Magenta - 2026 - Tarot

(57:17; Tigermoth Records)






















When it comes to modern progressive rock bands there are few who find themselves compared to the mighty Renaissance, but in this album, I believe Magenta are definitely channelling those influences. As one may guess from the title, on this album we are taken on a journey through a tarot deck, with four small classical guitar studies (“Etude 1-4”) which act as dividers or palate cleansers between the first five songs, which are each about individual cards, before we end on the title cut. It is impossible to imagine Magenta without this core trio of musicians as they have been there throughout their 25 year-long history, while Christina sang on Cyan’s second album, ‘Pictures From The Other Side’, more than 30 years ago. On this album Christina (lead vocals), Robert Reed (keyboards, bass, piano, rhythm guitars, recorders) and Chris Fry (lead and nylon guitars) are joined by none other than drummer Nick D’Virgilio (Big Big Train, Spock’s Beard, Genesis, Tears For Fears etc.) and guests on flute and oboe plus two backing singers, including Peter Jones (Camel).

It is more than 50 years since Renaissance released ‘Turn of the Cards’, but while this album is not attempting to remake that there is no doubt Christina is sounding more like Annie Haslam than ever before, and Robert’s use of banked orchestration means there are times when we can well believe we are in 1974 and not 2026, with “The World” being very much a case in point. Chris has always been somewhat in the background in some Magenta releases but here there are times when he is like Michael Dunford, at others Steve Hackett or Andy Latimer, having a major impact on the overall sound. Utilising the skills of Nick was a wise choice as while he is one of the most technical and bombastic drummers around who can be incredibly busy around a kit, he also knows how to sit back and know when to be involved, which means there are long passages when there is little percussion to be heard at all. This provides room for the multiple layers to really breathe within the space, ensuring the complexity is clear, with the complex arrangements always ensuring Christina’s vocals are front and centre. 

Here we have a progressive rock album which is thoroughly enjoyable on the first time of playing and only gets better the more it is listened to. There is no doubt that Magenta has yet again undertaken a step change and the result is an album which will feature heavily in end of year polls I am sure, and rightly so. This is a dynamic, enjoyable and thoroughly enthralling time machine which takes us back to the Golden Age of Prog and deserves to be regarded in the same manner as the classics from that period. If you have yet to discover Magenta, then this is the time to do it. 

Kev Rowland, July 2026

Links:
http://www.magenta-web.com/
https://www.tigermothshop.co.uk/

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