{"id":15530,"date":"2015-03-18T05:00:04","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T04:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-98520-280723.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=15530"},"modified":"2015-03-18T05:06:43","modified_gmt":"2015-03-18T04:06:43","slug":"album-review-before-the-waves-by-magic-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eqmusicblog.com\/album-review-before-the-waves-by-magic-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: \u201cBefore The Waves\u201d by Magic Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Magic<\/a><\/p>\n

Boston\u2019s synth tripping collective Magic Man<\/a><\/strong> recently shipped over their indie-embraced electro buzzing anthem \u201cParis<\/a><\/strong>\u201d in an attempt to raise their profile as they begin to cross-over with a presence here in the UK.<\/p>\n

Afterall, the now internationally acclaimed single \u201cParis<\/a><\/strong>\u201d was the one that initially opened doors for the band stateside and proved itself to be the catalyst in gaining attention via renowned boutique record label Neon Gold in the first instance, followed by a move to Columbia Records in the US whilst now supported by RCA here in the UK.<\/p>\n

The powers that be in the industry have since come to the decision to go with a larger impact on these shores, in a move which sees Magic Man\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> debut album \u201cBefore The Waves<\/strong>\u201d release date brought forward to March 16th shadowing the \u201cParis<\/a><\/strong>\u201d single released a couple of weeks prior.<\/p>\n

As a debut effort goes \u201cBefore The Waves<\/strong>\u201d positively echoes with youthful energy and a noticeable cyclonically trippy psychedelic touch, influenced uppermost by the bands travels around Europe. In my view I\u2019d prefer to imagine the band wending their way from country to country and through countryside styling it new-age in a camper van, inspired into writing these songs. Although I gather in truth the arrangement was not as romantic, more as backpackers exchanging their labour for board. What remains of this experience though, is the organically carefree aura that emits from every chord as \u201cBefore The Waves<\/strong>\u201d plays out. <\/p>\n

Whilst, Magic Man<\/a><\/strong> turned to the assistance of Passion Pit<\/strong> producer Alex Aldi<\/strong> to realise and define these tracks it should come as no surprise to learn that similarly hazy strains of Passion Pit-esque<\/strong> indietronica steeped melodies appear throughout. This goes some way to achieve the wistfully created dreamy soundscapes which are applied to encapsulate a moment in time when everything was happy-go-lucky, full of possibilities and abandon. <\/p>\n

A sound not only associated to Passion Pit<\/strong>, but by and large also exhibiting a striking resemblance to MGMT\u2019s<\/strong> more electronic period of work, to that of acclaimed Glaswegian synth-pop acts Chvrches<\/strong> and Prides<\/strong> also. <\/p>\n

Objectively we cannot comment that \u201cBefore The Waves<\/strong>\u201d falls short of expectations, when it is the unusual case that we have no expectations of Magic Man<\/a><\/strong> to be assumptive of yet. What can instead be said of this album, is that it provides a fluid flow, embodied of living out fantasies, established through euphorically soaring synths and affirmingly earnest vocals. <\/p>\n

Just the kind of up and at em\u2019 album to reach for as daylight time increases and springtime begins to awaken us from our wintry inclement state. <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n