IN SEARCH OF THE CRYSTAL

This UK progrock band was founded in 1993 as a five-piece formation, in 2008 they released their debut CD entitled Underclouds. But on their second album entitled Entropy (2001) they were already reduced to a quartet. And on the next album Legends (2004) Magrathea was even turned to a duo only featuring founding members Gary Gordon (guitar and bass) and Glenn Alexander (vocals, keyboards and drums). This is also the line-up on their fourth (and final) record entitled In Search Of The Crystal (2006).

Listening to their swansong album I notice that Magrathea sound more elaborate and less derivative than on their previous albums. I am very pleased with the tasteful keyboard colouring, the wonderful flowing electric guitar work and the dynamic interplay between the two musicians. My highlights.

It's About That Time!: compelling eruptions with bombastic keyboards and Moog Taurus bass pedal sound.

Passion Play: fat synthesizer flights and exciting and powerful interplay between organ and runs.

Magician: strong accellaration with synthesizer solo and wonderful guitarwork with use of volume pedal.

Heaven Is Never Enough: Prog Heaven with bombastic keyboards like a choir-Mellotron sound, fiery electric guitar, bass pedals and slow synthesizer solo.

And the excellent 'magnum opus' Interactive Dreamers (13 minutes) that showcases Magrathea at their best: powerful electric guitar play, spectacular synthesizer flights, compelling bombastic outbursts (with choir-Mellotron sound) and lots of strong shifting moods and interesting breaks, how exciting!

This is very pleasant, melodic and accessible music that scouts the borders between symphonic rock (in the vein of 76- 77 Genesis) and neo-prog (early Marillion/IQ/Pendragon).

My rating: 3,5 star.