Magma
London Barbican
6th October, 2009

Curated by Andy Votel, this event lived up to its billing as a Celestial Mass, transporting the audience to planet Kobaïa. Dressed in silver capes, Chrome Hoof were performance art, with a short, stunning set, backing Jean- Pierre Massiera for half a dozen eerie, spooky tracks. The other-worldly freak-beat of Horrific Child was lost on the Brits, but the centrepiece of his cult Visitors proved as entrancing as ever. Violin virtuoso Didier Lockwood, ex- Magma, was less scary than in the 70s, but still drives the band’s Panzer-like music, combining the sweep of Carl Orff and the feel of John Coltrane. They locked into a hypnotic pattern, contrasting the beautiful ripples of the Fender Rhodes and vibraphone with the majestic voices of three singers. They premiered material from Ëmëhntëhtt-Rê and only revisited their mighty catalogue for an encore of Kobaïa. Job done.