Review Imhotep June 2005 (http://www.imhotep.no/)

MAGIC PIE - Motions Of Desire (2005) 75 min. (9 / 10 )

Hmm, an album like this makes me revise my traditional opinion about music. You see, I thought that a label should be interested in releasing products that possess a good and clear sound, great songs, professional layout (booklet). At least this goes when we’re speaking of bands that move outside the metal underground. In Magic Pie’s case we’re talking about progrock which some of us are used to thinking of certain bands from the 70’s, as well as amazing bands that originated in Sweden in the 90’s.

Magic Pie have created an promo-album (yes, it really is a promo-album), which they have made as a traditional CD release. And be sure this is a fine release. In fact, I have problems accepting that this is not an album released by one of my favourite labels, InsideOutMusic, since it doesn’t stand back from the finest moments of The Flower Kings, Kaipa and TransAtlantic. But hey, the title track could easily have been done by Pink Floyd around their “The Wall” era. There are three vocalists in Magic Pie, each with his own identity, but I don’t know whom of them sings what part. Nonetheless, the singing on “Motions Of Desire” (the track) is filled with emotion and hits a nerve in my enjoy-centre. I’m highly entertained, and at the same time I’m highly challenged.

Magic Pie open the album with the 20+ minutes “Change” . The rhythm that sets in after 6.10 minutes is utterly cool, and the band show us their capacity to build their music in layers. Half a minute later the same rhythm continues, but they add some Deep Purple-ish keyboards that go straight to my belly. My stomach takes a few rolls in pure enjoyment. After 7.45 minutes there is a small la-la-la in the background lasting for merely 5 seconds. I didn’t notice until I heard the song my headphones. After 8.45 minutes the song changes once again, and we’re thrown into a magical The Flower King reference. Again, utterly cool and I just want to… move somewhere. This is so good that I can’t sit still. I smile, I get those magical goosebumps and I want to save the whole world. Amazing.

The way Magic Pie sew the songs together can be done in one of two ways, or a combination of both. If all is improvised, these musicians are genial. If created with various direct thoughts behind the music, these musicians are genial as well. It must be amazing to feel the music float, despite all the turns and changes in the song(s). And the small details… Ahh, what would music be without them.

Magic a Pie write technical songs that turns and twists, such as the opener “Change”. Then they write songs that last for 6-7 minutes which are more straightforward. And damn it, both versions do work. Magic Pie manage to keep the listener (me) interested and intrigued all the time. Though, I sense that “Without Knowing Why” looses a bit of the magic towards the end of the song. It’s of course cool with a lot of solos, both from the keyboards and guitars, but in the end there are a couple too many.

The production is strong, and it’s amazing (in a negative way) that Magic Pie haven’t got the very well deserved contract yet. You can hear the instruments clearly. A cool thing with this is that the focus changes throughout a song, like in you notice the guitars here, the drums there, the bass here and then the vocals there. And so it goes… As you listen to the album again, there’s a major chance you notice different things in the same part than you did the former spin.

This is an album you must have you like good music, varied music and music with a lot of emotion. I am confident “Motions Of Desire” is an album that will make you happy. (www.magicpie.net)
(Roy Krisensen)