HIGHWAY 375

Aliens, spaceships and science fiction inspire MAGUS third release. Andrew Robinson's band is searching their way down Highway 375 in USA. A road that is known for it's many UFO observations. Two of the tracks on this 4-track CDEP are named after this road, and the CD cover illustration is also called "Alien Highway". The other two tracks are named after Frank Herbert's epic science fiction books about the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Part 1 of the track is called Dune, while the other Part is called Messiah. I guess they are referring to the main character in the books, Paul Atreides. The music is pretty much the same as on their previous CD "Traveller", with the exception that this one is all instrumental Electronic Progressive Rock. Magus is very reminiscent to ELEGANT SIMPLICITY in many ways. MAGUS as well as ELEGANT SIMPLICITY is very much a one-man band with one man responsible for the main part of the compositions, arrangements, production and performances. In ELEGANT SIMPLICITYthere's Steven McCabe, and in MAGUS there's Andrew Robinson. Another similarity is the guitar soundscapes the both of bands have. There's also reminiscences to CROSS and PORCUPINE TREE. A good buy for those of you who are into the aforementioned bands and electronic progressive rock.

Despite a questionable result, ''Traveller'' was well received by the press with high notes around the 20-min. ''Rif''.While the band was starting to be compared with Porcupine Tree, an unexpected event buried the chances of further exposure.Robert Wolf, owner of the Inearvision's label, dissapeared from the map, leading to the non-distributing of the ordered CD's and an inconsistency surrounding Magus' name.Andrew Robinson cut all ties with Inearvision and found the strength to complete a short EP to keep Magus' momentum alive.It was entitled ''Highway 375'', released independenty in 1998.

Apparently the bad situation around Magus has led also to a stylistic inconsistency, Robinson wrote, arranged, performed and recorded the whole EP on his own forces, but the result was below average.He had made a turn towards more electronic enviroments, albeit keeping much of the spaciness of Magus' previous releases.The title-track is low-pace, instrumental Space Rock with electronic flashes surrounding Robinson's psychedelic guitar tunes in a single, repetitive rhythm, which may sound a bit monotonous, but still manages to create a nice instrumental background.The short ''Arrakis-Dune-Desert Planet part 1'' is a manifest of psychedelic effects, working as an intro for the upcoming second part, which finds Robinson in a more experimental mood.The track is built around tribal percussions and abstract, psychedelic solos over a palette of electronic sounds, coming closer to Experimental Rock than the melodic or atmospheric Rock the man has used the listener.The closing synth-drenched groove won't save this one from mediocrity.The reprise of the opening title is a bit better, more rhythmic, close to SHAMALL's works, with electronic beats and drums and some decent guitar atmospheres, again the sound is repetitive all the way with only some loops changing over time.

A weak effort overall, but we can't accuse Robinson for the final result, this period found him struggling to keep Magus alive as a project.Average Space/Electronic Rock with a few good things to offer, too repetitive and sterile.For fans of experimental and spacious soundscapes.