.
However, the happy-slappy vibe of the title cut is short lived when the band returns to what it does best, spinning tales of life on Kobaia and all its uncertainties, underscored by manic drumming, funky and menacing fuzz bass, lots of horns and those semi-operatic vocal choruses.
“De Futura” is an 18-minute, funky tour-de-force from Jannick Top. This piece practically invents today’s metal-zeuhl scene (a la groups like Happy Family and Ruins) with its crushing bass and heavy, syncopated drums. That is not to say that it’s chaotic or disjunct, but there is definitely a primal aggression at work here that Magma rarely approached. Fierce and fun.
Line-up:
- Christian Vander / percussion, vocals, piano, keyboards, drums
- Jannik Top / bass, Brass arrangements, vocals, synthesizer
- Klaus Blasquiz / vocals
with
- Stella Vander / vocals
- “Lisa” / vocals
- Lucille Cullaz / vocals
- Catherine Szpira / vocals
- Pierre Dutour / trumpet
- Alain Hatot / saxophone, flutes
- Bernard Paganotti / bass, vocals, percussion
- Patrick Gauthier / keyboards
- Michel Graillier / keyboards
- Benoît Widemann / keyboards
Track List:
01. Üdü Wüdü (4:10)
02. Weidorje (4:30)
03. Troller Tanz (Ghost Dance) (3:40)
04. Soleil d’Ork (ORK’ Sun) (3:50)
05. Zombies (Ghost Dance) (4:10)
06. De Futura (18:00)
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Magma – Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh (1973) (@256)
13 Jun 2007
(Review from vintageprog.com, progarchives.com)
Magma from France is one of the leading Zeuhl-bands and lead by Christian Vander. Their albums are based around a concept that told about a planet called Kobaia, and all the lyrics are sung in Kobaian (a language invented by the band themselves!).
As the peak of a mountain disgorges lava and it becomes art , Magma created from this volcano an endless flow of fusion from the gaping mouth/crater between classic (Stockhausen and Orff) , jazz (Coltrane) and transformed it into a rock and it is an extremely fine blend.
The whole album consists of a continuous suite in 7 parts that sounds like absolutely no other progressive rock band. The piece is strongly dominated by a 5-member choir who are singing more or less uninterrupted through the whole album. The rest of the arrangements consist of percussion, organ, piano, bass and various wind-instruments. But the choir remains the most visible part in the sound of this album. The melody-lines are often repetitive and have several memorable “hooks” (if you can use such an expression about this kind of music). The vocals are operatic, since lyrics aren’t understandable, vocals are another instrument increasing the impact of the wonderful music.
Magma managed to integrate several windinstruments, piano, guitars, drums and vocals to an organic mix of raw power, and subtle beauty. Maybe not everybody will like this type of music. But if you do, this could be your discovery of the year.
Line-up:
- Christian Vander / drums, vocals, organ, percussion
- Jannik Top / bass
- Klaus Blasquiz / vocals, percussion
- Jean-Luc Manderlier / piano, organ
- Rene Garber / bass clarinet, vocals
- Claude Olmos / guitar
- Stella Vander / choir organik Kommandeuhr
- Muriel Streisfeld, Evelyn Razymovski, Michele Saulnier, Doris Reihnardt, Stella Vander / choir
- Teddy Lasry / brass organik Kommandeuhr, flute
Track List:
01. Hortz Fur Dehn Stekehn West (9:34)
02. Ima Suri Dondai (4:28)
03. Kobaia Is De Hündďn (3:35)
04. Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanďk (7:48)
05. Nebehr Gudahtt (6:00)
06. Mekanďk Kommandoh (4:08)
07. Kreuhn Kohrmahn Iss De Hundin (3:14)
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