Music Reviews - M
Magic Pie - Circus of Life (2007)
Review added July 13/07.
Melding the keyboard elements of 1970s symphonic prog with plenty of atmosphere and strong vocals, Magic Pie's Circus of Life shatters any question of the sophomore jinx after their monumental debut, Motions of Desire.
Unquestionably prog, but these are no obscurantists, despite the lengthy instrumental passages (a feature often considered indulgent by the new musically correct). Magic Pie grabs the listener with catchy melodies, pleasingly intricate harmonies (check out especially "Pointless Masquerade"!), and a precedence of tonality over unnecessary wizardry. The anticipated prog complexity is generally seamless; the sundry pieces of the puzzle (or is it pie?) tie together in a natural progression, diverse as they may be.
Attended by guest cello (Liv Frengstad), a choir, a trombone, marimbas, harmonica, and a sitar to boot, Circus of Life is an excellent example of the successful integration of rock music with other forms both classically Western and ethnic.
4 1/2 stars.
Magic Pie - Motions of Desire (2005)
Review added July 14/07.
From its gripping opening guitar riffs, flowing into beautiful fluid strains a minute in, Motions of Desire quickly grabs the listener with its compelling beauty. The liner notes indicate a desire "to blend musical tendencies" from 1970s prog to "today's progressive scene." On the latter score, think of a more accessible Flower Kings, with less whimsical vocals and a stronger accent on melody; I also think I hear shades of early Kansas (Song for America and earlier) and maybe Gaudi-era Alan Parsons Project, as well as some vocal-oriented 70s rock. Yet for all that familiarity, Norway's Magic Pie succeeds in keeping their approach from sounding either dated or derivative.
With three lead vocalists and a knack for killer melodies and harmonies, Magic Pie fulfills the beauty quotient nicely, and there is nothing stilted or sanitized about the feel. In fact, by prog standards there's a surprising amount of groove. Both electric and acoustic guitar are spot-on, and the keyboards are inventive, tasteful and elegant. It's no exaggeration to call Motions of Desire a paradise of tone.
Some call this one of the best 25 prog albums of all time, and on early listen, I'd have to agree. It's a shame this album has not received more notice or distribution in North America. (Thankfully, I managed to convince the good folks at Lasercd.com to carry it when I discovered that only very small operators were offering it via the Internet on this continent.) But for those ready to track something down, Motions of Desire is well worth the effort.
5 stars
