Metamorphosis (Magenta, 2008)

This suite is the title track of Magenta's fourth studio album, released in 2008, probably their darkest and heaviest one. This track is particularly rich and diversified, including high volume passages, tricky interplays and quiet, even acoustic moments. Christina Booth's voice is constantly in the foreground, with his steady and crystalline timbre, reminding me of Annie Haslam's. Rob Reed's keyboards and inventions make the difference with the average prog records, while Chris Fry's guitars add colourful and streaked tones.

Tim Robinson provides a first rate drumming to this album.

 

As usual with these Welsh musicians, there are many references to the likes of Pink Floyd (Reed's beloved Masters), Genesis and Yes, but the pattern of this suite is so well set up and so beautifully accomplished that the listener never gets bored or jaded. An everchanging choice of sounds, tempos and moods draw a coherent, solid fresco that tick away 23 minutes of progressive glory.

Envy (Magenta, 2004)

"Seven" was and still is my favourite album by Magenta. Rob Reed, Christina and friends don't conceal their aim is to make some more music in the wake of their prog masters, the likes of Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd and so on. Nonetheless, they have their own style, like in this beautiful song. This style is based on Christina's pure voice, but also in some celtic musical elements and in the spiritual vein of Steve Reed's lyrics.

"Seven" dark cover art.

"Envy" is part of a concept album exploring the seven deadly sins; really it is a well structured down-tempo and keyboards driven song, that Christina sings extremely well with her priestess-like voice. Some Genesis quotes are perfectly mixed with an airy atmosphere, somewhere in the middle between Pink Floyd and Clannad. The band became very popular after this CD. I do think they deserved this.