Magenta: Home,
A Pink Coloured Review.

And now with this one, "Home", they made another big step to their own sound.
The music has changed a bit, to become more guitar oriented rather than keyboards oriented Prog., just like their live gigs. It seems to be that the band has more confidence and that they don't feel the urge to hide themselves behind the big walls of keyboards. Don't get me wrong, I like Rob Reeds keyboard playing, but this album is more organic and has more emotion, and I like that even more. And above all there is that majestic heavenly voice of Christina.
The production is again more as superb. They prove that you don't have to be "a million selling artist" to get that perfect sound in an expensive studio.
An album with a theme; a girl living in Liverpool goes across the ocean to find a new live in the States.

A great piano theme opens the album and then... there she's there with that amazing voice... astonishing, heavenly and breathtaking... The lyrics making you clear why she wants to move and leave her miserable "home".
Then "Hurt" begins with that Magenta riff and kicking drums - the man behind the drum kit is really giving a show in this song. The whole band gives their best on this stomper, they get the time and room to pack out their trunks loaded with their musical skils.
At this point you become aware of the production, which is very dynamic with a clear warm sound. There are some nice backing vocals and a great guitar solo closes the song.
Again, there is a slow start on piano and Christina's voice on "Moving On", the drums add more tempo and then the band joins in. There is a great break for a slower passage, which is followed by a creepy guitar solo. The next section ends on a nice twist of the melody, now the song is propelled by Christina's voice; with her singing and even groaning she speeds up to more excitable higher places. The sax, by Lee Goodall, brings another enjoyable counterpoint and at the end an instrumental fade out makes the song sound a bit Floydish. Excellent.
Speaking about Pink Floyd; the first verse of Part II, gives me a flashback of 'Money" ("Spend my cash, increase my stach, the highlife"). You can easily follow the journey of our heroine by listening to the lyrics. The songs are less abstract than on previous albums and are much more emotional.
The song "My Home Town (far away)" ends with a strong suggestion of Mike Oldfield.
The sail to the unknown starts in "Brave New Land", a short vocal intermezzo. Apparently it sounds like the band, except the piano man, is packed in her suitcase ;-)
"The Journey" is full of beautiful vocals and harmonies. They're giving you that Yes feel, like Jon Anderson and his friends. The instrumentation has Steve Howe-like guitar playing and the keyboards also make me think of Yes.
"Towers of Hope" is one of my 10 favourites, a smooth passage and a wonderful orchestration but it is too short!
An awesome Stephen Hackett guitar sound & an old style Genesis structure gives "Demons" a fabulous intro. Chris starts another guitar intermezzo which brings the whole song to a next sublime level. Christina's voice lifts the whole thing to the Top of another level with a Panoramic view... Another amazing guitar solo, how high can you go?
"Demons" you can find it also on their DVD "The Gathering" '05.
An acoustic guitar riff and some happy chords in "Morning Sunlight" makes for a very cheerful awakening on this new day. Our heroine is leaving and steps in a Greyhound with her thoughts. Someone on acoustic guitar is getting on the bus too, a little bass joins and apparently there's someone gently drumming on the back seat. The Greyhound leaves...
Prog is back with "Joe", featuring some haunting atmospheres, some typical Magenta harmonies, great dynamics, powerful riffs and lots of keyboards traveling around the piece. Another highlight.

Another fine epic is "Journey", with many counterpoints and guitar breaks, even a Gilmouresque bluesy one.
Finally, “He” has arrived on his Uilleann Pipes, sorry if I am being over the top, but I really like this guy, I have know him now for several years, and enjoyed his excellent skills on Uilleann Pipes, whistle and guitar and had some real joy in his company...; It’s Troy Donockley – and it’s an absolutely fabulous song.
"Home".
Back to the piano on the voice of an Angel, drums, more Pipes, guitars. Home again...

10 stars out of 5.

Originallly the plan was to make a double album with the same theme. But in the last months of the production the decision was made to make one single disc. Apparently the band had recorded and written such excellent stuff that they wanted decided to release a bonus disc. So 5 songs made the "New York Suite".

These are excellent songs that have more likeness to the "Revolutions" & "Seven" albums. So they are a must have for the people who are all already familiar to this great band.