Intriguing to watch the development and organic growth of MAGMA's music, the French band are currently on their third tour of Britain in less than twelve months.
Physically at least, the band is rapidly diminishing. Since their dramatic entry at London's Marquee late last year, the band have eschewed the services of Stella Vander (vocals), Rene Garber (bass clarinet) and now guitarist Claude Olmos. Surprisingly, this last departure has made the band stronger than ever and finally liberated keyboard players Michel Graillier and Gerard Bikialo, who have hitherto been obliged to take a back seat.
But strangest of all is that the content of MAGMA's performance, ostensibly the same set they've been playing since December, continues to change dramatically with each passing gig. That is, the material remains the same but the way the group members relate to the material alters all the time.
At London's Roundhouse last week, organist Michel Graillier tagged an eloquent Larry Young-like solo onto the end of 'Mekanïk', an increasingly impressive marathon of ever changing mood, running the whole gamut of emotions.
As ever Christian Vander's drum solo received a huge ovation, but Jannick Top was quite possibly the star performer on this occasion. With Olmos gone: Top has assumed the role of solo guitarist as well as bassist. But importantly, he never once loses sight of his bassist's authority even when playing finger breaking lead licks, made the more dynamic by his cellist's use of vibrato.
Two hours of devastating music and the Chalk Farm audience rose to its feet as one man, without any bogus directive to do so. An impressive sight and a much deserved one.
CAPTAIN'S Log Stardate 15-2-75... No sign of intelligent life form: U.S.S. Magma ETA uncertain. After a two-hour wait, MAGMA were transported on stage at Manchester University's Union Hall with a flurry of staccato movement custom-designed to heighten the whole significance of Earth's fated future.
Then gallant commander Christian Vander's cosmic chorale proceeded to O.D. on a sustained burst of savage interstellar overkill. Swirling sound-drops and Klaus Blasquiz's elementary vocals fed to the most emotion packed tonic sol-fa since Tangerine Dream's 'Phaedra'.
The Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh's eight-strong task force with Didier Lockwood on manic violin and Benoît Widemann on keyboard control, engaged Warp Factor One for a display of musicianship that left something to be desired. However, Vander was impressive, and his drumming and Paganini AD 2001 violin work struggled against a holocaust of galactic fury with Bernard Paganotti's bass and Gabriel Federow's guitar emerging coyly into the lulls between the storms.
'Opus Numero Deux' became almost melodic at times with Stella Vander's wandering vocals but proved inevitably unwieldy as climax built on climax. MAGMA '75 are much the same as MAGMA's three previous incarnations, despite frequent personnel problems.
The complex, ambitious Vander compositions have flashpoints of interest as they flounder in some extremely repetitious structures. They came in search of Paradise and found it in MAGMA - but will the end really be like this?
Captain's Log Supplemental.. No signs of intelligible life forms. Maintain standard course