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A deep dive into scenes, record labels and genres from around the world.

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London
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The British Library’s relationship with WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) is nearly as long as the festival's existence, with a small team from the sound archive attending the festival to record and archive performances since 1985. The concentration of so many diverse and talented musicians in one place allows us to document musical styles from around the world right here on our doorstep. And, after 40 years, we now hold around 2,500 hours of music recorded at WOMAD, backed up digitally for preservation and access. With WOMAD taking a year off in 2025, we thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit some of the recordings we made last Summer. There were too many fantastic performances to choose from, so this is just a small selection of staff highlights, including some debut appearances and memorable moments. All recordings made by the British Library WOMAD 2024 team: Michele Banal, Greg Green, Karl Jenkins, Grace Johnstone, Finlay McIntosh and Gail Tasker. Selection and mix by Finlay McIntosh. Thanks to all the artists for agreeing to have their recordings shared on NTS.

Christian Vander

Christian Vander

Christian Vander has been played on NTS over 60 times, featured on 60 episodes and was first played on 3 August 2014.

Christian Vander (aka Zëbëhn Straïn dë Ğeuštaah; born February 21, 1948) is a French drummer, musician, and founder of the band Magma, who sing their songs in Kobaïan, his constructed language. Besides his work with Magma, he has also performed solo, with the Christian Vander Trio and Christian Vander Quartet, and in Offering.

Vander was born in Nogent-sur-Marne.

He is known both for his unique songwriting and his virtuosic drumming. His compositions fuse jazz, rock, classical and opera influences, and draw on the work of musicians as diverse as John Coltrane and Carl Orff. Vander's music is broadly classified as progressive rock, but the style is so unique that it falls under its own category - an idiosyncratic style of music often referred to by fans as Zeuhl (which means "celestial" in Kobaïan, a language devised by Vander and used exclusively by Magma). There have been several other bands who have incorporated Zeuhl stylings into their compositions, many of which are composed of ex-Magma members. Some of the more notable groups of this variety include Japanese duo Ruins, Magma offshoot Weidorje and Belgian chamber rock outfit, Univers Zero.

Christian Vander is the stepson of famous French jazz piano player Maurice Vander (who was a long time sideman of the French singer Claude Nougaro).

Most of Vander and Magma's recorded work is still available through Vander's own record label, Seventh Records.

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Christian Vander

Christian Vander has been played on NTS over 60 times, featured on 60 episodes and was first played on 3 August 2014.

Christian Vander (aka Zëbëhn Straïn dë Ğeuštaah; born February 21, 1948) is a French drummer, musician, and founder of the band Magma, who sing their songs in Kobaïan, his constructed language. Besides his work with Magma, he has also performed solo, with the Christian Vander Trio and Christian Vander Quartet, and in Offering.

Vander was born in Nogent-sur-Marne.

He is known both for his unique songwriting and his virtuosic drumming. His compositions fuse jazz, rock, classical and opera influences, and draw on the work of musicians as diverse as John Coltrane and Carl Orff. Vander's music is broadly classified as progressive rock, but the style is so unique that it falls under its own category - an idiosyncratic style of music often referred to by fans as Zeuhl (which means "celestial" in Kobaïan, a language devised by Vander and used exclusively by Magma). There have been several other bands who have incorporated Zeuhl stylings into their compositions, many of which are composed of ex-Magma members. Some of the more notable groups of this variety include Japanese duo Ruins, Magma offshoot Weidorje and Belgian chamber rock outfit, Univers Zero.

Christian Vander is the stepson of famous French jazz piano player Maurice Vander (who was a long time sideman of the French singer Claude Nougaro).

Most of Vander and Magma's recorded work is still available through Vander's own record label, Seventh Records.

Original source: Last.fm

Tracks featured on

Most played tracks

Love In The Darkness
Christian Vander, Offering
Jaro, Seventh Records1986
Eliphas Levi
Magma, Christian Vander (Magma mix)
Jaro1984
The Night We Died
Magma, Christian Vander (Magma mix)
Jaro1984
Call From The Dark (Ooh Ooh Baby)
Magma, Christian Vander (Magma mix)
Jaro1984
Otis
Magma, Christian Vander (Magma mix)
Jaro1984
Les Oies Sauvages
Christian Vander
Seventh Records1994
Tïlïm M'Dohm
Christian Vander, Offering
Jaro, Seventh Records1986
Do The Music
Magma, Christian Vander (Magma mix)
Jaro1984
Fiesta In Drums
Christian Vander, Frank Raholison
Palm1973
Il Est Noël
Christian Vander
Seventh Records1994