Jannick Top

Jannick Top (aka Jannik, Janik, etc.) was born in Marseille, but moved to Paris after a classical Russian education in piano, cello and the more theoretical side of music, becoming acquainted with many jazz-oriented musicians and recording an album with Troc before joining Magma in 1973. As the Wahrgenuhr, he helped solidify the zeuhl sound both by contributing his unique bass techniques - the trademark heavy distortion, played on a bass guitar tuned as you would a cello - and through compositions of his own, including the cult song "De Futura". Although his tenure with Magma was relatively brief (staying from May '73 until Oct '74, and then returning to record and embark on one last tour) his legacy is stamped all over Zeuhl and continues to influence bands from around the world. Following his departure, Jannick recorded an album with the band Speed Limit, a band made up mostly of Magma alumni and in a similar jazz-rock style. When that project didn't last, he became a sessionist, working his way up the ladder of recognition and eventually recording for various well-known names. Although his musical concerns have taken a turn towards the commercial, Jannick Top has recently guested with Magma, as recorded on Mythes Et Légendes, Volume II. The compilation album, "Soleil d'Ork" is a collection of his solo work recorded between 1974 and '80, some tracks being in collaboration with fellow Magma musicians and other important members of the Paris scene such as Richard Pinhas. The whole album retains a very Kobaian flavour and would be of interest to fans of the Zeuhl movement. Jannick Top owns and runs Utopic Records and maintains an archive of Magma bootlegs.