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Magenta - Seven CD (album) cover

SEVEN

Magenta

 

Neo-Prog

4.06 | 376 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars My friend, Andy Julias - the Chairman of Indonesian Progressive Society, lent me the CD of this album. For two weeks I listened to it. I really like it. I believe whether you are a prog fan or not, you may enjoy this album. It's a kind of relaxing prog I would say. The music is a little bit complex but the melody and harmony are blend together nicely. This album is written very well.

The intro part of "Gluttony" reminds me to "new" King Crimson style. But when the vocal part enters it reminds me to YES "Sound Chaser". It's not an intention, I believe. This track is really excellent. You may notice Steve Howe guitar style is here as well as Geoff Downes keyboard sound. This track is well composed: the structure is excellent as it has high, medium and low components placed nicely with good transitions. Transition is I think the most difficult challenge of any prog band in writing their music as it has to ensure consistent flow of their music. But Magenta does it really well in this track as the melody changes from one to another smoothly. My impression on track 1 is in its "howling" guitar sound, piano and female voice. An amazing opening track!

I think this group is heavily influenced by YES and GENESIS. Track 2 has a bit or nuance of GENESIS' "Entangled" of "A Trick of The Tail" album. This happens to the opening and at the body of the song (minutes "3:35"). Luckily it's not exactly the same melody as the solo organ has another set of really beautiful melody. I like this part very much. Fortunately it is not becoming the tag line melody of the song. You will observe when the voice enters. "Hold On . hold on .". It's another nice track!

Track 3 "Lust" really kills me man! The opening orchestral part creates an uplifting sound that sets the tone for the whole track. The guitar sound is a blend of Howe and Hackett. It's really a very nice opening. I even imagine if this track is located as first track, it would be wonderful. Piano player has done a good job here, as well as drummer. The interlude part at minute 4:50 with guitar "fill" as the lead backed by a piano sound is really an amazing piece. Some orchestral compositions in the middle of the track is also a nice piece. There are many guitar solo and keyboard solo in this track.

The closing track has a relaxing intro part with mellow keyboard sound and touchy piano. This intro reminds me sitting on the beach enjoying the sun sets. The vocal part enters nicely. At roughly the end of the track you may find a bit of "Floydian" or "Rothery-like" guitar touch. Yeah, this is another excellent track of the band.

It's a MUST HAVE in your collection. What do you think? - Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.

Gatot | 4/5 |

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