MAGMA

Magma is the brainchild of French drummer, singer, composer and inventor of new worlds Christian Vander (born 1948). In 1969, he lays the foundations not only for a new band, but also for an imaginary language, Kobaïan, used in most of Magma's lyrics, «because French was not expressive enough». Evolving around Christian Vander and singer Klaus Blasquiz with a frequently changing line-up, the band plays a new style of prog rock, mixing elements of jazz, improvisation, classical avant-garde and hypnotic grooves: a «vibratory music» called zeuhl, after the Kobaïan word for «heavenly». Magma even has its own logo, used on most of its covers. Success came in May 1973, with the stunning album Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh. Despite ups and downs, and a long break between 1984 and 1996, Magma still tours and records today under Vander's leadership (latest album: Kãrtëhl, Sept. 2022).