Best Magma studio albums ?

[zzorchering]

Sorry - another Magma thread!

As recently mentioned on here, I've been working my way through the Magma Kohnzert Zund CDs &, thanks to contributors on this board and extensive listening over the last week or so, I've quickly come to appreciate just how amazing this band is.

However, I don't yet own ANY of their studio albums, and although there have been some reissues, I appreciate that many of their "classics" are 1970's recordings.

I've already had some studio albums recommended in answer to my previous theread, but taking into account BOTH the content and - just as importantly - the recording / audio quality, which studio albums are the key purchases / where to start? Are the recently remastered CDs noticably better, or should I just pick up the original CDs for a significantly lower price (plus there don't appear to be that many albums remastered anyway).

Thanks - no doubt there'll be a wide range of opinions / answers!

[Trane]

Studio albums only (please note that all of their 70's album are not very well produced because of studio limitations of the times)


Kobaia (70)
1001°C (71)
Kohntarkosz (74)
Üdu Wüdu (76)

and the more recent K.A. (Köhntarkösz Anteria) from 04



Yup, I left out MDK (Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh), but it's not far away

[Dana5140]

Kontarskosz
Ementet-Re
MDK
KA
Udu Wudu
1001°C
Kobaia
Merci
Slag Tanz
Felicite Thosz

[unclemeat]

Köhntarkösz, Emëhntett-Re, Rïah Sahïltaahk and MDK.

But they're all good. My least favorites are Udü Wüdü (uneven) and Slãg Tanz (muddy mix). I wouldn't recommend starting there.

[JAMOOL]

i'd go with K.A. and Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré, because they're recorded better than their 70s albums and in my opinion feature a lot of their best material. I mean, if you've already got the live boxset, don't you already have 2-3 versions of MDK and Kohntarkosz already? hard to go wrong with them though!!

[Steve F.]

Kohntarhosz and Kohntarhoz Anteria for me, with Tristan e Iseult close behind

[notallwhowander]

I mainly have live stuff, but I really enjoy Félicité Thösz!

[aith01]

Kohntarhosz and Kohntarhoz Anteria for me, with Tristan e Iseult close behind

Great choices there, Steve.

MDK was what hooked me, but at an earlier time it might have scared me away.

[aith01]

I mainly have live stuff, but I really enjoy Félicité Thösz!

That’s a beautiful album.

[Mr.Krautman]

... but taking into account BOTH the content and - just as importantly - the recording / audio quality, which studio albums are the key purchases ...

And this is just where the problem lies: most of the best classic Magma studio recordings from the 70ies suffer from poor production/recording. My favorite (and usually highly rated) , MDK is a poorly recorded and badly mixed record. As a best balance between artistic content and recording quality I would recommend K.A but there are very likely many others I'm not aware of. (Being not a Magma completist my collection is far from complete)

[Progbear]

My ranking:

MDK
1st
Attahk
Köhntarkösz
Üdü Wüdü
1001° Centigrades

Big gap

Merci

Haven’t heard any studio recordings from the reconstituted band*, so I can’t comment on them, but they tend to be rated highly, so if you like Magma Mark I, they might be worth investigating.

*except part of Félicité Thösz, which I don’t remember much about except that it sure sounded like a Magma album all right.

[Zeuhlmate]

They are all good, but some are musically masterpieces. As stated above, quite a few suffers from a rather boring soundproduction.

These are the studio albums I spin most these days, but no offence to the other albums.

Wurdah Itah
Kontarkosz
Attahk
Ementet-Re
KA
Felicite Thosz
MDK
Slag Tanz

[flytomars]

Wurdah Itah is fantastic musically, and also recorded fine (I think it has the best drum sound from the early albums)
And to think that it is mostly done by a duo (CV + Jannic Top) on all instrumens + Stella and Klaus on vocals... sublime.

[arturs]

i'd go with K.A. and Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré, because they're recorded better than their 70s albums and in my opinion feature a lot of their best material. I mean, if you've already got the live boxset, don't you already have 2-3 versions of MDK and Kohntarkosz already? hard to go wrong with them though!!

Agree with all this. One thing to add. I would pick up the debut Kobaia. At the time of the debut CV had not really developed his contribution to Western civilization yet, and he relies on some jazz-rock cliches throughout. But nothing else, Magma or otherwise, really sounds like it. I have gotten a surprising amount of mileage from it over the years.

[Zeuhlmate]

Wurdah Itah is fantastic musically, and also recorded fine (I think it has the best drum sound from the early albums)
And to think that it is mostly done by a duo (CV + Jannic Top) on all instrumens + Stella and Klaus on vocals... sublime.

Agreed.
Its relased by Harmonia Mundia and I think they have improved the sound even more (At least my CD sounds better than the vinyl, and the same goes for 1.001 centigrades on CD. Also Harmonia Mundi).

[JKL2000]

zzorchering, since you got Concert Zund, I assume you know about Studio Zund? It's probably equally or more expensive, but might still be available through Discogs or eBay.

[Zappathustra]

Just the slightest mention of the word Magma is sufficient to throw me into another ineluctible Magma Binge.

Kohntarkosz
Udu Wudu
Mekanik Destruktiv Kommandoh
Wurdah Itah
1001 Centigrades
Attahk
Kobaia
Felicite Thosz
K. A.

I don't have a clear opinion on Emmehntett Re. This one confuses me a lot, (the patching up of new with already existing music) and I still haven't been able to grasp it as an autonomous, complete work. I am not getting the sense of organic unity that Kohntarkosz or Theus Hammtaahk give me.

[Udi Koomran]

I am wondering whats the cause fir the consistency in the mediocre sound quality
Phillips A&M big labels with plenty of fine production value albums
MDK was recorded mostly at the Manor Attahk at the Chateau
The Live album was recoded by The island Mobile

And the 90’s onward albums din’t seem to break that tradition

[Zeuhlmate]

I am wondering whats the cause fir the consistency in the mediocre sound quality
Phillips A&M big labels with plenty of fine production value albums
MDK was recorded mostly at the Manor Attahk at the Chateau
The Live album was recoded by The island Mobile

And the 90’s onward albums din’t seem to break that tradition

It is a mystery.
There isn't any of their studio albums you can use as a reference or just for impressing anybody on your HiFi.
Where as Magma Live / Hhaï sounds terrific !

[JAMOOL]

Magma's studio albums have always felt kinda haphazardly put together for me - stuff released out of order, with constantly shifting lineups, unrelated bits to fill time (the two side-enders on Kohntarkosz), pieces that were intended for larger works (some of Udu Wudu and maybe Attahk?). maybe explains why they didn't get the best production value?

[aith01]

Wurdah Itah is fantastic musically, and also recorded fine (I think it has the best drum sound from the early albums)
And to think that it is mostly done by a duo (CV + Jannic Top) on all instrumens + Stella and Klaus on vocals... sublime.

It is possibly my favorite Magma record. I absolutely love Vander's piano playing on that one too. Rough around the edges, but so raw and full of passion.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Vander's piano playing on that one too. Rough around the edges,

Piano, as I recall, was initially his first instrument and the only one for which he learnt to write notes. But like many of us he apparently didn't take his abilities on the instrument further on finding his true love of tone (i.e. drums), which I suppose is why his piano playing remained "elementary". With most guys I knew it was always either drums or guitar (like myself), which is a bit of a shame, as one regrets leaving it behind. It's like discarding Italian because French turns out to be a bit simpler or more rewarding in the practical run.

re: sound quality. Yes, Live Hhaï is actually better than the studio offerings. I used to think that it may have been due to the difficulty for an experimental French rock group in buying enough professional studio time for such large lineups (usually eight or more instruments) to really cultivate details of production. Meaning that most of it came out somewhat rough. Which may also have been why Würdah Ïtah came out a bit more sonically refined; no guitars, no brass, almost no electric keys.

Of course, their finest technical recording from the first phase was "Theusz Ahmtäahk" from the Retrospektïw release, which - as I understand it - is more or less a live/studio potpurri.

[calyx]

Magma have always been better at getting a good sound live than in the studio. I guess it says something about the deeper nature of the music - impossible to capture in a sterile environment... This being said, Kobaia and Lihns on Live were recorded without an audience albeit with the same set-up as the concerts (during soundcheck)...

[Kcrimso]

I don't know... I dont' have big problems with MDK and Köhntarkosz sound-wise which are my favourite Magma studioalbums. Are they state-of-the art? No but satisfying enough for me anyway.

Just listening MDK and I love the strong rumbling bass. Thing that is most problematic for me is the fact that Vander's drums does not cut through the little bit muddy mix enough.

[Zeuhlmate]

Of course, their finest technical recording from the first phase was "Theusz Ahmtäahk" from the Retrospektïw release, which - as I understand it - is more or less a live/studio potpurri.

Agree, overall it sounds really good, but someone in the mixing room was apparently told that the drums were more important than the rest of the band, so they have been turned up slightly too much for my taste.