Princess Alice and the broken Arrow

I waited anxious to this one after hearing 'On a storyteller's night'.
I think it reached my expectations quite good. I mean, you can never count on surpass that masterpiece...
When we were younger and you'll never sleep are instant classics, and amongst these ones, titles as dragons are real, and Your lies -which went to obsession inside my head- rocks powerfully.
Time for ballads, inside my head, and mid tempos as eyes wide open or like brothers we stand.
I would say a quite nice effort from this timeless band, and I would love to see them live ... let's cross fingers..
It brings a dvd that I still have to watch carefully. Not indispensable but you have to have it if you love great music :-)

9/10 nice to have

Legends

Not only is in records like Middle Earth where you appreciate how good is Gary Hughes as a composer, but being also able to produce 3 impressive hymms within the 4 first songs of this record.
The one dedicated to Elvis 'the pain', to Dracula 'shelter from the night' and to Marilyn 'tender is the night'.
Not only the music is good, but with Gary Hughes you can expect nice&not-easy lyrics but always A1 :-)

These 3 songs rate the record until 9 out of 10 ... the others songs, too late, carpe diem, ... not bad, not as incredible as the others make the lasting point to rate another perfect record from the team Burns-Catley-Hughes

Great songs need great melody, great voice, great punch and great solo, and of course the glue that fits them like a glove.

10/10 excellent

Middle Earth

Haunting record ... spectacular. Each song is tremendous ...
But truth has to be told, it is not as 'easy' as The Tower...
It was at 3rd listening that I was able to get all the power of the melodies, so I went from the nearly only song I liked The Wraith of the Rings, powerful, to understand each of them.
Marvellous choirs in The Fields That I Recall and City Walls, nice duet in Against the Wind.
I love also Stormcrow and Pilgrim and the nicest voice in Galadriel's theme ...
To finish with a rocker, this gallant band of manic strangers and the mellower fellowship.
So few records you are able to listen from the beginning until the end, but I was able to do it after a 3rd listening -as I did with Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony- and now I love it to death ;)
I have read too many bad reviews about this one ... ok, I can not help it, but forgetting this record in the shelf would be criminal ... after 3 listenings it seems i have know the songs for life
did I tell this record is based in LOTR?
Very honourable mention to Gary Hughes, great composer, and to Bob and the rest of the band for the great work.

10/10 spectacular

The Tower

This is a great record. And the japanese version that I have, makes more even happier since it has the bootleg extra cd, Live at the Gods. This is a nice way to make a record not great, but outstanding.
The first time I heard Bob singing in Storyteller's I saw a great singer. When I saw Once and future king, I saw in Gary a great composer.
Then, 2+2 makes a great record. Gary composes and plays, Bob sings. Though the record seems a solo work 'a la Rod Stewart', the band is behind, giving quality to the record. so Vinny Burns, Gary Hughes and Bob Catley are the artists who make worth your money for this release.
Dreams and Scream are my instant favourites, but all the songs should have honourable mention, since it is a very complete record. The addition of the bonus record, makes added value to my collection :-)

10/10 brilliant

Once and future king II

I have to admit that i was first interested in this work because Sean Harris sang there in a couple of songs ... after hearing the two parts, i find in the second one my favourite with no doubt.
Without you is a wonderful ballad in which the guitar and the voice sing in a very emotional way. And the force of the record is present in the first song, kill the king in which DC Cooper sings brilliantly. There by the grace of the gods is another perfect song.
The composition and the work of each singer gaves the record a deep consistency. Gary Hughes, the owner and producer of the records (part I and II) proves to be a great composer. Special mention to the lyrics, which are not easy, simple, but after some listenings they seem to glue smothly within the music. A great work, one of the best works from the last years... did i say it already ;)

9/10 indispensable

On a storyteller's night

One of my latest adquisitions is the Magnum's main opus, "On a storyteller's night".
This one is the special collectors edition, 20th anniversary.

Filled from head to toe with first class melodic hooks: how far jerusalem, before first light, two hearts, les morts dansant, on a storyteller's night -which was the first song i heard from them- , just like an arrow, last dance...
Although it is from 85, it stands the test of time. Since i first heard this record i wanted to own it, so i went to ebay, and when saw this 2cd set, i found what i wanted.

As far as all i heard from Magnum, this record shines in a different way, the songs come to my mind so easily and with such power that i can't help lovin' it :-)
I would classify it between aor and hard rock, in the same vein than Praying Mantis, Marillion ... (though i find this one more guitar oriented than keyboards..)

we are the victims of the night
ride against the wind
born to lose the fight

how far jerusalem, before the heart breaks down ... play it looooud and feel the epic ;-)

i want you here, to help me through the night
want you may dear, don't leave before first light

keep the night light burning, i'll come through wind and rain
keep the night light burning, i'll be with you once again

Good love
Mistaken
Two hearts
One achin'

It is really difficult to find such a perfect record, ;-) ... this one is amongst them. very few records will reach this status, so i have no better way to begin this blog than paying tribute to a true classic

10/10 classic timeless