HIGHWAY 375

Despite a questionable result, ''Traveller'' was well received by the press with high notes around the 20-min. ''Rif''.While the band was starting to be compared with Porcupine Tree, an unexpected event buried the chances of further exposure.Robert Wolf, owner of the Inearvision's label, dissapeared from the map, leading to the non-distributing of the ordered CD's and an inconsistency surrounding Magus' name.Andrew Robinson cut all ties with Inearvision and found the strength to complete a short EP to keep Magus' momentum alive.It was entitled ''Highway 375'', released independenty in 1998.

Apparently the bad situation around Magus has led also to a stylistic inconsistency, Robinson wrote, arranged, performed and recorded the whole EP on his own forces, but the result was below average.He had made a turn towards more electronic enviroments, albeit keeping much of the spaciness of Magus' previous releases.The title-track is low-pace, instrumental Space Rock with electronic flashes surrounding Robinson's psychedelic guitar tunes in a single, repetitive rhythm, which may sound a bit monotonous, but still manages to create a nice instrumental background.The short ''Arrakis-Dune-Desert Planet part 1'' is a manifest of psychedelic effects, working as an intro for the upcoming second part, which finds Robinson in a more experimental mood.The track is built around tribal percussions and abstract, psychedelic solos over a palette of electronic sounds, coming closer to Experimental Rock than the melodic or atmospheric Rock the man has used the listener.The closing synth-drenched groove won't save this one from mediocrity.The reprise of the opening title is a bit better, more rhythmic, close to SHAMALL's works, with electronic beats and drums and some decent guitar atmospheres, again the sound is repetitive all the way with only some loops changing over time.

A weak effort overall, but we can't accuse Robinson for the final result, this period found him struggling to keep Magus alive as a project.Average Space/Electronic Rock with a few good things to offer, too repetitive and sterile.For fans of experimental and spacious soundscapes.