Köhntarkösz

Köhntarkösz was recorded from May 1-12, 1974, soon after the sudden Ẁurdah Ïtah sessions the previous month. "Ork Alarm" constitutes a very early version of "De Futura", later released on Üdü Ẁüdü, which would become Jannick Top's signature piece. "Coltrane Sündia"^[a] is an elegy for John Coltrane.^[2]: 50

The title piece of the album forms a section of the Köhntarkösz cycle. Although first in order of release, it has now been formulated as the second part in a trilogy consisting of K.A. (Köhntarkösz Anteria), Köhntarkösz, and Ëmëhntëhtt-Rê.^[3]

In search of magical immortality, a man named Köhntarkösz discovers the tomb of Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré, a great pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.^[b] Descending into the tomb, he hears a song of the angels intended for the deceased; panicking, he rushes further and further down. As he finds the resting place of Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré and pushes his tombstone, dust penetrates every pore of his skin, and he begins to receive a vision of Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré's entire life.^{[c][2]: 103–106}

Musicians

• Klaus Blasquiz – vocals, percussion
• Stella Vander – vocals
• Gerard Bikialo – pianos, Yamaha organ
• Michel Graillier – pianos, clavinet
• Brian Godding – guitar
• Jannick "Janik" Top – bass, cello, vocals, piano
• Christian Vander – drums, vocals, piano, percussion

Other

• "Loulou" Sarkissian "Mekanik" – stage manager
• Fabio Nicoli – design & art direction
• Giorgio Gomelsky – producer
• Malcolm Robertson – photography
• Simon Heyworth – engineer

• Gonin, Philippe (2010), "Köhntarkösz", Magma – Décryptage d'un mythe et d'une musique (in French), Marseille: Le Mot et le Reste, pp. 171–178, ISBN 978-2-36054-000-6