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Rating: The Magenta are undoubtedly one of the best acts in the English New Prog scene in recent years. Excluding the veterans IQ and Pendragon (always in great shape despite everything), there are indeed very few bands of the new generation that have managed to perform at such high levels (as far as I'm concerned, I'd say only Big Big Train, Mostly Autumn, and Citizen Cain). After two excellent studio albums and two EPs, Magenta thus arrives at the canonical live album, this time even in a double CD version. The lineup features the group's leader Robert Reed on keyboards (also with Cyan and Fyreworks), Christina Booth on vocals, Chris Fry and Martin Rosser on guitars, Matthew Cohen on bass, and Allan Mason-Jones on drums.
What can be said about this live album? The setlist is a sort of "best of" from the two studio albums with the addition of a track from the first EP ("Broken") and a piece by Cyan ("Call me"). It is worth mentioning that the tracks were recorded at various concerts between 2002 and 2004. The performances are perfect, with more energy compared to the studio versions, and enriched by a meticulous production that cannot help but benefit a musical genre like progressive, made of a thousand details and nuances. Noteworthy is the excellent rendition, even live, of Christina's voice, sweet and powerful at the same time, capable of evoking uncomfortable comparisons with some of the most beautiful female voices in progressive (did someone say Annie Haslam?). In short, an excellent live album for those already fans of the group who want to enjoy them in concert and a great calling card for those who want to approach the music of this great band for the first time.
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