After several albums halfway between rock, synth-pop, and wave (certainly more immediate), Piano Magic really surprise us this time. How? Well, thanks to the new "Ovations"; an album still based on their core genre but with even more dark influences, which elevate decadent and gloomy sounds. Yes, these characteristics are already present in past productions, but only now do they emerge to the surface. The credit, let's admit it, doesn't solely belong to our dear Glen Johnson, but also to two former members of the very dark-gothic Dead Can Dance: Brendan Perry and Peter Ulrich.

An album, indeed, that recalls a lot of those old eighties adventures in the style of The Cure, Joy Division, and precisely Dead Can Dance. So imagine desolate landscapes where everything feels bleak, but with occasional bursts of light and awakenings.

Signs of this darkness are present in the first two tracks, thanks in part to the gloomy lyricism of Brendan Perry. The opening track "The Nightmare Goes On" immediately presents itself with rhythmic and cadenced melodies, tribal and vaguely oriental; even more so does the ritualism of "March Of The Atheists." The third track, "On Edge," is disorienting, with a tight drum machine, sounds left and right, and spasmodic riffs, all creating an electronic and post-industrial mix. With "A Fond Farewell," the contemplative level increases, creating decidedly mystical moments. But it is from "The Blue Hour" that the album soars: spontaneous pop presences, super melodic and captivating, with the usual synth in the foreground. The same goes for "Recovery Position" and "The Faint Horizon," tracks that effectively recall Morrissey. Truly moving is the ballad "You Never Loved This City" (here too, Perry's interpretation is perfect). The album concludes with the experimental "Exit," a combination of male and female vocals accompanied by a monotonous electronic-ambient veil.

With "Ovations," we realize how Piano Magic does not tire even after ten albums; indeed, I would say the allure is at its peak.

Tracklist Samples and Videos

01   The Nightmare Goes On (04:39)

02   March of the Atheists (04:50)

03   On Edge (03:37)

04   A Fond Farewell (04:27)

05   The Blue Hour (05:42)

06   Recovery Position (04:19)

07   La Cobardía de los Toreros (03:15)

08   You Never Loved This City (04:08)

09   The Faint Horizon (06:27)

10   Exit (03:51)

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