Magenta - New York Suite


Year of Release: 2006
Label: F2 Music
Catalog Number: 200606B
Format: CD
Total Time: 40:05:00

Based on the experiences of the main character from the Home album, the young woman shares with us the experiences she encounters whilst being in New York. So both New York Suite and Home are true companions, although each can be seen from an individual angle as well. Whilst Home contains no fewer than fifteen shorter songs, New York Suite is made up of only five, with the latter even being a very short reprise. So in that respect for sure New York Suite follows right in the footsteps of the band's previous output whereas Home is kind of a tryout into delivering shorter, more direct tracks. Already in "Arrival" Magenta toys around with loads of different ideas and influences, combining Renaissance with Yes covered with a joyful rockin' sauce, illustrating the young na?ve nature of our main character. During "Home From Home" singer Christina delivers all her emotions in order to deliver a very powerful track helped out by some orchestral arrangements, some Tony Banks organ themes, and yet again more vintage Renaissance stuff.

Great repetitive guitar mixed with subtle piano paves the way for "White Lies" before Christina introduces a more rock oriented approach, which slightly transcends into wonderful almost nature like sounds focussing on flute and acoustic guitar. "Truth" is very much a tribute to Yes as it almost delivers an authentic Yes track here, featuring superb guitar solos and bass antics. It sounds fresh and lively, sporting some laidback harmonies and several time signatures. The mellow ending to the song gets close to some of the best Pink Floyd. Finally the main theme from the opening track on the Home album, "This Life," is repeated here with Christina's voice and solitary piano nicely blending together. Maybe over the years we have become way too greedy knowing Magenta's debut album was a double disc containing none other than original material. The band has come to a point where they can be more critical about themselves, as obviously they know that more and more people are receiving the information about the band and are checking them out. Personally I prefer the actual Home album, although New York Suite no doubt has to be embraced with an equal amount of passion. If only sales could be as good as during the seventies then these fine people could fully concentrate on their musical career and become even better. But who needs better when you already have the best?


Tracklisting:
Arrival (10:58) / Home From Home (8:07) / White Lies (10:56) / Truth (8:44) / This Life (Reprise) (1:20)

Musicians:
Rob Reed - keyboards, bass, guitars, backing vocals, recorder, tambourine, grand piano, mandolin, acoustic guitar
Christina - lead vocals
Chris Fry - lead guitar
Martin Rosser - lead guitar
Dan Fry - bass
Allan Mason-Jones - drums

Guests:

Tim Robinson - drums
Martin Shellard - guitar
Lee Goodall - tenor saxophone
Hywel Maggs - guitar
Christian Philips - guitar, backing vocals
Troy Donockley - Uilleann pipes, whistles
Mal Pope - backing vocals
Lorrain King - backing vocals

Discography:
Revolutions (2001)
Seven (2004)
Broken (EP) (2004)
Another Time... Another Place (2004)
I'm Alive (EP) (2004)
Home (2006)
Night And Day (w/Annie Haslam) (2006)
New York Suite (2006)
The Singles (2007)
Metamorphosis (2008)
Live At The Point 2007 (2008)
Seven (ltd CD/DVD, remixed/remastered) (2009)
Live At Read World (CD/DVD) (2010)
The Gathering (2010)
Chameleon (2011)
Live: On OUr Way To Knows Where (2012)
The Lizard King E.P. (EP) (2013)
The Twenty Seven Club (CD/DVD) (2013)
Trojan E.P. (2017)
We Are Legend (2017)
We Are Legend - The Instrumentals (digital only) (2017)
We Are Seven: Live 2018 (digital only) (2018)
Home - 2019 Limited Edition (digital only) (2019)
Magenta & Friends: Acapela 2017 (digital only) (2019)
Magenta & Friends: Acapela 2016 (digital only) (2019)
The Lost Reel (2020)
Masters Of Illusion (CD/DVD, digital) (2020)
Live At Rockfield Studios (digital only) (2020)
Masters of Illusion - The Instrumentals (digital only) (2020)
Angels And Damned - 20th Anniversary Show (CD/DVD) (2021)
Songs From The Big Room E.P. (digital only) (2021)
The White Witch - A Symphonic Trilogy (2022)

The Gathering (DVD) (2005)
The Metamorphosis Collection (DVD) (2008)
Live At The Point 2007 (DVD) (2009)
Chaos From The Stage (DVD) (2016)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: July 2nd 2006
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: magenta.bandcamp.com
Hits: 3396
Language: english

  

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