THE TWENTY SEVEN CLUB

This year's record "The Twenty Seven Club" by the British band Magenta is absolutely a record I would recommend for its difference. In one way it is mainstream prog but essentially not with its clear instruments, both acoustic and electric and the great female vocal this record gives us. Magenta released their first record 2001 and this is their seventh studio record. Here participate Christina Booth with her voice, Rob Reed with keyboards and guitars, Chris Fry with guitars and Andy Edwards with drums.

What makes me disappointed is that the whole album is'nt as good as the two first songs. They made me think perhaps I had got a masterwork in my hands but I was a little fooled. Still Magenta's music is special and I don't doubt others will consider it a fantastic album. "The Lizard King" thus is almost complete. I like the bushy style, the mix of the very heavy rock style and the acoustic parts. Christina Booth does a good job as vocalist and her voice reminds me a bit of Annie Haslam's. The song reminds me a bit of film soundtracks and there's also something of Yes in it and in the harmonies(9/10). "Ladyland Blues" then is almost as good with Yesstyle harmonies, speed, spirit and perfection, especially in the heavy keyboards(8/10). Beside these "Stoned" is worth 7/10 where the acoustic guitar gives me thoughts of Genesis acoustic parts. The other tracks aren't bad but takes down this record to earth, unfortunately. The vocals are still good but "Pearl" and "The Gift" feels like "short" songs, and quite uninteresting. As a long track the last one "The Devil at the Crossroads" is interesting but not very appreciatable for me. I get many good ingredients but the unit doesn't work on me. Worth mentioning is that I hear Beatles' "She's leaving home" in the beginnings's vocals and that is always nice, but the similarity is very little though.

It could have been a great experience this and if you just want to hear a little I think the first track will please you. Still I was disappointed when I heard the whole and I can't give this record more than three stars(3,5 had been proper). I haven't said anything of the cover, but I didn't find it interesting.