Editing Magma (band) (section)

==Style and influences==
{{anchor|Zeuhl}}
Christian Vander has described the style of [[progressive rock]] that he developed with Magma in France from 1969 onwards as "zeuhl".<ref name="Wagner2010">{{cite book|author=Jeff Wagner|title=Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZwZcZ2X5ToC&pg=PA242|year=2010|publisher=Bazillion Points Books|isbn=978-0-9796163-3-4|page=242}}</ref> [[Dominique Leone]], writing for ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', says the style is "about what you'd expect an alien rock opera to sound like: massed, chanted choral motifs, martial, repetitive percussion, sudden bursts of explosive improv and just as unexpected lapses into eerie, minimalist trance-rock."<ref name="pitchfork-ka">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5623-ka/|title= Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Magma: K.A|author=Dominique Leone|website= [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|author-link=Dominique Leone|date=9 Dec 2004}}</ref> The term comes from [[Kobaïan]],<ref name=Wire-p3>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/2324/?pageno=3 |title=Different Drummer: Magma – interview with Christian Vander, page 3 |work=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]] |author=Paul Stump |date=July 1995 |access-date=2009-10-16 |archive-date=2011-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604202033/http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/2324/?pageno=3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[fictional language]] created by Vander for Magma.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/6250004/Magma-interview-for-Celestial-Mass.html
 |title=Magma interview for Celestial Mass |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |first=Peter |last=Culshaw |date=1 October 2009 |access-date=2009-10-16}}</ref> He has said that it means ''celestial'';<ref name=Wire-p3/> that "Zeuhl music means 'vibratory music'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bigtakeover.com/interviews/immersing-oneself-in-magma-a-christian-vander-interview|title=Immersing oneself in Magma: a Christian Vander interview|author=Allan MacInnis|date=30 March 2015|publisher=Big Takeover|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref> and that zeuhl is "''L'esprit au travers de la matière''. That is Zeuhl. Zeuhl is also the sound which you can feel vibrating in your belly. Pronounce the word Zeuhl very slowly, and stress the letter 'z' at the beginning, and you will feel your body vibrating."<ref name=marching>{{cite web|url=http://robert.guillerault.free.fr/magma/textes/2000/progress.htm|title=Marching to the beat of a very different drummer|author=John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg |date=Winter–Spring 2000|publisher=Progression, issue 34|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>

Originally applied solely to the music of Magma, the term "zeuhl" was eventually used to describe the similar music produced by French bands beginning in the 1970s.<ref name=Anderton-p417>{{cite journal |last=Anderston |first=Chris|title=A many-headed beast: progressive rock as European meta-genre |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=417–435 |jstor=40926943|doi=10.1017/S0261143010000450|journal=Popular Music|volume=29|issue=10|date=2010|s2cid=145065519 }}</ref> In addition to Magma, bands who are associated with the term include: [[Happy Family (Japanese band)|Happy Family]],<ref name=quietus>{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/24011-wonderous-stories-prog-book-jerry-ewing-extract-interview|title=Ye Gods: The Twenty Greatest Prog Rock Record Sleeves|publisher=The Quietus|date=11 February 2018 |access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref> [[Kōenji Hyakkei]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Koenji-Hyakkei: NIVRAYM Album Review|publisher=Pitchfork|author=Dominique Leone|date=11 March 2002|access-date=2018-05-17|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4504-nivraym/}}</ref> and [[Ruins (Japanese band)|Ruins]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese noise-rock|author=Leonard Pirce|date=14 January 2010|url=https://www.avclub.com/japanese-noise-rock-1798218808|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref> from Japan, and French band [[Zao (French band)|Zao]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockthebestmusic.com/2015/04/imprescindibles-prog-cos.html|title=Los Imprescindibles del Progresivo, Parte III: Cos - Viva Boma|date=14 April 2015|author=Laurent Berger|publisher=Rock the Best Music|language=es|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>

The ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' wrote that Magma's music "could arguably be labeled [[contemporary classical music|modern classical]], [[progressive rock]], [[free jazz]], or even [[psychedelic music|psychedelia]], but it's too big for any of those boxes".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://chicagoreader.com/music/magma-kartehl/ |title=Magma turn up the positivity on their new album, Kãrtëhl |last=Krakow |first=Steve |date=September 29, 2022 |work=Chicago Reader |access-date=2023-06-16}}</ref>

Vander was musically influenced by [[John Coltrane]] and [[Carl Orff]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quietus {{!}} Features {{!}} Speaking In Tongues: Magma Interviewed By Musicians |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/27223-magma-interview-christian-stella-vander |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=The Quietus |date=9 October 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref>

The mythology of Kobaïa seems to be strongly influenced by the esoteric ''[[The Urantia Book]]'', a kind of pseudo-[[bible]] that combines religious elements of various origins with scientific findings and science fiction. Furthermore, the motifs surrounding the myth of Kobaïa, particularly in the first three albums, have similarities with [[Johannes Kepler]]'s novel ''[[Somnium (novel)|Somnium]]'' from 1634, [[Francis Godwin]]'s novel ''[[The Man in the Moone]]'' from 1638 and [[Cyrano de Bergerac]]'s ''The Other World'' (Orig. ''L'autre monde''), whose works gained new popularity in France in the 1970s. With the album ''Theusz Hamthaak'', the motifs increasingly approach modern science fiction literature of the 20th century such as [[H. G. Wells]]' ''[[The Time Machine]]'', [[Olaf Stapledon]]'s ''The Last and the First Men'' and ''The Star Maker'' of 1930 or [[Arthur C. Clark]]'s ''[[The Lost Generation (book)|The Last Generation]]'' from 1953. However, Vander has not yet commented directly on the sources of his inspirations.<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Łukasz |last=Stec |title=Space Utopia in the 1970s of the Twentieth Century on the Basis of the Kobaïan World |editor=Ksenia Olkusz |editor2=Michał Kłosiński |editor3=Krzysztof M. Maj |journal=More After More. Essays Commemorating the Five Hundredth Anniversary of Thomas More's Utopia |series=Forntiers of Nowhere |volume=1 |publisher=Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta |location= |date=2016 |pages=406–419 |isbn=978-83-942923-4-8 |url=https://depot.ceon.pl/bitstream/handle/123456789/11298/More%20After%20More.%20Essays%20Commemorating%20the%20Five-Hundredth%20Anniversary%20of%20Thomas%20More%27s%20Utopia.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=2024-01-07}}</ref>

=== Legacy ===
The band is widely considered to be musically adventurous and imaginative<ref>{{cite web |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |title=Magma – Music Biography, Credits and Discography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/magma-mn0000191376 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101175708/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/magma-mn0000191376 |archive-date=2012-11-01 |access-date=2012-11-14 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mag-ka |title=Ground and Sky review - Magma - K.A |publisher=Progreviews.com |access-date=2012-11-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110072620/http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mag-ka |archive-date=2012-11-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mag-mdk |title=Ground and Sky review - Magma - Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh |publisher=Progreviews.com |access-date=2012-11-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110072625/http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mag-mdk |archive-date=2012-11-10 }}</ref> among music critics. Magma uses choirs extensively in a way reminiscent of the composer [[Carl Orff]].<ref>{{cite web|author=François Couture |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/wurdah-%C3tah-tristan-et-iseult-mw0001189854 |title=Wurdah Ïtah/Tristan et Iseult - Christian Vander, Magma : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> Magma's music is also highly influenced by [[jazz]] [[saxophone]] player [[John Coltrane]], and Vander has said that "it is still Coltrane who actually gives me the real material to work on, to be able to move on".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/magma.html#interview |title=Christian Vander Interview by George Allen and Robert Pearson, April 22, 1995 |publisher=Furious.com |date=1995-04-22 |access-date=2011-10-30}}</ref>

Many of the musicians who have played with Magma have also formed solo projects or spinoff acts. The Kobaïan term [[#Zeuhl|Zeuhl]] has come to refer to the musical style of these bands and the French [[jazz fusion]]/[[symphonic rock]] scene that grew around them.<ref name=Zeuhl>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/subgenre.asp?style=11 |title=Zeuhl, a progressive rock music sub-genre [sic] |publisher=Progarchives.com |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> Besides [[Christian Vander (musician)|Christian Vander]], other well-known Magma alumni include the violinist [[Didier Lockwood]], bassist-composer [[Jannick Top|Jannick "Janik" Top]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Jannick Top |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jannick-top-mn0001623378 |title=Jannick Top - Music Biography, Credits and Discography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> and spinoff act [[Weidorje]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1075 |title=WEIDORJE music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews |publisher=Progarchives.com |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref>

====Fandom====
The band has a number of high-profile fans. Punk rock singer [[John Lydon|Johnny Rotten]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnlydon.com/interviews/pil04.html |title=Interviews &#124; 'The Public Image', January 2004 |publisher=John Lydon.Com |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> metal musician [[Kristoffer Rygg]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=127 |title=Stories: Ulver – Born Again From The Merciless Mother |publisher=Avant-garde Metal |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> [[Steven Wilson]] of [[Porcupine Tree]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cartiledgeworld.co.uk/wilson.html |title=Perfect 10: Steven Wilson interview and photograph |publisher=Cartiledgeworld.co.uk |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> [[Mikael Åkerfeldt]] of [[Opeth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadburn.com/2013/10/seminal-progressive-rock-pioneers-magma-confirmed-mikael-akerfeldts-curated-2014-roadburn-event/ |title=Seminal Progressive Rock Pioneers Magma Confirmed For Mikael Åkerfeldt's Curated 2014 Roadburn Event |publisher=Roadburn |access-date=2013-12-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217223942/http://www.roadburn.com/2013/10/seminal-progressive-rock-pioneers-magma-confirmed-mikael-akerfeldts-curated-2014-roadburn-event/ |archive-date=2013-12-17 }}</ref> [[Bruce Dickinson]] of [[Iron Maiden]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=La radio de Bruce Dickinson, chanteur de Iron Maiden |url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/la-radio-de/la-radio-de-du-samedi-02-mars-2024-8426898 |publisher=Radiofrance |date=2024-03-02 |language=fr |access-date=2024-04-22}}</ref> [[Cattle Decapitation]] vocalist Travis Ryan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonicbandwagon.com/interviews/cattle-decapitation-interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302002441/http://www.sonicbandwagon.com/interviews/cattle-decapitation-interview/ |archive-date=2020-03-02 |url-status=dead |title=Cattle Decapitation Interview|publisher=sonicbandwagon.com|access-date=2020-03-01}}</ref> magician [[Penn Jillette]], and Chilean filmmaker [[Alejandro Jodorowsky]] have all stated their admiration of the band.

In the 1980s, British World champion snooker player [[Steve Davis]] declared himself a passionate follower of the band since his youth and used some of his winnings to promote a series of concerts by Magma in London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/mar/07/snooker.features |title=My obsession |author=Lee Honeyball |work=[[The Observer]] |publisher=Guardian.co.uk |access-date=2012-11-14 |location=London |date=2004-03-07}}</ref>

Television journalist [[Antoine de Caunes]] wrote a biography of the band entitled ''Magma''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Magma (Rock et folk) (French Edition) |title=Magma (Rock et folk) (French Edition): Antoine de Caunes: 9782226005632: Amazon.com: Books |isbn=2226005633 |year=1978 |publisher=A. Michel }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/loisirs-et-spectacles/antoine-de-caunes-fan-de-magma-13-02-2009-409290.php |title=Antoine de Caunes, fan de Magma |publisher=Leparisien.fr |date=2009-02-13 |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref>

In 2017, documentary filmmaker Laurent Goldstein directed ''To Life, Death and Beyond – The Music of Magma''. Interviewees include Christian Vander, Stella Vander, James MacGaw, [[Trey Gunn]], [[Robert Trujillo]], and [[Jello Biafra]].<ref>{{cite AV media | people = Goldstein, Laurent (Director) | date = 2017 | title = To Life, Death And Beyond – The Music Of Magma | medium = DVD | language = en, fr
}}</ref>