My very first post for Dangerous Minds concerned an amazing television performance of “De Futura” by legendary prog rock band, Magma. As exciting as that clip is, it was, unfortunately, edited for TV, no doubt due to the fact that “De Futura” is a loooong song. At nearly eighteen minutes, it took up one whole side of an LP, and live renditions of the number were frequently even longer. Over the years, extended live versions have come out on archival releases, with one, in particular, standing out from the rest.

Magma was formed by drummer Christian Vander, who assembled the group in the late ‘60s. After five records, plus a live release, Vander loosened the reins a bit, allowing other members to contribute songs for studio album number six, Udu Wudu (1976). Two of the tracks were written by bassist Jannick Top, including “De Futura.” As always, the lyrics are sung in Kobaïan, the language created by Vander.

“De Futura” premiered the previous year at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations 75 festival in Nancy, France. On October 10th, 1975, Top led a group performing as Utopic Sporadic Orchestra—with Vander amongst the eighteen musicians on stage—through the paces of “De Futura.” It’s been reported that the band played the song three times that day, with one recording from the show, as well as a rehearsal take, appearing on the Nancy 75 release.
 
More Magma after the jump…

 
For my money, the French avant/prog/metal band Magma’s greatest track is “De Futura.” A wild-n-heavy number that first appeared on their 1976 album Udu Wudu, it really came to life in a live setting, where epic versions often lasted 20+ minutes.

This performance was recorded live at the Hippodrome de Pantin in Paris on May 14th, 1977, and aired on French TV. Here the group features two drummers, including Magma founder Christian Vander (he’s the one making the best ROCK faces this side of Nigel Tufnel), and two back-up singers who look like cult members. Oh, and did I mention Magma’s songs are sung in their own made-up language? It doesn’t get more wonderfully weird than this, folks.

Unfortunately, this was edited for TV and the footage ends just shy of the ten-minute mark, because by then the band had worked themselves into a glorious frenzy (the background singers look hypnotized!).

Ah well, enjoy what you can. Evil never sounded like so much fun!
 

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
MAGMA’s cheerfully insane brand of sci-fi avant garde make them progrock’s weirdest outliers
Magma: the gods of French prog

 
Ian Campbell sez: “This is a music video I made cut up from a bunch of 70s & 80s movies and a track from france’s MAGMA - frenetic prog rock jazz fusion type stuff sung in a made up language.”

I like it.

 
Speaking of artists that invent their own languages, Magma, the powerful and bizarre French band formed in 1969 by Drummer/Singer/Composer Christian Vander sang most of their material in a phonetic German/Slavic based language called Kobaian. It’s mind blowing to be able to compile such a wealth of clips here featuring them performing their dark musical magic considering the fact that when I was growing up they were one of the most insanely mysterious bands you could imagine. It’s fun living in the future ! Also, may I state the obvious and point out that they had one of the most bitchin’ band logos of all time ?

Early Magma laying down the heavy weirdness on French TV 1970:

 
Much more Magma after the jump…