MAGDALENA

A friend of mine who likes prog (actually i have seen him only 3 times in my life, 2 in concerts) suggested me long time ago this japanese band which released only an eponymous album, it was strange because in his collection of so many albums, Magdalena created a good taste in him at the point to remember what Magdalena sounds, i mean, my friend owns so many albums that he actually doesn`t know what so many of them sound like, the fact of suggest it to me, made me think of getting thae album, so when i last saw him i asked him to share the album to me, since then i have listened to it several times, and now let me tell you about it.

As i said in the first line, this band called Magdalena comes from Japan, in the late 80`s when prog was not so prolific or that good, they released their only album which contains 7 songs, and since the first song showing a symphonic oriented sound.

This band has female vocals , in their native japanese language, and actually when i first listened to it, and i think every day i listen to it i think immediately in some japanese cartoons, the vocals remind me at the first time like if it were a original cartoon sountrack or something, very typical sound from Japan.

The band has not an "extra" instrument, i mean it has the traditional instruments, none of them with an outstanding sound, but all pretty nice, the third song for example doesnt`sound as classic as others, it has a darker atmosphere since the beggining of it when guitar plays and then keyboards joins with it`s atmospherical sound , also if you want a comparision ( a silly comparision) the vocals remind me a bit of Kate Bush`s tones and it could be annoying sometimes.

In "Waltz" she shows us her dramatic and opera voice, with a soft and dark sound at the same time , the music is average, very nice guitar riffs during it. "Omen" could be the best song in this album, it`s the longest of them all, and the most different between them, not so conventional , but actually nothing innovative to the music that we know, its a very nice song which has a nice acoustic guitar and melodic keyboards , which is progressing and making a better sound during the song , also it has kind of backing gregorian vocals, and a clear symphonic sound, giving us some pretty changes.

Despite being a symphonic album, with it`s different influences, i think japanese symphonic prog has it`s own influences and it`s own sound, this Magdalena`s sound has nothing to do with Ars Nova for example, i would say this album is less complex and less innovative or challenging, maybe average could be the word, of course it`s enjoyable, i like it, and i recommend it if you wish to have a good time with a new horizon, but nothing to be proud of, so 3 stars for me, recommendable - yes, essential - no.

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