MAGIC BUS

Yeah, Magic Bus is a more psychedelic Caravan. The singer actually sounds a lot like early Richard Sinclair which is odd as Paul Evans (Magic Bus singer) has a unique voice which you hear on the follow up albums. Anyways the music is a mix of longer tracks and shorter songs, all of which place great focus on vocal harmonies and peace/love psychedelic pop singing. When they play instrumental sections they tend to be flute lead which are quite nice. The organ is present though seldom rises above a supporting role.

I think every review is based on one's personal opinion so when I call songs throw away that is just my opinion (duh). Anyways I don't like how happy the music tends to be. A lot of the short songs sound like (generally better) Caravans songs Love To Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly) which I hate. Fortunately, Magic Bus has good moments like the instrumental work does not ramble and the vocals are undeniably pretty at points.

Track 1 is a solid song that starts with guitar solo then an interlude then guitar solo then nice vocals over acoustic guitar. The song just ends after the singing is done (all songs on the album are like that).

Track 2 opens with very 60s singing that sounds cheesy to me. This is only around half of the song as it soon becomes a good instrumental workout which evens the song out to acceptable.

Track 3 is a great song that opens with relaxed guitar strums that are joined by excellent melancholy inducing singing. Soon the song becomes upbeat to reintroduce the guitar chords, this time with a floating flute lead. The vocals then return, just as good as before. From there, a guitar solo rips over a good rhythmic backing until fading out in two minutes. This track I like although it could've used a better ending (not because it's a fade out but because the song sounds like another section would have gone great).

Track 4 starts with ukulele (?) arpeggios and cheerful lyrics/singing then becomes a cool instrumental we're the bass/organ briefly are at the forefront. Guitar then takes over for shortly then is cut off by an interlude. Following is an organ solo then flute solo then guitar solo then end. This track is nice, everything gets a turn.

Track 5 opens with tender acoustic guitar and flute then voice replaces the flute. It continues in this calm vein until ending with some ethnic percussion entering quietly at some point.

Track 6 starts with an intro then guitar solo then the intro rhythm plus singing (sounds exactly like Sinclair off Caravans debut on this one). After the corals comes a guitar solo with a bit of spacey synth happenings then the song ends.

Track 7 opens with vocals and calm background support, briefly song nice ah/lah. Then more singing (louder) then some good bass and good vocals in a different style (think more 70s then 60s). Sadly these are not for long as the louder vocals come back. Afterwards organ solos then quiet singing then the organ solo again but with different lead. The song then ends for two minutes then the last seconds are the opening of the next album.

Overall this album has good moments but to many are mediocre, ergo 3/5.