01	Malawelekaahm			(Incantation)			03:37
	02	Bradia Da Zimehn Iegah			(L'Initie A Parle)			02:18
	03	Maneh Fur Da Zess			(Ensemble Pour Le Maitre)			01:36
	04	Fur Dihhel Kobaia			(Pour La Vie Eternelle)			04:55
	05	Blum Tendiwa			(L'Ame Du Peuple)			03:29
	06	Wohldunt Mem Deweless			(Message Dans L'Etendue)			03:29
	07	Wainsaht !!!			(En Avant)			02:30
	08	Wlasik Steuhn Kobaia			(Ascension Vers L'Eternel)			02:46
	09	Sehnnteht Dros Wurdah Sums			(La Mort N'est Rien)			03:24
	10	C'est La Vie Qui Les A Menes La						04:58
	11	Ek Sun Da Zess			(Qui Est Le Maitre ?)			02:16
	12	De Zeuhl Undazir			(Vision De La Musique Celeste)			03:40

Wurdah Itah/Tristan et Iseult
Artist Christian Vander
Date of Release 1974

AMG REVIEW: Besides possible contractual obligations, there is no obvious reason why this album was credited as a solo project by Christian Vander. By all counts it is a Magma album. Recorded for Yves Lagrange's motion picture Tristan et Iseult, this album has been referred to by this title or Wurdah Itah - the actual title of this continuous 40-minute piece. Described on all LP and CD sleeves as the "second movement of 'Theusz Hamtaahk'," it is indeed an extensive reworking with much additional material. In 1974 when Wurdah Itah first came out, "Theusz Hamtaahk" had not yet been committed to record, although a riveting interpretation of it had been put to tape in the studios of the BBC (see BBC 1974). The first half of "Wurdah Itah" recycles sections of the original piece, especially its opening in "Mala Welekaahm" and a vocal feature for Klaus Blasquiz in "Fir di Mel Kobaia." But the second half begins with brand new material and only occasionally drifts back to "Theusz Hamtaakh." More significant on this album is the fact that Magma has been stripped down to a quartet. Vander handles drums and acoustic piano (instead of the twin electric piano setup the group used at the time), backed by Jannick Top's thundering bass and the vocal section of Blasquiz and Stella Vander. As a result of these "chamber" arrangements, the music sounds even more Gothic and derived from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Not as gripping a production as Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh or Kohntarkosz, Wurdah Itah is nevertheless part of Magma's core legacy. - Francois Couture

1. Malawelakaahm (Vander) - 3:37
2. Bradia da Zimehn Iegah (Vander) - 2:17
3. Maneh Fur da Zess (Vander) - 1:37
4. Fur Dihhel Kobaia (Vander) - 4:55
5. Blum Tendiwa (Vander) - 3:25
6. Wohldunt Miem Deweless (Vander) - 3:31
7. Wainsaht!!! (Vander) - 2:29
8. Wlasik Steuhn Kobaia (Vander) - 2:47
9. Sehnnteht Dros Wurdah Sums (Vander) - 3:25
10. C'Est la Vie Qui les a Menes La (Vander) - 5:00
11. Ek Sun da Zess (Vander) - 2:16
12. De Zeuhl Undazir (Vander) - 2:41

1974 LP Barclay 80528








Christian Vander
Wurdah Itah
Seventh Records (REX IX)
France 1974

various musicians, chant, percussion, bass, electric & acoustic pianos, drums; liner notes in Kobaian, no real names listed except Christian Vander, drums

Tracklist:
1. Malawelekaahm - 3:37
2. Bradia da Zimehn Iegah - 2:18
3. Maneh Fur Da Zess - 1:38
4. Fur Dihhel Kobaia - 4:55
5. Blum Tendiwa - 3:29
6. Wohldunt Mem Deweless - 3:29
7. Wainsaht - 2:30
8. Wlasik Steuhn Kobaia - 2:46
9. Sehnnteht Dros Wurdah Sums - 3:24
10. C'est la Vie Qui les A Menes La! - 4:58
11. Ek Sun Da Zess - 2:16
12. De Zeuhl Undazir - 3:40

total time 38:58


bob

Not much I can add to the previous reviews. This album isn't as overbearing as MDK, but at the same time it isn't as powerful. The music is propelled more by the drum groove than by repetition. This album (or Kohntarkosz) might be a good starter for those who want to "ease" into Magma's studio work.
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dom

Soundtrack to the film Tristan et Iseult, composed by Christian Vander and performed by the core of the band Magma. This came immediately after MDK, and the music is in a similar style. However, since fewer musicians played on this album, the sound is much more crisp and clean. Again, repetitive, odd-metered motives, Orff-style choral voices, and fantastically precise drumwork from Vander help this very creative outfit succeed to great heights. If the rather sci-fi pretensions get you down, it's easy to ignore them, as the band sing in their own, made-up language. Definitely not the band to play on a first date or a family reunion, but if you're looking for something that doesn't sound like any other prog, you can't beat Magma.
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sean

Despite being recorded after MDK, Wurdah Itah is the second part of the Theusz Hamtaahk trilogy, coming before MDK in the storyline. The title is Kobaian for "Time of Hate".
Wurdah Itah is prime Magma. It opens with a sped-up part from "Theusz Hamtaahk" (which is the name of the first part of the trilogy as well as that of the trilogy itself) before heading into the album proper. Nice to see the whole trilogy tied together as there are variations on various themes from MDK. The rumbling piano part near the end "foreshadows" (in the storyline) the piano intro to Mekanik Kommandoh (the stripped-down early version of MDK).

This album indulges my preference for the stripped-down version of Magma. Horns and tuned percussion are great, but not necessary. On this album we have only four band members; Christian Vander on piano and drums, Klaus Blasquiz on vocals, Stella Vander on vocals and Jannik Top on bass. Although not has heavy as Mekanik Kommandoh, the lack of much melody outside of that which is provided by the piano makes for a lower-key intensity. There are still some pretty solid zeuhl buildups, however, such as in "Fur Dihhel Kobaia".

This is one of the truest representations of the band's classic sound, and must be recommended as such.

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joe

Officially credited to Christian Vander, but this is pretty much four prime members of Magma: Vander, Jannick Top, Klauz Blasquiz, and Stella Vander. The instrumentation of this second chapter in the "Theusz Hamtaahk" trilogy is a stripped-down affair: basically piano, Fender Rhodes, bass, drums, percussion, and vocals vocals vocals. All of the Magma trademarks are present and accounted for: mystical chanting, the ominous incantations, musical references to Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, and some of the band's most beautiful choral work. Quite episodic, and as such takes a longer amount of time to get into, but for repeated listenings Wurdah Itah pays off some of the most long-lasting rewards in the band's repertoire.
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brandon

Although billed to Christian Vander, this is really a stripped-down Magma recording, much in the style of Mekanik Kommandoh, though rather more restrained. It's pretty damn good stuff; there's slightly less of the relentless repetition which is more of the style on some other Magma recordings. Lots of piano and lots of vocals; Christian Vander's drumming doesn't seem to be quite as up-front as it is on other releases. Unlike some other Magma discs, this one actually makes pleasant passive listening - it's a little more laid-back than most of the other Magma material that I've heard, and the predominance of acoustic piano actually gives the music a bit of a lighter feel. Which isn't to say that it doesn't rock out at certain points, of course! The whole recording ends with a piano line very reminiscent of Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, perhaps foreshadowing the conclusion of the "Theusz Hamtaakh" trilogy of albums, of which this is the second. Thanks to its slightly less oppressive and intimidating feel, this release might actually make a decent introduction to the zeuhl subgenre.
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(c) ground and sky




Christian Vander - Wurdah Itah

Release Notes
Barclay 80528 (LP) 1974 [France] Released as soundtrack to "Tristan et Yseult"
Seventh REX IX (CD) 1989 [France]

Songs
1. Malawelakaahm 3:37
2. Bradia Da Zimehn Iegah 2:17
3. Maneh Fur Da Zess 1:37
4. Fur Dihhel Kobaia 4:55
5. Blum Tendiwa 3:25
6. Wohldunt Miem Deweless 3:31
7. Wainsaht !!! 2:29
8. Wlasik Steuhn Kobaia 2:47
9. Sehnnteht Dros Wurdah Sums 3:25
10. C'est La Vie Qui Les A Menes La 5:00
11. Ek Sun Da Zess 2:16
12. De Zeuhl Undazir 2:41


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Members
Klotz Zaspiaahk (Klaus) - Vocals,Percussion
Tauhd Zaia (Stella) - Vocals
Wahrgenuhr Reugehlem Esteh (Janik) - Bass
Zabehn Strain De Geustaah (Christian) - Piano,Keyboards,Drums,Vocals



WURDAH ITAH CD REX IX
Klotsz ZASPIAAHK - vocals, percussions
Thaud ZAIA - vocals
Wahrgenuhr REUGEHLEMAESTEH - bass
Zebehn STRAIN DE GEUSTAAH - piano, electric piano, drums, vocals

The soundtrack for Yvan LAGRANGE's film TRISTAN Y ISEULT, WURDAH ITAH was recorded in April 1974, just one month before the sessions which produced KOHNTARKOSZ. It forms the second movement of THEUSZ HAMTAAHK, an epic work in three movements of which MEKANIK DESTRUKTIW KOMMANDOH, recorded a year earlier by MAGMA, forms the final part. Performed by the core players in MAGMA at that time - Christian VANDER (piano, drums, vocals), Jannick TOP (bass), Klaus BLASQUIZ (vocals, percussion) and Stella VANDER (vocals) - WURDAH ITAH is music stripped down to its bare essence. Although a total contrast to the splendour and orchestral power of M.D.K., it nevertheless has just as great rhythmic power and surprising vocal lyricism, unquestionably marked by the claws of MAGMA.
Recorded and mixed April 4th, 5th& 8th 1974 in STUDIO DE MILAN (Paris)
by Jean-Pierre BAMEULLE.