Music
Press
The Magic Lantern - The Vortex 17th September 2008
"The Magic Lantern are a quintet completed by percussionist Fred Thomas, bass clarinettist Dave Shulman, electric guitarist Phil Stevenson and cellist Lucy Railton playing the compositions of acoustic guitarist Jamie Doe, and they have an immediately arresting sound, courtesy chiefly of the wholehearted head-back-and-emote singing of Doe himself, but also of the telling range of textures available from the various combinations of instruments in the band.
They operate in the fertile hinterland between jazz and folk, Doe's and Stevenson's guitars providing the mainly folk-based accompaniment while Shulman and Railton embellish as required by Doe's subtle, often rather dark, lyrics.
Thus a reference to a (metaphorical) sinking boat might spark off an all-hands-on-deck arhythmic scramble, or a fanciful song about post-apocalyptic refuges in space an appropriately ethereal cymbal whoosh but these are just the trimmings; what really impresses about the Magic Lantern are Doe's songs, the idiosyncratic power of his lyrics and the fervour of his delivery of them.
Those unfortunate enough to have missed this performance should check out the band's e.p., Patriots (see CD Reviews)."
- Chris Parker, The Vortex
http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/vortex-gig-reviews.html
- The Vortex (online)
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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