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Flabbergasted, struck by lightning.
These feelings are, without exaggeration, just a few I have
undergone while listening to the newest Nick Magnus CD “Hexameron”.
Brace yourself for a compilation of superlatives, because this CD is
the best, the most beautiful album I have heard in the past 13 years.
The qualitative music is of an outstanding beauty. Why 13 years ? I
refer to that specific period because of the release back then of
Camels ‘Dust and Dreams’, another musical milestone.
Nick Magnus is certainly no unknown musician for insiders: he was
the regular keyboard player for Steve Hackett during 11 years and
played with, amongst others, The Enid and Renaissance. A top
musician and what a way to astonish the prog-world !!!
As I mentioned: Camel, but also Steve Hackett & Band, Alan Parsons,
John Barry, Clannad, David Arkenstone, Dave Greenslade, the Enid,
Tony Banks … the names of these famous magnitudes don’t fall by
accident nor unjustly in this review.
Be seated, close your eyes and experience what it means to be nailed
upon your chair or to be blown off your socks. This is too much for
one human being (in the positive sense).
From the first piano sounds of “Singularity” on, the initial
cinematic character of the music will strike you. The intimacy is
complemented by flawless synth-sounds and a light electronic rhythm.
As John Hackett, on flute, enriches the orchestral arrangement, I
stand perplexed. The guitar play of Steve Hackett is sober as well
as sublime and brings back memories of “Voyage of the Acolyte” (what
an era). A brilliant finale in pure symfo-prog-style makes you gasp.
Glorious !
The new age of David Arkenstone, the orchestration of ‘Dances with
Wolves’ (John Barry), the atmosphere from ‘The Celestine prophecy’
(Christopher Franke) and the prog-rock from Dave Greenslade; you’ll
find all these elements (and much more) in “Dancing on the waters”,
perfectly balanced and continually surprising. The rhythm takes the
upper hand and is covered with splendid rock, so as to end with a
celestial choir and a symphonic voluntary. Magic !!
For a minute I respect the worst as I hear the first vocal words of
“Marduk”: I thought Steve only played the guitar on this album
(haha). It seems that appearances are deceptive. The track evolves
strongly and takes more than one surprising turn; the refrain for
instance. Take notice of Procol Harum’s Geoff Whitehorn on guitar,
ensemble playing with Nick on keyboards. Halfway, an unexpected riff
is the introduction of a Genesis/Gabriel-like story. Responsible is
the somewhat hoarse but beautiful voice of Anthony Patterson. Plenty
of drama and masterly play by Nick.
If you think you’re allowed to recover your breath, think again,
because you’re wrong where the more celtic-folk-ballad tinted
“Sophia’s song” is concerned. Clannad is peeping round the corner
and, further on, the sphere of Chess (Andersson/Ulvaeus) is present.
The magnificent voice of Siobhan McCarthy and the brilliant musical
arrangement makes you shiver again and again. Top class; the music
heads straight to your heart. As for me, I’m deeply moved.
As if that wasn’t enough, the listener is treated to the (much too
short) “Double Helix”. An acoustic ensemble playing of guitar,
German flute and violin. It breathes the atmosphere of “Kim” from
Steve’s Please don’t touch. Enjoy and find yourself in the clouds.
“Brother sun sister moon” reminds me of the early work of Camel and
Hackett, right after the mellotron intro. The voice of Pete Hicks,
the pop-tempo and Steve’s guitar play are responsible this time. Yet
the track surpasses easily the level of the better pop.
A menacing transition leads us to “Seven Hands of time”. This is
Steve Hackett all over: the strings are being caressed, through
which the melody gets a dragging, melancholic character. The
heavenly synthesizer sounds make the whole so beautiful that my
throat is squeezed. How on earth can music be so beautiful!!
A sacral choir is the introduction to “The power of reason”, the
‘coup de grace’ in a positive way. Wavering from theme to theme you
can feel it coming. When at last you become overrun by the dramatic
repetition of the main theme you’re ready for the finishing stroke.
It feels so overwhelmingly touching that no human being can be
impassive.
Conclusion: Reading over this review, it strikes me that I’m quite
euphoric, especially while I don’t trumpet forth the praises of
music CD’s in general. Nevertheless, I subscribe my words for 100 %.
Therefore I have only one advice: BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT !!!!!
(It wouldn’t be fair not to shower praise on all musicians involved,
but that would make the review twice the size. But I’ll make one
exception: the drum-programming by Nick reaches perfection.) |
