I’ve listened to many, many concept albums, especially during the prog rock era. Floating planets, Armed armadillos, Puerto Rican gang members contracting syphilis, Massive towers in the middle of a jungle. You name it. I’ve heard it, and loved every minute.

But I missed out, for some reason, on  Kobaïa by Magma. That changed recently. Formed in Paris in 1969 this collective of artists produced this debut album – a double album at that – after hiding themselves away in the French countryside for three months.  It’s the story of a group of people fleeing a doomed Earth to settle on the fictional planet Kobaïa. The first song, which is sung mostly in English, all lyrics are sung in the Kobaïan language which was invented by the band.

It’s Jazz meets Prog Rock. It’s mad. It’s wonderful. Give it a listen.