Quietly
ambitious second album from the Liverpool duo packed with lyrically
and musically rich baroque indie-pop. (Out Now on Elefant Records.)
It's easy in the modern
world to feel jaded and world weary. Despite the technological
advances we've experienced in the last few years, advances that our
ancestors would never have believed possible, we still bemoan slow
wi-fi, the intrusiveness of social media, and having to wait over 24
hours for the delivery of our online shopping. Which is why this
album by Liverpool's The Magic Theatre is so refreshing and does much
to re-install a much needed sense of wonder in the modern maze.
Take the album's
opening track 'The Sampler', not as you might think a homage to a
piece of kit by Korg, but a song sung from the perspective of a young
Victorian girl, 200 years ago, busy embroidering her needlework in
time for her birthday. A timely reminder that once people put their
heart and soul into a craft rather than constantly updating their
Facebook status.
The pleasant surprises
don't end there. 'It Was Glorious' looks back at the initial rush of
new young love in the height of summer. Passionate and alive, and
full of warm sentiments. Glorious indeed! 'Festival Of Fire' throws
in some Bollywood touches, which along with the samba percussion on
'I Got The Answer' indicates a tasteful musicality not often found in
the indie pop world.
The album's centrepiece
'Cathedrals Of The Mind' takes a wry look at human achievement in
science, art, music and architecture. As is said in the song - ”with
bi-polar grandiosity....what high achieving deadly apes are we”,
it's both a celebration and an acknowledgement of our status as a
dying species. On top of that it may just be the greatest list song
since The Beloved's 'Hello'. Yes that good!
The album's sole cover
is a delightful version of 'Love Is Blue', Luxembourg's entry in the
1967 Eurovision Song Contest. Underpinned by harpsichord and lush
orchestration. It's an indication of The Magic Theatre's
inspirations, baroque '60s pop, sensual and sophisticated ballads,
and lushly sympathetic orchestration.
Song after song there's
a compounding sense wholesomeness and heartfelt goodness that would
come across as twee in lesser hands, but here is as refreshing as a
mountain spring. An album unlike any other you'll hear this year. And
one which might just make you see the world afresh.
Click here for more on
The Magic Theatre.
No comments:
Post a Comment