Post Description

Tracklist: 
The Lizard King (12:00), 
Ladyland Blues (10:33), 
Pearl (8:17), 
Stoned (11:25), 
The Gift (6:58), 
The Devil at the Crossroads (14:53) 

Magenta surprised the prog world some 12 years ago with their stunning debut Revolutions, a double album full of excellent epics. And where many new acts fail to deliver a successor that matches the quality of such a debut album their second album, Seven, proved even more successful and is widely regarded as a 'must-have' album for all those who like complex yet very listenable prog. In this way Magenta established itself in a very short time as one of the best bands in the scene, winning awards and gaining much respect. 

Personally, I like their third project best. Home (now a double album set with its accompanying 40-minute EP, New York Suite, but originally a single disc) is very melodic, quite mellow here and there but basically very varied and atmospheric. The angelic voice of Christina Booth proved to be one of the strongest assets Magenta had to offer and it also carries Metamorphosis, their fourth album, to great heights. This was a more complex album, darker, more technical in terms of the playing of the instruments but very enjoyable. 

And then in 2011 there was Chameleon which brought a totally different approach; shorter songs, more up-tempo and straightforward. It seemed as if Magenta were aiming for hits instead of using their prime asset which lies in their intelligent, melodic yet complex and varied epics. The album did little for me, it really was a disappointment. If that was the direction that Magenta was about to take I feared that I would lose my interest. 

But Chameleon seems to have been just another phase that principal song writer Rob Reed had to go through to get inspired again to write more prog stuff. And he has, both for his Kompendium project and now for this new Magenta album, The Twenty-Seven Club which takes its name from the theory surrounding the fact that many famous pop and rock heroes have died at that age. In half a dozen long songs images of six of these unfortunate artists are painted, ranging from Jim Morrison (The Lizard King) via Jimi Hendrix (Ladyland Blues), Janis Joplin (Pearl) and Brian Jones (Stoned) to Kurt Cobain (The Gift) and Robert Johnson (The Devil at the Crossroads). The music is meant to reflect their personalities and contribution and it becomes clear that the band really wanted to pay tribute to them. There is gorgeous, almost 'mean' guitar playing and riffing in Ladyland Blues and an occasional Mississippi blues acoustic guitar in The Devil at the Crossroads. The most obvious tribute, and therefore in my opinion the best song of the album, is Pearl, a beautiful bluesy ballad that almost sounds as if the band are standing in front of Joplin's grave reliving memories of her roaring life. The guitar solo by Chris Fry, Magenta's third core member, is absolutely stunning, supported by Reed's synths that grow slowly louder and louder, abruptly ending in an emotional, soft coda sung by Booth with only a piano in the background. Awesome! 

The contrast with the very Yes-like Stoned could not be bigger. It is a really nice song but I could not make the reference to Brian Jones at all. The guitar work is very reminiscent of Steve Howe's work on Going for the One; that's meant as a compliment! 

It is not an easy album to get into, the songs are quite complex with many different rhythms and time signatures and without the verse-chorus-verse recognition. It took me a couple of days to appreciate everything that is happening; the good thing is that it was never a problem to play the record again and again. It's tempting, it's original, it's complex and therefore there is much to discover and admire. 

Rob Reed's production is great, all the instruments are in good balance while Christina's voice is clear but not too strong and voluminous, sounding very good in the mix, as do the background vocals by Reed and Booth. The drums by Andy Edwards (ex-IQ) deserve special attention; in the first three minutes of The Devil at the Crossroads for instance he has to change times signature almost a thousand times and does so perfectly. It's good to hear him again! 

If this is the direction that Magenta is taking from now on then many beautiful things will emerge. Great album, highly recommended!! 

Bron: DPRP