Magic Music
There’s something for everyone on Magic Music’s
first album. Very few debuts in any genre have the sort of quiet confidence
that’s clear in this Colorado band’s songwriting. They sound very much like
what they are – longtime friends and respected peers in the Americana scene who
have come together to write and record some of the most unique traditional
music to emerge in recent history. The band first formed in 1969 and enjoyed
some popularity they parlayed into performances alongside legendary performers
like Cat Stevens and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band among others. Those glimmers of
success never erupted into full on fires and, as a result, the band called it
quits in 1976. The friendships of the men involved never ended and they
continued to meet for reunions where they played for family, friends, and
admirers. A new opportunity for the band to record their first album came about
in 2011 and over four years were spent assembling the material, recording,
refining, and soliciting contributions from talented peers like Little Feat’s
Bill Payne and bassist/producer Jimmy Haslip.
They put their best foot forward with the one-two
punch of “Bring the Morning Down” and “Bright Sun Bright Rain”. They are highly
credible Americana numbers featuring mandolin, acoustic guitar, and flute among
other touches, but they are equally melodic and have a surprising pop
sensibility that immediately hits listeners. “Mole’s Stumble” is a well written
and highly finessed performance without a single sliver of daylight in the
playing. This is chemistry and it can’t be taught. The players intuitively
respond to each other and nothing sounds unnatural or slapped together for the
sake of effect. “Gandy Dancer” has impressive intricacy without ever seeming
like some self-indulgent virtuoso trip and further illustrates the last point
about how well this six piece plays together. Their understanding of what the
songs need apply to their vocal approach as well and this track has a graceful
take on the singing.
There’s an assortment of textures working
throughout “Carolina Wind” and the storytelling strengths of the song are the
crowning touch on its appeal. The vocalists bring such attention to detail that
the phrasing dramatizes every line. Nothing that has come before, however,
prepares listeners for the excellence of “Eldorado Canyon”. This song is the
apogee of their efforts and has a wealth of specific imagery and detail for the
audience without ever obscuring the potential for listeners to connect with its
experience. The guitar work is particularly good here and contributes much to
its overall worth.
“Hayin’” has some interesting musical turns, but
it’s as close as the album comes to pure entertainment. It seems a little put
on in certain lyrical respects because of how hard it tries to convey a country
atmosphere, but it doesn’t prohibit enjoyed the track. “Our Song: Colorado
Rockies” is a rich ode from the band to their home state and listeners will be
hard pressed to not like this track. Their sincerity comes through with such
vivid clarity that it redeems any self-consciousness that might have otherwise
been present. Everything about this debut seems honest as a heart attack, often
deceptively simple, and full of real love for the forms they excel in
performing.
8 out of 10 stars
Raymond Burris
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