MIMI'S MAGIC MOMENT

This USA progrock band has its roots in 1991, one year later they released their eponymous debut album. They are hailed by the progrock fans and after more albums they performed on the USA Progday Festival in 1997 and 2000. Then a difficult period follows but when thanks to a special meeting that attracks fans from all states Salem Hill the band decides to go on, in 2003 they releases the live 2-CD Puppet Show and in the same year the studio album Be. In 2005 we can enjoy their latest album entitled Mimi's Magic Moment, let's analyse it song by song.

1. The Joy Gem (15:03): The first minutes is a tribute to early Kansas, not only due to the violin work but also the sound of the organ, synthesizer and vocal harmonies. The music is very pleasant, melodic and harmonic featuring fluent shifting moods and lots of interesting musical ideas like a dreamy part with wonderful piano and the distinctive voice from guest musician Neal Morse, fine interplay between a vibraphone and piano and an exciting duel from fiery eelctric guitar and flowing violin. This great composition again ends bombastic evoking early Kansas.

2. All Fall Down (7:14): This is a catchy song delivering warm vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar, followed by fragile slide guitar. Halfway an exciting break featuring a Spanish/Morish undertone and fluent play on the flute.

3. Stolen By Ghosts (21:29): This is the longest track and also the most compelling! It starts dreamy delivering fine bass, piano and vocals, wonderful. Then an accellaration featuring organ, powerful bass and fluent synthesizer runs. The music turns into more and more interesting with a lush atmosphere: delicate classical piano, a strong violin solo with echoes from Jerry Goodman (early Mahavishnu Orchestra), a break with organ, powerful bass, then a great duel between a fiery guitar and swinging violin and finally a strong build-up grand finale featuring emotional vocals, howling guitar and a sensitive violin solo.

4. The Future Me (18:53): The final song starts with a virtuosic duet from vibraphone and acoustic guitar. Then the climate is dominated by a catchy mid-tempo featuring a powerful bass, tastefully coloured by several instruments like a fiery electric guitar and distorted synthesizer sounds. Halfway a dreamy climate with classical piano and mellow organ, then again a more lush and compelling sound, culminating into a sumptuous final part with howling guitar, lush organ and strong vocals.

This is a splendid CD that will appeal to many progheads: a warm and pleasant sound that is rooted in the Seventies. GREAT!!