MAGRATHEA

According to that, the music on In Search Of The Crystal is far less appealing and charming than on Legends. You can also pick up some other influences here and there, like the ELP-like timbre of the Hammond organ on Passion Play and the strong resemblance of Yes in the chorus and keyboards arrangement of the opener Search For The Crystal. But while they are still trying to find their own sound, the Genesis shadow is still all over it. Not that is bad, but it seems that making their music more complex for its own sake is not really doing any good to the final cut. In fact, it was bad for Citizen Cain and it is bad for Magrathea as well.

The best moments are still when they sound like Genesis on tracks like Heaven Is Not Enough and the beautiful Interactive Dreamers (best song on the entire CD). Again this is not terrific original, but it is good anyway. I still think the music here has enough good moments to warrant a 3 star rating, but barely. 2,5 would be a more fitting, but I´m in a good mood. The potential is still there. I really hope those guys will achieve a good balance between melody and originality

The production is here is a little superior of that on Legends (at least is superior than the copy I own). In fact I ended up liking this EP even more than the original Legends CD. The songwriting is also better, the guitars are more up front and the overall sound is more focused. This english duo worked very well! 3,5 stars for this one.

The songwriting is fine, with some very beautiful moments on songs like Galadriel, Fear Of the Unknown and Dreamscape. But also there are some tracks on which they try to simulate some of Genesis more Whimsical side and that really does not work. Production and mixing is another problem too, since they could be a lot better. A little more atention to the guitars and drums parts would have improved their sound a lot.

If you like classic Genesis, this is sure for you. I´m looking forward to hear Magrathea´s lastest and earlier works. Quite promising stuff. 3 stars.

There are many outstanding elements to this recording. The two Multi-Instrumentalists who comprise Magrathea have clearly studied their craft and have learned the essential lesson that there is more involved in the re-creation of a lost and greatly-missed sound than endless layering of mellatrons, Gabriel-impersonations and 20-minute epics. At the very heart of the music on 'Legends', are some superb melodies around which all else has been built.

Whether deliberate or not, the 10 even-length tracks fall neatly into 2 halves - in vinyl terms you could say that the first 5 are the light side (effortless, unashamedly accessible prog, with rich melodies and sparkling instrumental passages), and the second 5, the darker side (requiring greater effort from the listener, a harder, more complex approach that pays back richly for your perseverance).

'Shadows of Ignorance' is an bloody terrific song, great harmonies and arrangements, a joy - best track on the Album, enough said!

'Magical Box' has a definite 'Your own special way' feel about it initially. Actually, that isn't a particularly flattering comparison as that track was one of the weakest on Wind and Wuthering. Magical Box is a considerably better song.

'The man who loved flowers' seems to have a fairly brutal eco-message although, as the lyrics aren't included, I'm not entirely clear about this. The music has a harder edge as befits the subject, but it isn't all dramatics and the track has a chorus to die for!

'Galadriel' is a pretty track with a precise vocal, rather too syrupy was my first impression, however it is a song that, with subsequent plays, gets its claws into you till you see it for the joyous ballad that it is.

'Brainwash' is, compositionally, not the strongest track however the musicianship and interplay between the vocal/guitar/keyboard elements is outstanding.

'Birds of fire' opens with an absolutely infectious rhythm and tight guitar plucking. When the vocal comes in, its free-flowing nature is in contrast to the crispness of the backing. Another great song.

If I had to pick a duff track on this album, it would be 'Agoraphobic', it's a personal thing but I really dislike the distorted vocal. That said, the song does develop, and there are, as in every track, some excellent instrumental passages.

'Fear of the Unknown' has a waltz-time verse that flows into a beautifully arranged chorus, and the track finishes on a blissful instrumental passage that simply makes you want to 'dive in' !

Conclusion: What we have here is melodic prog at its most inspiring. I havnt heard any of Magrathea's other recordings (3 albums I believe, but not currently available), however if 'Legends' is anything to go by they are a pair of talented, mature and complimentary musicians who have the ability to write and produce awesome prog. I believe they are currently unsigned which is little short of criminal. Similarly it would be a crime against music to let Magrathea 'get away' due to lack of exposure. Buy this album!

This formation is a duo from the UK, it consists of Glenn Alexander (vocals, keyboards and bass) and Gary Gordon (guitar and bass).

About the music on this CD from 2004, no doubt this is rooted in the neo-prog tradition of The Eighties, speerheaded by Marillion, IQ and Pendragon. During my first listening session I was pleased but not really impressed but then Legends started to grow and grow. I am delighted about the lush keyboard sound (lots of flashy synthesizer runs) and the strong interplay between guitar and keyboards like in Shadows Of Ignorance (fiery guitar), Magical Box (fine moving guitarplay), Man Who Loved Flowers (bombastic with choir-Mellotron and fiery guitar), the alternating Brainwash (from harder-edged guitar runs with choir-Mellotron to twanging guitars with church organ flights) and Fear Of The Unknown (fat synthesizer sound and pleasant guitarplay). Some songs deliver more symphonic prog inspired music like Agoraphobic (lots of interesting musical ideas) in the vein of early Hackett solo and the wonderful final track Dreamscape (again wonderful keyboard - and guitar work) that features a 76-77 Genesis-oriented sound.

I had never heard of Magrathea but at this moment I am very positive about this CD, I am sure it will not only please neo-progheads but also symphomaniacs.

This is a very good 5-track work and it is noticeable that it has a very 80's feeling in it.MAGRATHEA sound a lot like early-IQ with a touch of MARILLLION and even GENESIS,delivering melodic symphonic progressive rock with superb STEVE HACKETT-like guitars and a strong amount of synths creating a very deep atmosphere.The vocals are absolutely ethereal with an evident resemblence to Pete Nichols of IQ or Fish and the final combination of the melodic musicianship and the vocals' performance is an album filled with lush sounds and memorable moments.Not even a weak track in here,''Legends remain'' comes as a lost-like example of melodic lush neo/symph prog of the early-80's and is followed by my strongest recommendations for a careful spin.

The music straddles that fine line between Neo and Symphonic. They also manage to incorporate a bit of heavier avant elements that I am so coming to love in modern Symphonic. It's not as prevalent as most of their contemporaries, but they are in tune with the times. For the most part it's just well done Symphonic/Neo prog with a very familiar feel. This may not be the thing that's going to open up a whole world of new prog for you, but it's worth the price of the CD. 3.25 stars is a fair rating for this one.

H.T. Riekels