Review by Audion Magazine - England

Magic Pie - Motions of Desire
PRCD015 74:57

This debut by this six-piece Norwegian band from Moss near Oslo will set 
your heart rating beating rapidly. The 20min opening track Change is 
perhaps one of the best beginnings I have heard from a neo-progressive group 
in many years and is a sweeter for the rest of the CD. This track oozes 
out a montage of progressive sounds from the symphonic echoes of the Flower 
Kings and Spock's Beard to the heavy prog-rock of 4Front. There are so many 
changes in the tempo in styles you could be forgiven for thinking this was 
the only part of the album to listen to. The two lead vocals (Eirik Hanssen 
and Allan Olsen) are extraordinarily good and harmonious throughout and an 
added bonus for those who feel this side of progressive music is often 
compromised by weak and feeble singers. The charm of Magic Pie is that 
Gilbert Marshall uses some real classic Hammond organ from the 70's to good 
effect with more 90's style synthesisers to blend the hard edged guitar 
playing of Kim Stenberg. The title track Motions of Desire has a 
tantalising Pendragon style and ambient mood pertaining it, and compliments 
the rather harder rock elements found elsewhere. Full Circle Poetry has an 
obvious Spock Beard's flavouring on the keyboard and riff changes with the 
melodious vocals. Whereas, Illusions & Reality is in three parts and 
begins with an accent on flute but steadily moves up the tempo 
surreptitiously towards an ELP burnout with hints of Camel at times! The 
final track Dream Vision ends the album perfectly, with a slow cautious 
build up and thoughtfully crafted vocals once more tempered by the now 
familiar keyboard and guitar interplay. Magic Pie will undoubtedly 
captivate a delve of progressive fans from many ends of the spectrum and 
rightly so.

AUDION - Peter Beaman