I can’t even quantify in enough words how much I love “In Two Minds” the latest video-single by British crossover band Magazine Gap. I call them crossover, because any one label, even a genre as wide as rock, is too small a box for them, even though they’re just three guys. These three, infuse their rock with strong flavors of soul and funk. This new ballad which about having ‘mixed feelings’ stirs up so many emotions with its soothing, but thought provoking lyrics and cruise control-like musicality. I usually keep any music by Magazine Gap within arm’s reach, and this is just added to the rotation of all of their other songs that never gather ‘dust’ in my home.
If you are a lover of music infused with soul – and I’m not talking genres here – you will have to add this to your collection. I really hate that some of our favorite newer bands, Like Magazine Gap don’t get the mainstream air time or exposure they deserve.
This not only hurts the band, and the industry as a whole, but causes fans to really miss out on exceptional music, while we are forced to keep hearing, or watching, the same handful of false musical prophets and scantily clad divas, churn out the same reworked formula.
Magazine Gap woos listeners with its sensitive yet straightforward combination of soulful singing, timeless melodies, and authentic musical canvases. Whether delivering songs in quiet-storm mode like on “In Two Minds”, or keeping things both funky and rocking as son some previous releases, this band always sounds irresistible.
This latest affectional ballad has a back-to-basics compositional quality illuminating the arrangement from verse to chorus. Even the most demanding of music producers would nod approvingly listening to this – Lush background ambience, obsessively polished instrumental textures, superhumanly slick vocal tracks, Magazine Gap has got them all got them covered.
And of course, you could add phrases such as: ‘interesting arrangements’, ‘novel rhythms’, ‘ounces of sweat’, ‘many hints of grit’ and ‘plenty of personality’, to that descriptive list. James Keen’s potent, yet understated delivery of the words, melds seamlessly with Alex Ho’s soft piano and eloquent string fills, and the subtle drumming embellishments courtesy of timekeeper Brian McCook.
It’s a smooth, slow burning track that is easy on the ears, yet replete with fiery heart and soul, from beginning to end. And it leaves one hoping that the next Magazine Gap release will come sooner than later.
The Story So Far: Magazine Gap is a British rock band from London that has toured extensively around their home country, including headline performances in 13 major cities around the UK, as well as across to Ireland. They’ve also done shows across the United States and subsequently toured the Far East with shows in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. To date the band have released the album, “Light & Shade” – released online as two EPs (“Silver Lining” and “It’s All Good”) – with 12 songs recorded in major studios in London, New York, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, Pasadena and Hollywood. They’ve also released their “World Tour EP”, with 6 live recordings from six different cities on three separate continents.
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