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"Here Comes The Rain", the likely final chapter in Magnum's career after the death of Tony Clarkin, resonates sadly in our hearts."
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4/5
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The English band Magnum has been with us for 46 years. Since the release of 'Kingdom Of Madness' in 1978, we've been able to lovingly store more than twenty of their albums in our record libraries. The release of 'Here Comes The Rain', the 23rd album from the pomp-rock dinosaur, takes on a very special flavour, however, as we were saddened to learn very recently of the death of its composer, Tony Clarkin. So it seems inevitable that this work should be Magnum's swansong, a true emanation of the artist's distinctive signature.
We don't know whether the fatal illness was diagnosed long before he announced it. However, if you look at the lyrics of the ten tracks on 'Here Comes The Rain', you can't help but be touched by the premonitory melancholy they pour out, with the track 'I Wanna Live' resonating in a totally disarming way. The album's luminous cover art, once again enhanced by the faithful Rodney Matthews, is like a beacon in the darkness that surrounds us.
The somewhat vintage atmospheres developed by the band since its beginnings are once again in evidence. These are the hallmarks of the English band's sensibility, intoxicating the listener and transcended by Bob Catley's sensitive, lyrical vocals. Nevertheless, the use of pomp-rock is more measured than usual, with guitars and mid-tempo tracks taking the lion's share. The rock'n'roll boogie guitars of 'Blue Tango' offer a conclusion worthy of a ZZ Top track, and the solo guitars of the ballad 'I Wanna Live' give us a magically moving moment, prolonged by a final keyboard theme that could bring us to tears.
There are, however, a few punchier moments to lighten the mood. 'The Seventh Darkness', shimmering with trumpets and saxophones, reminds us that the band is capable of daring, and 'Run Into The Shadows', the album's undeniable hit with its haunting melodies, takes us back to Magnum's compositions of the 80s. But there are few bright melodic moments (the lyrics remain pessimistic) and many clouds darkening the skies. 'Broken City' is the pinnacle of this sombre atmosphere, a cold, despairing ballad that evokes the wars ravaging the planet. This new opus from the English giant won't be able to join the collection of five-star productions offered by our old friends, the fault being the presence of too few powerful moments and this sad atmosphere that we can only understand, but which proves somewhat sedating over time.
Nevertheless, the career of this glorious dinosaur deserves praise. This band has given us so much pleasure over four decades that it would be wrong to dismiss this latest release as confidential at best. Even if 'Here Comes The Rain' isn't a great Magnum album, it still deserves to be appreciated on its own merits. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
 01. Run Into The Shadows
02. Here Comes The Rain
03. Some Kind Of Treachery
04. After The Silence
05. Blue Tango
06. The Day He Lied
07. The Seventh Darkness
08. Broken City
09. I Wanna Live
10. Borderline
LINEUP:
Bob Catley: Chant
Dennis Ward: Basse
Lee Morris: Batterie
Rick Benton: Claviers
Tony Clarkin: Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.3/5 (6 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH MAGNUM
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT MAGNUM
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