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ECHOES FROM THE EDGE OF THE MILLENNIUM: 1987-1999

The Winter Tree / ex Magus

Neo-Prog


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The  Winter Tree / ex Magus Echoes from the Edge of the Millennium: 1987-1999 album cover
3.32 | 11 ratings | 5 reviews | 9% 5 stars

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Boxset/Compilation, released in 1999

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Traveller - Alternate Mix, 1996 (7:25)
2. Waterfall - Previously Unreleased, 1987 (3:18)
3. Sandman - Remix, 1994 (5:35)
4. Until the Sun Burns Out (Part 1) - Remix, 1992 (7:29)
5. Messiah (Arrakis-Dune-Desert Planet, Part 2) - 1998 (4:33)
6. Children of Dune - Previously Unreleased Home Demo, 1998 (2:18)
7. Incubus - Previously Unreleased, Direct to Stereo Cassette Home Demo, 1991 (2:07)
8. She's the Lady - Original Version, 1992 (2:33)
9. The Earth's Sharp Edge - Remix, 1993 (6:59)
10. Spanish Waters - Previously Unreleased Demo, 1996 (6:38)
11. The Infinite (-And the River Joins the Sea-, Part 3) - Edit, 1988 (2:51)
12. Rif - Remix, 1997 (12:22)
13. The Last Flight of Saint-Ex - Previously Unreleased, 1999 (3:29)
14. Highway 375 - 1998 (5:56)

Total Time 73:33

Line-up / Musicians

- Bryce Chicoine / drums (3,4,9,12)
- Paul Schonberg / electric guitar (3,7,9)
- Debbie Moore / keyboards (10,12)
- Jeff Costello / drums (10), IBP-samples (1)
- Andy Verdi / additional keyboards (3)
- Tim Dyer / electric guitar (9)
- Rob Sabino / piano (9)

Releases information

CD Sky Pines SP 0003 (1999, US)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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Buy THE WINTER TREE / EX MAGUS Echoes from the Edge of the Millennium: 1987-1999 Music



THE WINTER TREE / EX MAGUS Echoes from the Edge of the Millennium: 1987-1999 ratings distribution


3.32
(11 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(9%)
9%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(27%)
27%
Good, but non-essential (45%)
45%
Collectors/fans only (18%)
18%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

THE WINTER TREE / EX MAGUS Echoes from the Edge of the Millennium: 1987-1999 reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Greger
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars MAGUS is stepping into the new Millennium with a new best-of compilation containing alternate mixes, previously unreleased tracks and re-mixes. It was released to coincide with their new concerts. The band was formed in1987 and this CD has songs from 1987-1999. MAGUS music can be described as a mix between ambient, electronic and progressive rock with reminiscences to CROSS, ELEGANT SIMPLICITY and PORCUPINE TREE but better. This album is slightly better than MAGUS previous release "Highway 375" and it has the same high musical qualities as the 1997 album "Traveller". The highlights on this CD are "Sandman", "Until the Sun burns Out (Part 1)", "The Earth's Sharp Edge", "Spanish Waters" and "Highway 375 (Revisited)". This is a very nice album with a beautiful artwork and a musical document of 12 years of a good progressive electronic rock band. Recommended!
Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars I have MAGUS' 2002 release "The Garden" which was pretty good so I thought i'd check out this 1999 compilation release of tracks recorded between 1987-1999.These are mostly re- mixed and previously unreleased songs so this is definitely of interest to MAGUS fans. Cool album cover as well.

"Traveller" is spacey as this beat comes in reminding me of early PORCUPINE TREE. The vocals are almost spoken and don't arrive until after 5 minutes but they're brief. "Waterfall" has this electronic beat as atmosphere, bass and guitar join in. "Sandman" has these heavy outbursts that come and go then organ,bass and drums come in before a minute. Spacey synths too. It's spacey with acoustic guitar before 3 1/2 minutes then it kicks back in. "Until The Sun Burns Out (Part 1)" opens with sampled words like from a news report. A nice heavy rhythm comes in before a minute. Percussion and vocals follow. It's spacey with those word samples again for the last minute. Cool tune. "Messiah" has a beat with spacey synths and guitar. It kicks in and picks up around 3 minutes. A spacey calm after 4 minutes to end it. "Children Of Dune" is a short piece with mainly guitar and a beat. "Incubus" has a heavy and catchy beat with guitar.This is short as well.

"She's The Lady" features strummed guitar and vocals. It's ballad- like really. "The Earth's Sharp Edge" has vibes, a beat, guitar and spacey synths early on.The guitar starts to solo 2 minutes in.The beat stops and we get this spacey soundscape.The beat with guitar is back after 5 minutes. It turns surprisingly haunting 6 1/2 minutes in to end it. "Spanish Waters" is my favourite. I love the guitar as it reminds me of OPETH during their mellow sections. A beat with chunky bass joins in then vocals. It's fuller before 3 minutes. "The Infinite" has these spacey waves with sparse piano. I like this a lot as well. "Rif (Edit)" is the longest track at 12 1/2 minutes and I really like this one as too. A beat with synths and more to start. Great sound when it gets louder after 2 minutes. It calms right down before 8 minutes and waves of sound come and go. A beat with guitar takes over then it picks up 9 1/2 minutes in. A nice guitar solo a minute later. "The Last Flight Of Saint-Ex" is spacey with a beat. "Highway 375 (Revisited)" is again spacey as an electronic beat joins in. A calm before 5 minutes with some atmosphere.

Yes I used the word "spacey" over and over again as there is a definite psychedelic flavour to many of these songs. Like a modern Psyche / Pop record almost.

Review by progrules
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Earlier reviewers already mentioned Porcupine Tree as resembling bands to Magus. I agree but I would like to add space band Between Interval and state that Magus is actually a blend of these two. But all in all Magus is pretty hard to define because if you compare opening track Traveller for instance to the ballad She's the Lady it's a 100% difference in style and atmosphere.

But mostly it's spacy prog that Magus is performing throughout the album and even though the high level of Porcupine Tree isn't really reached most of the time I think one can safely call this a very good effort. Highlight is The Earth Sharp Edge in my opinion and I wish the band played this style all along on this release. This song reminds me of MK II, another pretty obscure neoband. Also Polish Xenn has things in common with Magus. If you happen to know these bands or if you are PT fan and want to check out some bands that are alike I can recommend Magus to you. Itīs on average (like I said, there are different styles on `Echoes..' ) a very good album, close to 3,5 stars but I will round down because itīs neither excellent nor essential.

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
3 stars Virtually none of the songs on this CD have been available before, as they are either remixes, demoes or just previously unreleased in any format. Magus is for the most part Andrew Robinson, although others do make valuable contributions. He appears now to again have a band around him so the future looks bright. I have always enjoyed his albums, and this collection gives the opportunity to look over the length of his recording career. While most of it is instrumental, it manages to maintain interest throughout, sometimes using samples or tactile ideas. The guitars and keyboards work in perfect harmony, and it is possible to just close the eyes and drift into this surreal world and become part of it.

Originally appeared in Feedback #61, Feb 01

Latest members reviews

4 stars A little uneven at times but overall a great example of American psyedelic/space music for our times.The only weak parts are the ballads.Wow there is a pattern here.Dont think with the wrong head when writting prog music.It is supposed to be aimed at the brain not the heart.Leave the romance i ... (read more)

Report this review (#4630) | Posted by James Hill | Thursday, October 14, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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