SEVEN

Rob Reed finally produces the five-star classic we all knew he was capable of with Magenta's Seven. A colossal step up from the band's debut album, Seven sees Magenta expertly blending Yes, Genesis, and a little Pink Floyd into a distinctive neo-prog sound which is fresher than typical for the genre thanks to the brilliant songwriting and performances. Christina's vocals are better than ever, at points almost getting an Annie Haslam quality to them, Rob Reed's multi- instrumentalist capabilities are showcased like never before, and there's some fine guitar performances from Chris Fry and, on the last track, Martin Shellard. Sheer prog perfection.