ANOTHER TIME... ANOTHER PLACE

Why this fine Welsh prog rock band released a double live album only after two full length albums and one EP; only the honorable woodpeckers in Wales knows. But why complain when the result is a highly entertaining 110 minutes long live album.

Music wise, Magenta is more in the vein of Renaissance than any other bands in the scene. The add their other influences like Yes and Genesis into their music and you have Magenta. The comparison with Renaissance is quite obvious, both being fronted and based around female vocals. Magenta's music is very symphonic at places, but also at time driven by the vocals of Christina. There is also plenty of guitars, piano and keyboards in their sound.

The songs on this album is really good. Songs like Gluttony, Broken, Children Of The Sun, Pride and Call Me. The rest of the material is good too.

Their sound could overall be a bit more dense and that is my only problem with Magenta. I get the feeling their sound is a bit naive and lacks the punch Renaissance have. Maybe it is the vocals or the instruments.

But Magenta is as far as I am concerned one of the better neo-prog rock bands on this planet and this live album proves why. It is recommended.

3 stars.