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Review:
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IIn order to make the review of this second Magenta
DVD, I make use of my review of the 2-CD version of Live
At The Point. But first some website info: “Recorded at
the band’s home venue the Point in Cardiff at the end of
2007, the DVD marked an end of an era for the band. Not
only was it the last concert in support of their third album
Home, but it also marked the last performance of that line
up of the band. Full of Magenta’s usual passion and energy,
the DVD features a set list largely different from the Gathering,
released in 2005. As well as a suite of songs from Home,
the DVD also features Envy and a rare performance of Sloth
from Seven, as well as the bands show-stopping new arrangement
of Anger. Material from the Revolutions album includes a
stunning new arrangement of Man the Machine, plus fan-favourite
The Warning. As well as the concert footage, the DVD also
features a concert documentary, tech-talk interviews with
Chris Fry, Martin Rosser and recording engineer Tim Lewis,
plus the Speechless video and a photo gallery. In NTSC format
with fantastic 5.1 and stereo mixes by Rob Reed.”
About the music: After all those years we know what
to expect from Magenta their sound: melodic, accessible,
a bit predictable and obviously rooted in the Seventies
Symphonic Rock tradition. My man on Live At The Point is
the guitar player, what a varied and exciting play: heavy
R&R-oriented in the catchy Speechless, howling runs in Envy,
Towers Of Hope and the compelling Anger (wonderful interplay
with vintage keyboards like the Mellotron and Moog), a bit
jazzy solo in Moving On, fiery and biting wah-wah runs in
Hurt, Genetesis/The Warning and The White Witch (excerpt),
Rotherian work in Envy, a blistering guitar sound like David
Gilmour in the Hackett-solo-like piece Demons and an intro
featuring classical guitar in Anger. And what about the
keyboards? Well, I am delighted about the powerful Hammond
solos, the wonderful parts on piano, the lush violin-Mellotron
waves, the fat synthesizer flights and the majestic church-organ
sound (like the intro of this album entitled Opus Three).
The female singer Chistina Booth has a pleasant voice, unfortunately
in my opinion she lacks a bit of power in the more heavy
and bombastic parts. But I am very pleased with her typically
British humor between the songs, for example when she begs
for a “a tiny little bit of volume” (typical British understatement)
for her voice, followed by the word “competition”! The most
captivating Magenta moments are the more bombastic interludes
(similar to 76-77 Genesis) and when the band delivers surprising
breaks like in the long composition Man The Machine and
the interplay between church-organ runs and fiery guitar
in Genetesis/The Warning. At those moments I enjoy the firework
I miss in Magenta their sound, to me it often sounds too
smooth. - About the DVD: the atmosphere is great and I notice
a pleasant interaction between the band and the audience,
nothing but happy faces! The focal point is on the gorgeous,
very inspired barefooted female singer Chistina Booth, her
red dress immediately brings the cover of Genesis their
legendary album Foxtrot to my mind, “next time I also want
to see the fox head mask, Christina!”. But I was mostly
pleased with the often compelling work on keyboards and
guitar, beautifully filmed and embellished with a wonderful
lightshow. My conclusion: watching Magenta gives an extra
dimension so 3,5 starts to the live 2-CD and 4 stars to
this DVD, highly recommended!
www.progwalhalla.com
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