Magenta - Tarot- Progressive Voyages Review
Tarot is the latest album in Magenta's 25 years of existence and it a return to form and back to the sound they originally sought out, mixing a sound like Renaissance fir today's age
On that basis the album definitely delivers
The album has 10 tracks of which 4 are short instrumental pieces called Etude 1 to 4 the other 6 tracks are all based on historical figures in history, these being Guinevere, Houudini, Mozart, Joan Of Arc and Mary there is also a concluding track called Tarot.
The lovers opens proceedings in a suitably epic fashion, Rob tells me that for this album the tended to play in a lower key so that Christina Booths vocals would be easier for her voice as the voice changes over the years
On this track the Bass is very upfront, a definate nod to the recently departed Renaissance Bassist Jon Camp, here this sound really great and memorable, in addition to providing the splendid bass lines, Rob Reed delivers some excellently ssuitable keyboard embellishments and guitarist Chris Fry shows what an underrated guitarist he truly is, the song is about Guinevere Her love for nott for king arthur but rather for his sister Morgan although she does cobncede to King Arthur. In the end It is a great opening track,
Etude 1 follows which acts ais a very short Intermezzo between the vocal tracks
The next track is The Magician which is about Houdini and his life long shaming of fake mediums who preyed on grieving families offering to speak to their dead loved ones if they paid handsomely for it, that is, Houudini opposed this practice and exposed ut where he found it,
The music in this track is very grandiose and effective, Chris Fry's guitar takes centre stage a various points , as the s9ng concludes with Houdini's death and his promise to contact his wife if there is an afterlife( He never contacted her)
Etude 2 follows again a further Sound Sorbet before the next epic The World which is aboutvthe child Prodigy Mozart as he looks back at his life and evaluates its worth,
This is another stunning track musically with great musicianship throughout from all parties, some great subtle guitar lines and a spectacular Bass line, Rob really is playing extremely well on this track and indeed album, As is Chris Fry who's fills and solo’s are a sheer joy to hear, and above it all is Christina Booth's effortless vocals soaring over it all and fabulouscend solo from Chris a last refrain and its all over what a truly stunning track again,
After a further Etude (3) before another epic track Strength about Joan Of Arc this is another lengthy epic piece, which speaks of Joan Of Arcs own insecurities and doubts about her mission to lead against the oppressors This track is very stately in tone and still have room for suitably delicate additions of string and woodwind sounds, the Bass again here sounds truly Magnificent. Jon Camp would be highly proud that his influence carries on as well as it does here, another great guitar part from Chris Fry takes this song towards its conclusion, Joan's death as she gets to meet her maker while the flames consume her.
Another brief Etude 4 takes us to The Empress (Mary) which is about amaryllis the mother of Jesus
This is a further storming track and it deals with Mary's letting go of the bond she has with her son when he starts his life's work one that will impact the world forever as he leads his disciples and face his own trial abd crucification and ultimately his death, Mary struggles in letting go of her maternal instincts, declaring instead that she will always be there for him whatever, the music in this track is sumptuous and satisfying, both sympathetic and supportive for the track, excellent keyboards and great bass again.
Mention must be made ofvNick D'virgilio's Astonishing drumm8ng through the album he plays like a natural member of Magenta here, certainly in sync with all that is going on in the whole album Chris Fry also delights on this track with some highly versatile playing.
This track is astounding.
It only leaves the shorter concluding track Tarot which sums the album up succinctly as it talks about being guided by the hands of Fate, Christina is aided with backing vocals from Steve Balsamo and Peter Jones here and it sounds glorious a final guitar line from Chris concludes the song with Christina's call to Move On
Tarot is a most excellent album one that will invariably be in many best of's come the end of the year and rightly so it is a real triumph and a sheer joy to hear this masterpiece. I urge you to do likewise, I don't think you would regret it.
Info here: www.magenta.bandcamp.com
Author John Wenlock-Smith 2nd May 2026.