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Recorded
through May to August this year by Gareth Parton (The Go-Team, The Breeders,
Pete & The Pirates), at his petite La Planque studio and The Fortress in
London, 'Ovations' is clearly the Anglo-French group's most coherent,
confident and dynamic record to date.
Typically
for a Piano Magic record, it's a restless beast; a record that swings wildly
between Marrakesh, Eastern Europe, Sevilla and early 80's Manchester without
breaking sweat. Piano Magic have always worn their influences on their
sleeves and this is no exception. The Chameleons, Joy Division and The
Cure intersect with Turkish darabuka, hammered dulcimer, viola, cello,
flamenco claps. Elsewhere, there are cold analogue synths, chiming
guitars, mournful piano and industrial percussion.
Piano
Magic's fascination with Eurasian percussion is, in part, much down to one of
their biggest influences - the Melbourne-born, though World-wise, 4AD
Records-signed group, Dead Can Dance. And it's no small coup that
'Ovations' features not only DCD's supreme percussionist/dulcimer, Peter
Ulrich but also the voice of principal songwriter, Brendan Perry on two
tracks ("You Never Loved This City" and "The Nightmare Goes
On"). The reclusive Perry, himself, a very recent convert to Piano
Magic's music was only too happy to sing with a group that by his own
admission, were making "the most beautiful music" he's heard for a
long time. ....
'Ovations'
showcases Piano Magic at the dizzy heights of their songsmithery - romantic,
emotive, dynamic, anthemic.
Piano
Magic, formed as far back as 1996. Since then, they’ve released 12 long
players and multiple singles and EPs on a plethora of independent labels.
For the past 6 years, the band has been made up of both English and French
members, though their music has the unmistakable air of classic late 70’s/early
80’s coldwave. In 2001, they coaxed Vashti Bunyan out of a 30 year
retirement for their album, 'Writers Without Homes' before further notable
collaborations with the likes of Low and Cornershop and 'Son de Mar, 'a
beautiful soundtrack for Spanish film director, Bigas Luna. Regular
tours and festival headlines throughout Italy, France, Germany and Spain have
paid off with a devout Continental following and magazine cover stories.
For the likes of 4AD, Morr Music, Important Records, Green Ufos and Darla,
Piano Magic have made some of the most compelling, poetic, dynamic and
romantic records of our time.
****
- Mojo
"Album
of the week" - Norman Records
"Record
of the year? Yes." - Ilcibicida.com
9/10
- Saltinaria.it
"A great little gem of contemporary experimental new
wave, where dark influences, pop and glacial-synthetic meet in one example of
polymorphic essence of music. Excellent." -
soundandvision.it
'Ovations' is released through Darla in North America/Asia
and Make Mine Music for the Rest Of The World. Order now from :
Norman Records (reputable UK-based mail order)
http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110410
180 gm Vinyl (with download token) :
http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110411
Darla (US label/distributor and mail order)
CD & LP : http://darla.com/index.php
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