SOMETHING MAGIC

Procol Harum is not really a Prog band, at most they can be considered Prog related or Proto-Prog, but Something Magic can be considered one of Procol Harum's most progressive albums ever and, in my opinion, one of the best too. There are only six tracks on this album with one being an 18 plus minute epic that is very much in the same style as In Held 'Twas In I from the Shine On Brightly album that was released almost ten years earlier! The title track, on the other hand, is more in line with the sound of Grand Hotel and the same can be said about Skating On Thin Ice, these two are good but rather typical Procol Harum "classy" symphonic Rock songs. Wizard Man represents the grittier, bluesy side of Procol Harum and as such is not bad at all. They stop it from being one of those rambling Blues rockers from, say, Broken Barricades by keeping it short and melodic; this song is only 2:40 in length which is quite enough of the Blues for these ears!

Mark Of The Claw is possibly my favourite track from Something Magic with its tasteful synthesiser solo. Strangers In Space is the most spacey song Procol Harum ever made and both of these songs will probably appeal to many people on this site even if they are not exceptional by any means. I can understand if some Procol Harum fans don't recognize their favourite band as some of the stuff on this album is quite different from what we are used to from the band.

The Worm & The Tree is clearly modelled on the earlier In Held 'Twas In I. There is some narration telling a rather silly story of a worm and a tree between musical interludes. This long track is enjoyable, but hardly great. But then again I have never been that impressed with In Held 'Twas In I either, so fans of that song will probably like this one too.

I have never been a big fan of Procol Harum and I would not say that they are an essential band for the Prog fan to explore, but Something Magic is a worthy addition to any Prog collection together with Grand Hotel and the band's first two albums.

Good, but not essential

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