Theleme: A mythical name for the generation of prog fans confounded by the many styles of early seventies prog. At that time, the sectarianism was not as outrageous as it is today and many groups were considered progressive if they were not content to play pop in the style of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bee Gees etc ... Whereas the French groups were ignored by the public and even more so by the record companies, so that they began to produce their own records like the English groups. Laurent Thibault, the original bassist and manager of Magma, decided to found his own label, uniquely dedicated to quality French music. A perilous undertaking which only lasted for two years and only six albums and a few singles saw the light of day.
Save for the compilation 'Music is my Honey' (composed of tracks on the other five albums) and the gentle-folk album by MOR, Musea have decided to offer in this box set the four best albums from the label, all very close to Magma and their innovative music from that era.
We find therefore the album by ERGO SUM, which was released separately by the Musea label at the end of 1992, one of the best progressive albums from that time, with complex melodies, a rich instrumentation (violin, flute, guitar, piano, organ) and the exceptional vocals of Lionel Ledissez.
Then Theleme released the album by UNIVERÏA ZEKT, 'The Unnamables', which gathered together the musicians from Magma who had played on '1001° Centigrades' (except for Toesca, who was replaced by trumpeter Tito Puentes) and a few guests such as Zabu, the first singer with Magma, Lionel Ledissez, the singer with Ergo Sum and Claude Engel, the fabulous guitarist on the first Magma album. The music of Univerïa Zekt serves as an introduction and a gentle initiation to the music of Magma, which was leading astray and still frightening the public, accustomed to rock 'n roll. Also, the first side included two songs evoking the brass bands of that epoch (Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Flock) and then with the end of the first side and all the second side, the listener discovers Magma in a perfect sequel to their first album with 'Africa Anterïa', a long track by Vander, illuminated by his unique discographic drum solo and it's savage eruptions, and 'Ündïa', a calm and melodic piece, sung by Klaus in Kobaïan. Without doubt, for the listener, all the components of Magma are reassembled on this disc: energy, madness, savage and complex rhythms, mind-boggling horns by Lasry and Seffer, martial drumming by Vander, the ample and majestic singing by Klaus, the unique bass of Moze, the stretched harmonies and work of Cahen and principally the raging, aggressive guitar of Claude Engel. A strong, energetic album allowing one to listen to Magma with their first vocalist and the themes which were written at the beginning of their mastery of new music.
The double album 'Puissance 13+2' represented a tentative promotion by Laurent for French rock. His ambitious programme to unite the "best" French groups in a live situation and present the unreleased pieces was courageous and in defiance of the big labels, and if the most well known groups of that period (Triangle, Variations, Zoo, Martin Circus) did not figure on that album, he replaced them with the groups who had not had a chance to record an album: such as the fabulous CONTREPOINT and their Soft Machine-esque jazz, VOYAGE and their progressive rock in the style of Jethro Tull, DESIGN and their rock which was a precursor to ATOLL, SOLITUDE and their white-blues similar to Taste and the Groundhogs, full of feeling and emotion. And then the better known groups: ERGO SUM with their marvellous track 'All's so comic', MAGMA and the first recorded version of 'Mekanïk Kommandöh', CATHARSIS for their last recording with their singer Charlotte and their floating music, ALAIN MARKUSFELD for a theme of discovery and virtuosity, CATHERINE RIBEIRO + ALPES with a superb 'Aria Populaire', Claude ENGEL for a fine melody on acoustic guitar, SPECTRE the phantom group formed by Dominique Blanc-Francart which displayed his talents on moog, ZABU with a solo piece and Dan Ar Bras' folk-rock group MOR. Two folky Americans completed this musical tapestry, which ranges from blues to progressive rock, via folk, the neo-jazz of Contrepoint and the new-music of Magma.
Finally, the fourth album of the box set, 'My Coffin's Ready' by Zabu, an urban blues, full of energy and feeling, just like the best black American bluesmen. With the accompaniment of the best musicians on the label, Lasry, Seffer, Moze, Vander from Magma, Perru, Magnani, B.B. Brutus from Ergo Sum and others from Mor and Design. (Contrary to what was implied in Ork Alarm! #17, this CD is not available separately, unless the box sets have been improperly broken up and sold for inflated profit by unscrupulous record dealers - Ed.)
The recording quality, effected in the best studio in France (Hérouville), the budget and time devoted to the recordings and sleeves which exceeded those of the big labels (did you know that the first Magma album was recorded in just three days?!!) made the Theleme label unequalled, respecting the listeners, the musicians and their music, and providing a way to appreciate music which was ahead of its time. Please note there is a bonus track by Solitude on 'Puissance 13+2' and 4 extra songs on 'Mexico' by Ergo Sum.
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