Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh
Encyclopedia
Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh (MDK) is an album released by French
progressive rock
band Magma
in 1973
. MDK is Magma's most famous and stylistically acclaimed record; and although it has not become a commercial success, the band continues to present this 'classic' or 'symphonic rock' material to audiences. Magma's original recording of MDK was refused by their record company at the time, it was later published as Mekanïk Kommandöh
.
s. The primary choir is 'mixed voices'- primarily mezzos, sometimes subdivided- and a second choir of mixed horns and woodwinds. Above all is the arresting vocal sound- an almost unique blend of techniques from both the European operatic and Afro-gospel vocal traditions- which gives this music its dramatic 'Heroic' character.
MDK incorporates the Carmina's percussive orchestra with other rhythmic developments of 20th-century art-music (the use of piano as a percussion sound, syncopated rhythmic "phasing") within the larger form of a song cycle
, i.e., a suite of unified and seamless music sung attacca- without audible breaks between the named sections. The effect sculpts a complex, angular and at times ecstatically propulsive orchestral sound especially suited to the oppressive and militaristic storylines of what is a desperately dystopian tale.
This martial sound even projects something of the essential aggression and savagery found in later "Black/Death Metal" styles. Consider MDK's delirious falsettos and obsessive, growling repetitions of distorted rhythmic cells- as well the Middle-European mass of the composer's synthetic Kobaian language as embodied by his choir- against any other music of alienation.
Throughout these novel riches and depths MDK remain essentially a cabaret piece, presentable onstage by less than a dozen people. European art-song elements fuse over light 'electric-jazz' textures, with crisp yet momentary energetic rock strophes. Composer Vander credits the "spiritual" aspect of John Coltrane
's output as his primary inspiration, and the MDK choirs are nothing if not volcanic. Yet apart from a similarly essential, broad and quite idiosyncratic virtuosity, MDK's sound is essentially a melodic one-and more reminiscent of some of Miles Davis' "Bitches' Brew" benedictions, than any of Coltrane's celebratory catharses.
's apocalyptic music, Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh is sung completely in his synthetic language Kobaïan
(which reads and feels much like a glottal-stop-free Germanic language). MDK is story of the prophet 'Nebehr Güdahtt' who delivers to the people of the Earth this insight: If they want to be saved from themselves, they must morally cleanse themselves to worship of the Kobaïan supreme being, 'Kreuhn Kohrmahn', by learning sacred "Zeuhl Wortz" music (already wildly popular on Kobaïa, of course). In response to this blatant cultural imperialism the people of the Earth initially march against Güdahtt, but slowly like any true believer Güdahtt attracts enough of a base of adherents to survive, to sing the Kobaian music.
MDK is conceptually the last movement
of the trilogy "Theusz Hamtaahk
", nevertheless it was the first of them to be released. The second, "Ẁurdah Ïtah
" was released in 1974, and the first, "Theusz Hamtaahk" - which apparently translates to "Time Of Hatred" and narrates a period of fanatical demands between Kobaïa and Earth - has been part of Magma's live repertoire since the 1970s and has so far only been released on live recordings, first on Retrospektiw (Parts I+II)
in 1981.
This story follows a Kobaïan party sent to Earth in order to bring the enlightenment achieved on Kobaïa to the rest of Humanity. The reaction to the Kobaïans' message is mixed, and Earth authorities arrest the party, causing Kobaïa to declare war and threaten to make use of their ultimate weapon (the Mekanïk Destruktïw Komandöh). The resolution of the trilogy remains cloudy. Some see evidence of all Earth joining in the Zeuhl Wortz, while others read evidence of Earth being destroyed. Vander's special relationship to the Kobaian language and his unique access to the Kobaian ambassadors has not yet made the situation any more clear.
Bonus Track on some CD reissues
Track 8 is a (mostly) instrumental demo of the piece that also appears on the double-CD rarities compilation Archiw I & II, available only on the 12 disc box set Studio Zünd: 40 Ans d'Evolution
.
with
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Magma
Magma (band)
Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a "vision of humanity's spiritual and ecological future" that profoundly disturbed him. In the course of their first album, the band tells the story of a...
in 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
. MDK is Magma's most famous and stylistically acclaimed record; and although it has not become a commercial success, the band continues to present this 'classic' or 'symphonic rock' material to audiences. Magma's original recording of MDK was refused by their record company at the time, it was later published as Mekanïk Kommandöh
Mekanïk Kommandöh
Mekanïk Kommandöh is an album by French Progressive rock group Magma. It was recorded in 1973, but not released until 1989. The album consists of an early version of the band's classic record Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh...
.
Musical aspects
MDK is a song-cycle for small choir with baritone soloist accompanied by a jazz ensemble (including brass/woodwind choir) doubling on orchestral percussion. The sound of MDK is fantastically original- yet also ironically, even perversely traditional- because to a large degree MDK's sound is aggressively Teutonic due in large part to the use of antecedents found in Carl Orff's faux-antique Carmina Burana song cycle, particularly the extensive percussion resources. Further contributing to this powerful effect is MDK's orchestral foundation contrasting a variety of separate choirChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s. The primary choir is 'mixed voices'- primarily mezzos, sometimes subdivided- and a second choir of mixed horns and woodwinds. Above all is the arresting vocal sound- an almost unique blend of techniques from both the European operatic and Afro-gospel vocal traditions- which gives this music its dramatic 'Heroic' character.
MDK incorporates the Carmina's percussive orchestra with other rhythmic developments of 20th-century art-music (the use of piano as a percussion sound, syncopated rhythmic "phasing") within the larger form of a song cycle
Song cycle
A song cycle is a group of songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a single entity. As a rule, all of the songs are by the same composer and often use words from the same poet or lyricist. Unification can be achieved by a narrative or a persona common to the songs, or even, as in Schumann's...
, i.e., a suite of unified and seamless music sung attacca- without audible breaks between the named sections. The effect sculpts a complex, angular and at times ecstatically propulsive orchestral sound especially suited to the oppressive and militaristic storylines of what is a desperately dystopian tale.
This martial sound even projects something of the essential aggression and savagery found in later "Black/Death Metal" styles. Consider MDK's delirious falsettos and obsessive, growling repetitions of distorted rhythmic cells- as well the Middle-European mass of the composer's synthetic Kobaian language as embodied by his choir- against any other music of alienation.
Throughout these novel riches and depths MDK remain essentially a cabaret piece, presentable onstage by less than a dozen people. European art-song elements fuse over light 'electric-jazz' textures, with crisp yet momentary energetic rock strophes. Composer Vander credits the "spiritual" aspect of John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
's output as his primary inspiration, and the MDK choirs are nothing if not volcanic. Yet apart from a similarly essential, broad and quite idiosyncratic virtuosity, MDK's sound is essentially a melodic one-and more reminiscent of some of Miles Davis' "Bitches' Brew" benedictions, than any of Coltrane's celebratory catharses.
Concept
As with most of composer Christian VanderChristian Vander (musician)
Christian Vander is a French drummer, musician, and founder of the band Magma. Besides his work with Magma, he has also performed solo, with the Christian Vander Trio and Christian Vander Quartet, and in Offering....
's apocalyptic music, Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh is sung completely in his synthetic language Kobaïan
Kobaïan
-External links:*. Perfect Sound Forever.*....
(which reads and feels much like a glottal-stop-free Germanic language). MDK is story of the prophet 'Nebehr Güdahtt' who delivers to the people of the Earth this insight: If they want to be saved from themselves, they must morally cleanse themselves to worship of the Kobaïan supreme being, 'Kreuhn Kohrmahn', by learning sacred "Zeuhl Wortz" music (already wildly popular on Kobaïa, of course). In response to this blatant cultural imperialism the people of the Earth initially march against Güdahtt, but slowly like any true believer Güdahtt attracts enough of a base of adherents to survive, to sing the Kobaian music.
MDK is conceptually the last movement
Movement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
of the trilogy "Theusz Hamtaahk
Trilogie Theusz Hamtaahk
Theusz Hamtaahk is a live album by the French progressive rock band Magma, released in 2001. The album was recorded in 2000 over the course of two days during Magma's 30th anniversary shows at the Trianon theater, Paris, France and released both as a 3 audio CD box with a 16 page color booklet and...
", nevertheless it was the first of them to be released. The second, "Ẁurdah Ïtah
Ẁurdah Ïtah
- Personnel :* Christian Vander – drums, piano, Fender Rhodes, percussion, vocal* Stella Vander – vocals* Klaus Blasquiz – vocals, percussion* Jannick Top – bass...
" was released in 1974, and the first, "Theusz Hamtaahk" - which apparently translates to "Time Of Hatred" and narrates a period of fanatical demands between Kobaïa and Earth - has been part of Magma's live repertoire since the 1970s and has so far only been released on live recordings, first on Retrospektiw (Parts I+II)
Retrospektiw (Parts I+II)
Retrospektiw is a live album by French Progressive rock group Magma. It was released in 1981. . It documents live recordings from a series of Magma reunion shows in Paris, June 9, 10 & 11, 1980...
in 1981.
This story follows a Kobaïan party sent to Earth in order to bring the enlightenment achieved on Kobaïa to the rest of Humanity. The reaction to the Kobaïans' message is mixed, and Earth authorities arrest the party, causing Kobaïa to declare war and threaten to make use of their ultimate weapon (the Mekanïk Destruktïw Komandöh). The resolution of the trilogy remains cloudy. Some see evidence of all Earth joining in the Zeuhl Wortz, while others read evidence of Earth being destroyed. Vander's special relationship to the Kobaian language and his unique access to the Kobaian ambassadors has not yet made the situation any more clear.
Side one
- Hortz Fur Dëhn Stekëhn West – 9:36
- Ïma Süri Dondaï – 4:30
- Kobaïa Is de Hündïn – 3:34
Side two
- Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanïk – 7:48
- Nebëhr Gudahtt – 6:02
- Mekanïk Kommandöh – 4:10
- Kreühn Köhrmahn Iss de Hündïn – 3:13
Bonus Track on some CD reissues
- M.D.K. (alternate version) – 34:35
Track 8 is a (mostly) instrumental demo of the piece that also appears on the double-CD rarities compilation Archiw I & II, available only on the 12 disc box set Studio Zünd: 40 Ans d'Evolution
Studio Zünd: 40 Ans d'Evolution
All of Magma's studio albums up to and including 2004's K.A. have been officially reissued on CD by Seventh Records. They were released in a 12 disc box set called Studio Zünd: 40 Ans d'évolution, which as a bonus featured the exclusive double CD Archiw I & II, a compilation of unreleased material,...
.
Personnel
- Christian VanderChristian Vander (musician)Christian Vander is a French drummer, musician, and founder of the band Magma. Besides his work with Magma, he has also performed solo, with the Christian Vander Trio and Christian Vander Quartet, and in Offering....
— Drums, Vocals, Organ, Percussion - Jannick TopJannick TopJannick Top is a French bass player and composer, born in Marseille. Top plays the electric bass and the cello.In the 1970s, he was a lead member of the influential zeuhl band Magma, along with Christian Vander and Didier Lockwood...
— Bass - Klaus Blasquiz — Vocals, Percussion
- Jean-Luc Manderlier — Piano, Organ
- Benoit Widemann — Keyboards
- René Garber — Bass Clarinet, Vocals
- Claude Olmos — Guitar
- Stella VanderStella VanderStella Vander is a French singer and musician.-Early years:Born in Paris into a family of Polish immigrants, she began writing music in the early sixties together with her uncle Maurice Chorenslup. Their songs were parodies of the Yé-yé style that was popular at the time...
— Vocals - Muriel Streisfield — Vocals
- Evelyne Razymovski — Vocals
- Michele Saulnier — Vocals
- Doris Reinhardt — Vocals
- Teddy Lasry — Brass, Flute
with
- Giorgio GomelskyGiorgio GomelskyGiorgio Gomelsky is a filmmaker, impresario, music manager, songwriter and record producer. He owned the Crawdaddy Club where The Rolling Stones were house band, and he was involved with their early management. He hired The Yardbirds as a replacement and managed them. He was also their...
— Producer - Eddie Sprigg — Engineer
- Gilbert — Engineer
- Gilles Sallé — Engineer
- Simon Heyworth — Engineer
- Steve Michell — Engineer
- Tom Rabstener — Engineer
- Loulou Sarkissian — Stage Manager