MAGIC SHOP

This Russian formation was founded in the late Eighties by composer/keyboard player Gennady Lliyn, he is the brainchild of Little Tragedies. My first musical encounter with Little Tragedies was shortly after the release of their fourth studio album entitled Return (2005). From the very first moment I was very impressed by their often bombastic sound with awesome interplay, the Russian vocals add an extra dimension to the music. Meanwhile Little Tragedies have released 13 studio-albums, At Nights is their latest, from 2014. This review is about their 11th album entitled Magic Shop, unfortunately it lacks those special sounding native vocals. Magic Shop is a concept with a Christmas fairy tale as the subject, in the information booklet you can read about that.

The CD Magic Shop contains 20 tracks that sound melodic and varied with again impressive interplay, especially between the powerful and harder-edged guitar and the flashy keyboard runs. In my opinion this is Little Tragedies their trademark, along with the classical overtones (you can hear that Gennady is classically trained). The cheerful lyrics of the songs are perfectly translated into the atmospheres, especially in Shepherd Boys (halfway the climate changes into heavy with dazzling work on guitar, keyboards and drums), Malvina & Piero (with saxophone and a xylophone sound), The Sheriff (in the vein of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson with a surprising bluesy conclusion) and Matryoshka (pleasant interplay between guitar and saxophone).

We can enjoy Little Tragedies their usual ultimate bombastic sound in the tracks Overture (amazing interplay and virtuosic soli), Little Cooks (wonderful build-up and delicate organ work), Tango (flashy synthesizer flights and swinging piano) and Moraziana (mid-tempo with a fat rock guitar, virtuosic keyboard runs and a propulsive rhythm-section). I am also very pleased with the beautiful, mellower compositions Pathway To The Magic Shop (warm combination of classical guitar and dreamy keyboards), The Minstrel (harpsichord and sensitive electric guitar) and the final track Epilogue (dreamy with again sensitive electric guitar runs).

Along with Return (2005) and the 2-CD Faust (2006), this album is part of Little Tragedies their best work, this Russian formation sounds inspired and creative.