And whilst on the subject of Big Chill, prog-rock tea pot heads Gong were also on top form on the Castle Stage but this is a rare chance to see their French counter parts, Magma (at one time best known as Steve Davis’ favourtie band) who are to join JP Massiera for an evening of all things cosmic ‘commune’ rock, space age jazz and galactic Gallic psych-pop at the Barbican.

Finders Keepers Records and Andy Votel in association with the Barbican have got thier heads together to come up with a line-up to celebrate 40 years since the moon landing and four decades of space-inspired concept rock, this theatrical psychedelic mass brings together some of the most innovative and respected cult figures in European progressive pop history.

his one-off event resurrects the maverick mutated mind of Nice’s mad scientist JP Massiera (often called ‘The French Joe Meek’) performing his original 70s repertoire and reunites the communal-prog civilians of the planet Kobaia - the legendary Magma, under the direction of Christian Vander. They will be joined by Anglo/Gallic catalytic cosmic jokers Chrome Hoof as all groups participate in this live space ritual, celebrating their mutual passion for intense psychedelic rock.

Releasing their debut records in 1969, both Magma and Massiera were key exponents of France’s post Ye-Ye generation, the ‘No-No’ years, when the birth of the pop concept album took the ideas of Holst’s Planets to spectacular new heights. Idiosyncratic and peerless, the two independently chose space travel and alien life as their key inspirations, dedicating whole albums and entire careers to the sonic depiction of the great unknown.

Vander’s Magma ensemble combined ‘prog’ operatics with symphonic hard rock and free jazz sung and narrated entirely in the alien language of Kobaian, which led to a string of thematic albums and musical manifestos, which created a dedicated nation of devotees and disciplinarians throughout the 1970’s. Their self-titled Zeuhl genre of music led to spin-offs and splinter groups which would later, alongside bands like Gong, influence the birth of the French and American No-Wave scenes.

JP Massiera’s interchangeable personality lead to a mutant discography, producing and seducing innocent French rock bands from the scalpel-happy confines of his Nice recording laboratory. Releasing records under the monikers Visitors, Maledictus Sound, Hermans Rocket, Human Egg, Jesus and Horrific Child, Massiera’s evident comic book obsession with aliens and monsters was omnipresent and unwaning. His symphonic psych-concept LP Visitors was based entirely on alien abduction and featured a long list of cult French pop misfits. His production work for rock groups like Chico Magnetic Band embodied early sample techniques and brazen sonic theft to hugely inspirational effect. His relocation to Antibes in the mid-70’s cemented his place in the foundation of cosmic disco, adding to his bulging discography of sought after and rare releases and a ‘most wanted’ tag amongst record collectors.

As one of the few credible modern-day exponents of commune-rock, Chrome Hoof are a mutating 14-piece congregation who reduce their metal, electro, jazz rock, Zeuhl and disco ingredients into a truly unique musical concoction that defies catagorization.

Under the command of sibling founders Leo and Milo Smee, Chrome Hoof’s ritualistic performances combine ‘prog’ operatics with freak-theatrical elements and squeeze them through the mind-numbing powerhouse of a vintage back-line for a remarkable multi-sensory overload.

Finders Keepers Records (who have already released the superb All Killer: Finders Keepers Records 1-20 Mixed By The Gaslamp Killer this year), to coincide with the gig are going to release a special commemorative CD entitled Celestial Mass - Sonic Depictions of Outer Space from the Vaults of the Finders Keepers family, 1969-2009 (they do like a long title) that’s going to be custom-built from the vintage vaults of global misplaced pop, communal rock, celestial jazz, cosmic disco, space-age electronics and interplanetary ambience from the last 40 years since mankind first trespassed on the moon’s crust. Artists include JP Massiera, Magma, Popera Cosmic, Chrome Hoof, Sun Ra, Vangelis, Toolshed, Gong (who also turn up on the new Peter Kruder compilation Private Collection), Braens Machine and loads more.

One not to be missed!

Links:
Magma/J P Massiera/Chrome Hoof - Tuesday 6 October 7.30pm - Tickets £12.50/15/22.50
Concert at the Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Box Office: 0845 120 7550 www.barbican.org.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Davis
Gilles Peterson :: 17 January 2008 :: Live in Session for BBC Introducing… Chrome Hoof
Chrome Hoof - ‘Circus 9000’ (Live in Session)
Chrome Hoof - ‘Tonyte’ (Live in Session)
Chrome Hoof - ‘Moss Covered Obelisk’ (Live in Session)