Musical Medications: Latest aquisitions.

This is a killer of a find! All nine (one is a double CD release) studio recordings by Magma in one huge box set. Bonus discs (2 of them) include unreleased material bringing the total disc count up to 12. The set came out Dec. 8 of 2008 & I had not found a copy until now. Let's just say that where I live isn't the cultural hub of the world. Issued on LE CHANTE DU MONDE (release #90832) & at the cost of $125.00 this was no cheap or easy find. Distributed by The Laser's Edge I am surprised one turned up in these parts at all as they are a relatively small speciality type company. The CD's they do carry are all high quality items such as Walter Wegmuller Tarot (w/ The Cosmic Jokers), Klaus Schulze (entire catalog), Peter Michael Hamel (Solo. No Between to be found.) & The Bevis Frond. (Latest only.) Whether it's Progressive jazz, progressive folk, progressive rock or progressive metal you'll find it carried by The Laser's Edge.

The music reminds me of a cross between The Residents (mid period) & Goblin. (Dario Argento Tenebre period). Odd, esoteric sounds mixed in w/ rhythmic jazz fusion. Magma refers to this as Zeuhl Music. (As also the whole scene that grew around them.) The lyrics are a completely different story as they are written in a language refered to as Kobaïan. Written by Christian Vander he uses this language to tell the story of a group of people fleeing a doomed Earth to settle on the planet Kobaïa. Later, conflict arises when the Kobaïans — descendants of the original colonists — encounter other Earth refugees. Later albums told different stories set in more ancient times; however the Kobaïan language remained an integral part of the music.

Breif dictionary

more on Zeuhl Music

& here's a bit that appears on the back of one of my miscellaneous flyer's for the release of Üdü Wüdü....

Our world - many centuries into the future, after society as we know it has decayed to a spiritually void chaos of degradation.

Space travel and colonization has become commonplace. A handful of enlightened Earth people seeking a better existence, finance the construction of a private spacecraft and leave the planet in search of a world where a new, more spiritually guided civilization can be born.

After a long and hazardous journey they find that new home on the distant planet Kobaïa, where the party settles and begins the long process of building a new society according to their vision. They learn how to live in harmony with their new surroundings while attaining a high degree of technological advancement.

A foreign spaceship gets into orbital difficulties over Kobaïa, a ship manned by a crew from Earth. The rescued astronauts tell of the continued degeneration and disasters that have afflicted Earth, and at the same time are impressed with the ecological, scientific, philosophical and societal progress that the Kobaïans have made. They request the Kobaïans visit Earth and attempt to propagate their philosophy in order to save society from its certain destruction. After some deliberation, a small party agrees to accompany the stranded visitors on their journey home.

They arrive back on Earth to a seemingly friendly welcome. The people listen to the stories of the establishment and growth of Kobaïan civilization, to their philosophy and ideas for the betterment of life on Earth through purification and spiritual enlightenment. But after airing these ideas at a meeting with the Earth authorities, the Kobaïans are promptly imprisoned and their spacecraft is impounded. A message is sent to Kobaïa, and a rescue effort is begun.

The rescue party offers the Earth authorities the choice of releasing the imprisoned Kobaïans, or facing certain destruction by their ultimate weapon. The prisoners are promptly released, and although they vow never to return, their visit is to be remembered by the few they came in contact with. Their ideas are secretly preserved and passed on for future generations.

We are here introduced to the story of the Theusz Hamtaahk (Time Of Hatred) which concerns the time on Earth between the Kobaïan visit and the celestial march for enlightenment led by Nebehr Gudahtt - a spiritualist who's blatantly Kobaïan message is that the only salvation from an ultimate and certain doom is through self purification and communion with the divine spirit of the supreme being, the Kreuhn Kohrman.

At first Gudahtt is rejected, and the people march against him - but as they march they begin to question their very existence and purpose. One by one they begin to see Kobaïan truth, slowly reaching enlightenment, and begin to march with him instead of against him.

If you have the time & a little scratch burning a hole in your pocket them may I recommend the following discs as a place to start.

Udu Wudu (1976)