If you have a passion for Magma, you need this album
deraemy@bluewin.ch | Nyon, Switzerland | 10/17/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"You love Magma or you don't. No half measure. If you are in the first category, then you need the complete collection. This double album is somewhat calmer that their usual music, more melodious, with fully developed pieces."
Dark, thick, funky, heavy, intense, deep, complex, so good
Strobe Lights And Blown Speakers | Louisville | 09/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From the beginning, you can clearly tell that it is Magma (I was acquainted with their later work, like _MDK_ and _Üdü Wüdü_ before I had ever heard this, their debut) - the trademark choral-like vocals, Christian Vander's fluid and dexterous jazzy drumming, the experimental aesthetic and engrossing atmosphere. What makes this album much different from any other Magma I have heard is that it is basically full-on JAZZ FUSION with their experimental trademarks and nuances. But not fusion in a "rock band with saxophone" kinda way; they use saxophone, flutes, trumpet, and contrabass more effectively and in a more engaging manner than 99% of all straight-up jazz bands.
AND IT IS PLAYED FIERCELY. The pacing of this album is crazy. _Magma_ announces to the world an incredibly original, innovative, and f---ing amazing band that is bursting with energy and ideas. This album is just so fun to listen to because of the pacing, but it has such depth to it that it is so easy to get lost in by analyzing the instrumentation and complexity of the arrangements.
Basically, if you enjoy Magma at all, this is among their best work (in fact, the only other Magma album I like more is _Mëkanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh_). If you don't know too much about Magma, here's what this album kinda sounds like: Miles Davis _Dark Magus_ (the dark, thick, funky fusion) bred with Godspeed You Black Emperor _Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada_ (the intensity and emotional weight it carries) bred with King Crimson _Red_ (the basic aesthetic and metal-ness that KC has) - but this album predates all of those. This is totally and completely essential."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1