bvi@sri-unix (06/21/82)
Anybody out there love/hate Magma? This, of all groups, is probably ideal to start a violent discussion - most people, on first hearing them, either immediately walk out of the room or sit listening in ecstasy (I am one of the latter). For the uninitiated, Magma is an European group which produced a number of albums (about 6 or 7 all told) in the early and mid '70's. I don't know what's happened to them since then (anybody out there?), but their albums all have one common trait - they are written (sung?) in a mythical germanic language called Kobaian, and they all revolve around the exodus of a group of dissidents from earth. Most of the albums are pretty mediocre (but, yes, I do like them), however, one is truly outstanding - Mekanik (there are a couple of umlauts in there but my terminal isn't fitted with them). The vocals on this album are simply outstanding - Wagnerian opera sung in the style of Renaissance and Nazareth, with a bit of Hawkwind thrown in. If this sounds somewhat schizophrenic, it is but a reflection of the truth. This is probably my all-time favorite album; my only regret is that my copy of it is no longer in perfect shape (a result of over-listening, I'm afraid). Anyone know whether Mekanik is still available, and if so, from where? Beatriz Infante, HP Design Aids Lab