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Emehntehtt Re
Magma seems to be on a bit of a roll these days. It wasn't that long ago that they gave us KA and now we have the long rumored Emehntehtt Re. Supposedly an old work from the 70s that was never recorded but bit and pieces have cropped up over the years.
Product Review
5 Pyramids indeed!! And what more suitable symbol for a monumental work regarding an Egyptian king who traveled to the Land of the Dead and struggled with the dark forces there in order to bring back the secrets of immortality? Parts of this 52 minute mythical epic were in fact composed and performed live in the mid-1970s (and three brief parts on earlier studio albums), but the arrangements and recordings, as well as a major part of the second half of the work are new. And they are fantastic! Those who complain about the spiritless nature of contemporary music have never heard Magma! This album soars to incredible heights of joy, nobility and celebration, and also explores some of the darkest territory into which Magma has ever ventured (and this is NOT a band squeemish of the darkness). While the last two tracks are anything but uplifting, keep in mind that this is the first part of a triptych, and that while this piece closes tragically and painfully, the cycle itself ends with the triumphant finale of Kohntarkosz. All will be well! Magma has woken the God Ptah with this CD, and now the forces of creation rule the universe again!
- 2010-06-08 10:00
A great concept album indeed. Watching the DVD first makes you appreciate the incredible musicianship even more when listening to the CD. The packaging and overall presentation is superb. Now for my complaint--sound quality-- and I have noticed this with most Magma CD releases. For some reason the midbass and bass are lacking in the CD mix. As I have said, this seems to be a recurring theme with their CD releases. It is unfortunate but the overall listening experience is taken aback by the lack of dynamic range in the final mix. Interestingly, this is not the case when listening to the DVD in 2Ch PCM. I also noticed the same improved dynamics on the myths and legends DVDs (2Ch PCM). With the midbass and bass present it makes a huge difference in the listening experience. It would be interesting to query Magma on this..
Anyway, it is still worth purchasing but leaves the listener questioning what could have been.
- 2010-06-08 10:00