Magnum - Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow


Year of Release: 2007
Label: Steamhammer/SPV
Catalog Number: 95912
Format: CD
Total Time: 62:36:00

It was 1972 when Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley roamed the clubs and pubs of Birmingham playing cover material. Four years later, when keyboard player Richard Bailey joined the band, Clarkin started to concentrate on his own material, which in 1978 resulted in Magnum's very first album Kingdom Of Madness. 29 years later and Magnum is back with what could easily be described as their best album ever. Their mix of Styx come Foreigner come Survivor has reached an all time high, topping the quality of earlier releases such as Chase The Dragon and On A Storyteller's Night. Packed in yet another stunning Rodney Matthews sleeve, Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow contains eleven magnificent brand new compositions which will leave all of you breathless.

Not only is the new album the band's thirteenth studio album, it also is the group's third album after their comeback album Breath Of Life. Based around the band's three masterminds Bob Catley, Tony Clarkin and Mark Stanway, the new songs are catchy, well structured, fantastically arranged and timeless. Just follow the vocal melodies of the opening track "When We Were Younger," which will most certainly tickle your taste-buds for more! Although Magnum delivers meaty orchestral rock, there's plenty of acoustic approaches as well, adding a folky touch to the whole. Solos come well balanced in order to blend in with the songs in the best possible way. Every song contains catchy hooks which linger in your memory for years to come. They result in the perfect balance between commercial accessibility and crafty material for the album lover, the best of both worlds if you like.

Although the music of Magnum is mainly built around the sound of the guitar, the keyboard interventions are clearly present in the mix as well as adding an almost orchestral flavour to some of the compositions. To top it all, the original timbre of singer Bob Catley injects the ultimate Magnum trademark, which sets them apart from any other prog flavoured outfit currently around. Although most of the material is powerful, the band most certainly doesn't shun the more intimate side of the musical spectrum, as is illustrated here by the ballad "Inside Your Head," which in a way made me think of Nazareth's "Love Hurts" classic, as that song also wasn't representative of Nazareth's general output. The way "Thank You For The Day' is built, it gets close to the best singer/songwriter tunes with Bob's voice getting close to that of ? wait for it ? Paul McCartney at times.

With contagious grooves scattered all over the album Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow could well be the best album Magnum has ever produced. If you're already a fan you will be very pleased, and if this album is your first encounter with Birmingham's pride and joy, then beware, they have an extensive back catalogue which surely you'll be eager to acquire. Eleven top songs from a band who most certainly has found its second breath and deserves respect the world over!

There will also be a limited first edition of the album including a bonus DVD containing "The making of Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow, insight into the making of the album by every single member of the band alongside footage from the writing and recording of the album, a slideshow including exclusive pictures, and finally a 5:21 recording studio video for "Dragons Are Real."


Tracklisting:
When We Were Younger / Eyes Wide Open / Like Brothers We Stand / Out Of The Shadows / Dragons Are Real / Inside Your Head / Be Strong / Thank You For The Day / Your Lies / Desperate Times / You'll Never Sleep

Musicians:
Tony Clarkin - guitars
Bob Catley - vocals
Mark Stanway - keyboards
Jimmy Copley - drums
Al Barrow - bass

Discography:
Kingdom Of Madness (1978/1999)
Magnum II (1979/1999)
Marauder (Live At The Marquee) (1980/1999)
Chase The Dragon (1982/1999)
The Eleventh Hour (1983/1999)
Vintage Magnum (1984/1992/2002)
On A Storytellers Night (1985/2000/2003/2005*)
Vigilante (1986)
Anthology (1985/2002)
Mirador (1987)
Wings Of Heaven (1988/1990/1995) Nightriding (Best of) (1988) Invasion Live (1989)
Foundation (1990) (boxed set)
Goodnight L.A. (1990/1999)
Collection (1990/1992)
Spirit: A History (1991/1998)
Sleepwalking (1992)
Battle (1992)
Archive (1993/1997)
Chapter & Verse (The Very Best Of) (1993)
Captured (1993)
Uncorked (Best Of) (1995/2000)
Rock Art (1995)
Firebird (1995)
Keeping The Night Light Burning (1995/2000)
Vintage Magnum - Electric and Acoustic (1995)
The Last Dance (Europe) (1996)
Stronghold (UK) (1996)
Road To Paradise (1998)
Progressive Classics (1999)
Legends - Live (1999)
Live In London (?)
Archive Streets (2000)
Castle Masters Collection (2000)
Days Of Wonder (live 1976) (2000)
Breath Of Life (2002)
The River Sessions (2004)
Long Days, Black Nights: The Alternative Anthology (2004)
An Introduction To Magnum (2004)
Anthology, Vol. 2 (2004)
Brand New Morning (2004)
Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow (2007)
Wings Of Heaven Live 2008 (2008)
Into The Valley Of The Moonking (2009)
The Gathering (2010)
The Visitation (2011)
Evolution (2011)
On The 13th Day (2012)
Escape From The Shadow Garden (2014)
Escape From The Shadow Garden - Live 2014 (2015)
The Valley Of Tears - The Ballads (2017)
Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies (2016)
Lost On The Road To Eternity (2018)
Live At The Symphony Hall (2019)

Live! - The Sacred Hour (VHS) (1985)
On A Storyteller's Night (VHS) (1985)
On The Wings Of Heaven Live (VHS) (1988)
From Midnight To LA (VHS) (1990)
Chapter & Verse (VHS) (1993)
A Winter's Tale (DVD) (2003)
Live Legends (DVD) (2004)
Live At Birmingham (DVD) (2004)
Live In London (DVD) (2005)
Livin' The Dream (DVD) (2005)

Genre: Melodic Rock-AOR

Origin UK

Added: March 19th 2007
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.magnumonline.co.uk
Hits: 2601
Language: english

  

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