Köhntarkösz

Köhntarkösz
Studio album by
Released10 September 1974
Recorded1-12 May 1974
VenueThe Manor Mobile, Bastide De Pierrefeu (Valbonne)
GenreZeuhl
Length41:16
LabelVertigo, A&M, Seventh Day
ProducerGiorgio Gomelsky
Magma chronology
Ẁurdah Ïtah
(1974)
Köhntarkösz
(1974)
Live/Hhaï
(1975)
Singles from Köhntarkösz
  1. "Mekanik Machine" / "Köhntarkösz"
    Released: 1974
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Köhntarkösz is the fifth studio album by French band Magma, released on 10 September 1974.

Background

Köhntarkösz was recorded from May 1-12, 1974, soon after the sudden Ẁurdah Ïtah sessions the previous month. "Ork Alarm" constitutes a very early version of "De Futura", later released on Üdü Ẁüdü, which would become Jannick Top's signature piece. "Coltrane Sündia"[a] is an elegy for John Coltrane.[2]: 50 

The title piece of the album forms a section of the Köhntarkösz cycle. Although first in order of release, it has now been formulated as the second part in a trilogy consisting of K.A. (Köhntarkösz Anteria), Köhntarkösz, and Ëmëhntëhtt-Rê.[3]

Plot

In search of magical immortality, a man named Köhntarkösz discovers the tomb of Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré, a great pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.[b] Descending into the tomb, he hears a song of the angels intended for the deceased; panicking, he rushes further and further down. As he finds the resting place of Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré and pushes his tombstone, dust penetrates every pore of his skin, and he begins to receive a vision of Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré's entire life.[c][2]: 103–106 

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Köhntarkösz, Part I[d]"Christian Vander15:22
2."Ork Alarm"Jannick Top5:28
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Köhntarkösz, Part II[d]"Vander15:55
2."Coltrane Sündïa"Vander4:11

Personnel

Musicians
Other
  • "Loulou" Sarkissian "Mekanik" – stage manager
  • Fabio Nicoli – design & art direction
  • Giorgio Gomelsky – producer
  • Malcolm Robertson – photography
  • Simon Heyworth – engineer

Literature

  • Gonin, Philippe (2010), "Köhntarkösz", Magma – Décryptage d'un mythe et d'une musique (in French), Marseille: Le Mot et le Reste, pp. 171–178, ISBN 978-2-36054-000-6

Notes

  1. ^ Kobaïan translation: "Coltrane, Rest in Peace"
  2. ^ Depicted in K.A (Köhntarkösz Anteria) (2004)
  3. ^ Depicted in Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré (2009)
  4. ^ a b On digital releases, both parts of Köhntarkösz are placed together on the track listing.

References

  1. ^ Leone, Dominique. Köhntarkösz at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  2. ^ a b Michel, Albin. Magma, livre d'Antoine de Caunes (in French). ISBN 978-2226005632.
  3. ^ "Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré – Magma | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.