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Magdalena — Magdalena
(Musea FGBG 4182.AR, 1987/1997, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 1997-05-01

Magdalena Cover art

This marks the second time on CD for this one. Having briefly owned this in its original vinyl incarnation, and not deeming it worthy enough to hang on to at the time, this reissue has given this writer an opportunity to revisit the material from a more historical point of view. Magdalena was one of the better known bands in the Japanese symphonic rock movement that swept the 80s, this album (and an EP which also appears here) being their only recorded testament — the band called it a day immediately after the tour that followed its release. This was vocalist Megumi Tokuhisa's band prior to her joining Teru's Symphonia for their Egg the Universe and subsequent albums. Magdalena's music was a mixture of heavy symphonic rock, pop, bombastic anthems, and classical delicacy — the latter delivered to the sound mostly via tasty harpsichord and string patches. Histrionic Japanese vocals abound, although they seem to become more tempered beginning with track four; tracks five and six, the ten-minute "Omen" (also featuring Hiroko Nagai of Pageant singing), and "Lagrima" are the ones worth getting the album for. Overall, a welcome reissue in Musea's Japanese series.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 12, 1997 releases, 1987 recordings

Related artist(s): Magdalena

 

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