j o e

Supposedly, this is the best release from Vander's post-Magma project begun in the mid-80s, Offering. After a solemnly improvised keyboard overture courtesy of Vander, the disc's strongest tracks ("Cosmos," the title track, "La Marche Celeste") return us to the calming, astral regions of the Zeuhl realm. Some really heavenly stuff, as the hypnotic, repetitive keyboard patterns typical of Vander's best music mix with the angelic vocals of Stella Vander and Isabelle Feuillebois. Never has the phrase "just for you" sounded to me as charming, seductive, and yet so oddly placed. But that's Magma, i'nt it? Anyway, the only track I could wholesale do without is the overlong, rather indulgent, free-jazz workout "Purificatem" that concludes. I understand is more along the lines of Offering's previous albums, and if that's so, guess I'll be passing on those. This is an uneven release, but has generally got enough to recommend it. review by Joe McGlinchey — undated —