REVOLUTIONS

If you could dream of a mix between "Renaissance" and "Genesis", you would get "Magenta".

From "Renaissance", you take the best of the band (IMO, "Sheherazade") and you add abit more electric guitar to the recipe. You don't change anything to the wonderful voice from Christina Murphy. She sounds amazingly to Annie Haslam as most reviewers have described. Since it is purely the truth, there is nothing else to add.

Although some instrumental parts features piano and almost classical music (as "Renaissance", I told you) there are lots of "Genesis" filiation as well. I have to admit that I like this combination very much.

The four epics that sits on this double album are by no means boring. Can you believe, almost ninety minutes for four songs ? Way beyond "Tales" ! So, if you are not into this type of "regressive" style, you'd better forget this work. If, like me, you are always pleased to listen to some brilliant instrumental sections (more symphonic than neo-prog actually) combined with a beautiful, soft female vocals, than this album is for you.

Some Mike Oldfield influence as well can be noticed (during "The Plague" from the second epic "The White Witch"). I guess that some might call this type of work as "pretentious" like "Tales". But since I have never had any problem with this very good "Yes" double album, the same reflects here.

Only very catchy and very melodic music, with here and there some brilliant guitar breaks ("Reflection"). The whole work flows really nicely. And yes, there are some similarity between the intro of "Reflection" and "Entangled but not really anything to make a big fuss about.

This first CD is really good. Let's listened to the second one.

It starts with some "borrowed" notes from "A Trick Of The Tail" (the track) for several seconds. But the "Genesis inspiration" will continue during "War", the second movement from "Man The Machine". This time, it is the turn of "Supper's Ready" (the great "Apocalypse" part) to be promoted. And it is impossible not to notice it. Some beautiful and Floydian guitar will fill your heart with joy I guess (at least it did it for me).

If you would like to have some "Marillion" flavour, don't worry : you'll get them in the initial part of "The Watch". Just listen carefully to the background synthesizers. Yes, it is a carbon copy of "The Garden Party" ! It is maybe a bit too much by now...Because "Supper's Ready" is back in the opening of "Lightspeed" (but not for long, I admit). Later on, some "Watcher" notes are also easily recognizable.

This song is a kaleidoscope of the "Genesis" repertoire. I don't have problem when a band sounds as "Genesis" (on the contrary) but it is a bit exaggerated in here. Maybe a tribute ? I don't know.

And there is still one epic to go. Guess the title..."Gene (te) sis" ! What a promising one! But before this, there is a gentle acoustic guitar break. No, it does not sound as "Horizons". Just to "Mood For A Day". What a change !

The band will remain in "Yes" territories with the first part of "Genetesis". Do you fancy some "Revealing Science Of God" moments ? OK. Here you go...This aspect will be increased with the backing vocals sounding closely to Jon's ones. "A New Life" also borrows parts of this good YesSong. I would have hoped for more "Genesis" with such a title. Maybe they should have called it "YesTesis".

If you want to know how a combination between "Mostly Autumn" and "Watcher" sounds like, just listen to "The Search Of Faith" and you'll get it. You can also add "Heart Of The Sunrise" just before minute three (easily identifyable as well).

I had fun to distinguish as many songs as I could with this work. I probably have missed some. Anyway, I will rate this album with three stars. It lacks too much of personality to deserve four. But it is a nice voyage in the repertoire of two of my preferred bands.

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