How would you feel if, like me, a Magma fan for about eight years, you decided to go for a short holiday in Paris and then you find that the said band are playing every night? Pretty damned excited?
From what I could gather the band was playing a series of fourteen concerts in a row, which I found rather surprising. What was more surprising was that I went on a Wednesday night about halfway through the series and the place was absolutely packed out. While we sat and waited, it seemed very strange to hear people shouting "Magma!" and the odd (accurate) impersonation of Vander's voice. The lights finally go down and the curtain goes up. The stage is dark and a back-projection shows a geometric pattern like a modem city skyline - all tower blocks and skyscrapers. The band begin a bloodcurdling theme over which doomy vocals intone something which I didn't understand, but judging by the way the back-projection changed, was a tale of man's woe and stupidity. The skyscrapers gradually crumbled and the band reaches a climax. The stage is lit up and I can see a drummer, two bass players; Dominique Bertram on six-string bass and Jean-Luc Chevalier (who also plays guitar), two keyboard players, a sax and a horn player (who I think are the guys from WEIDORJE). They all appear to be wearing er… spaceman costumes, which look a bit silly. Still the opener is terrific and is greeted by heavy applause. Then that beautiful piano intro from 'Hhaï' begins and who should shuffle onstage but Vander himself. Aha! So it wasn't him playing drums after all (but one Doudou Weiss I believe). He's joined by two female singers (they appear on the cover of 'Retro'. Vol. III', but I'm not sure who's who). They too are wearing costumes that are silly in the extreme. The sound quality is excellent, very punchy and full. Vander's voice sounded a little tired, but it is still amazing in its range and intensity; there is still no one who can touch him. The piece develops as on 'Retro', and sounds excellent, really tight. As it takes off Vander begins to drum and his ferocious ability becomes apparent after about five seconds. He remains on drums for the next piece, which is instrumental and a bit freeform. Bertram takes a very impressive fast bass solo, but the piece is not very cohesive.
For the next number the rest of the band come back on stage and this is a version similar to side one of 'Retro. III'. The first part of this track I really do not like at all, on the album or here live. I think the main reasons for this are the vocals by Khalifa and the ladies and the overall feel, which is a sort of mutant soul- gospel-funk conglomeration. The vocals seem like real "hey lordy mama, get on down" stuff, which seem totally at odds with Magma's sound. After the vocal section however, the piece develops into that well-known drive. Vander's drumming is amazing. I've never seen a more powerful drummer. He's all over the kit, arms blurring and his face horribly contorted as he puts all of his energy into his playing. Chevalier, now on guitar, takes an excellent solo. He really seems to be enjoying himself and bounces all over the stage. The piece thunders (and I mean thunders) to a halt and the band take a fifteen-minute break after playing for about an hour.
The second half begins with a new (to me) number with a lot of emphasis on the ladies' vocals -more like earlier choral work. It's interesting but not riveting. For the next number, Vander comes to the front of the stage and the other drummer takes the chair. Vander goes into a long rap about (excuse my French) a guy who gave a lot to music and achieved something celestial (spiritual?) and proceeds to devote this new song to Otis Redding. At this stage I must admit to some confusion, as this little interval is just a bit too "cabaret". The music and vocals sound nothing like any Otis Redding song that I know, and very weak for Magma. Vander's vocals are only just short of demented. Suddenly it occurs to me that he reminds me of Joe Cocker (remember him?). I didn't like it much, but it is well received.
Then the stage darkens and a projection of a huge amphitheatre floating in space appears on the backdrop. The band begins a typical asymmetrical Magma beat. A figure appears slowly on a dais at the back of the stage, wearing what seems to be a helmet from the cover of 'Tristan & Iseult'. It's Vander, who belts out along harrowing tirade. It doesn't sound too optimistic and I keep catching the words "dernier rendezvous". The band builds and builds the power drive and Vander slowly disappears and the band picks up a different direction. Vander reappears at the front of the stage wearing a really dumb looking pair of fake claws. He takes the lead vocal with the usual intensity and also appears to be "conducting" the band. There is a really frantic vocal/guitar exchange at one point. Eventually the backing singers appear and, er… get on down. The piece changes direction a number of times, but always maintains a tremendous pulse. The other drummer keeps up an amazing constant pattern. I keep wondering when he's going to collapse. After 20 -25 minutes it finally ends and they leave the stage to tumultuous applause, which lasts for about five minutes. It's obvious that the band will come back, but it takes a long time. They must be pretty tired.
They reappear and begin a lighter number, which again leans towards the folk-gospel-style. Vander shares lead vocals with Khalifa, who just doesn't seem to be in the same league. I keep catching the phrase "funky, funky Broadway" and cringe a little. Vander returns to the drums and the number lasts about ten minutes, again interesting, but not brilliant. More thunderous applause; who said French audiences were cool and restrained? Everyone wants more, but the band must be worn out. Surely they can't be doing this for fourteen nights in a row? Vander introduces the band members by their Kobaïan names in garbled French (which is why I've had trouble identifying some of them), thanks us and leaves.
And so I've finally seen them. I must admit to a lot of reservations about the performance and the direction the band seems to be heading in. I couldn't fail to be impressed by a concert of such intensity. But, whilst accepting that I wasn't seeing one of the classic line-ups from the past, I was surprised by the fact that the music seemed to be more conventional - more rock orientated. The stage "show" was not, in my opinion, very good. I'm not saying that I'd rather see everyone standing stock-still dressed in black, but really, some of the posturing and the costumes just looked really bad. I'm not sure where Vander is taking the band now. He always said he would never compromise, never sell-out. But if he continues in this direction, he may become more 'popular', but on what terms? Who can say? He's never let us down yet and I hope he never will. But I am worried.