Magick Brother & Mystic Sister is a mysterious band from Barcelona in Spain. They take their name from a Gong album. They trace their origin story back to 2000 when Eva Muntada and Xavi Sandoval met Daevid Allen (Gong) at a Canterbury festival where Gong, Caravan and Arthur Brown were playing. Their eponymous debut album was released in 2020. In 2024 they returned with not one, but with 2 albums! Tarot Pt.1 and Tarot Pt.2. A concept album in 2 parts, a Kaleidoscope of 22 songs based upon the Major Arcana of the Tarot, a cross-cultural dream language. The subject of the tarot cards as an inspiration is of course not new in the progressive rock scene. The most famous album with this subject is of course Voyage Of The Acolyte, the solo debut of Steve Hackett released in 1975, while still being a member of Genesis. But also, In The Region Of The Summer Stars (1976), the debut album of The Enid, was inspired by this subject. The most recent release dedicated to the famous cards comes from Circe Link & Christian Nesmith and their excellent album Arcana (see review) released in 2024. And again, in the same year two other tarot inspired albums came out as well. Tarot Pt.1 and Tarot Pt.2. The band decided to release the album in two parts, giving the listener more time to meditate on music and the universe of Tarot. Both albums contain beautiful music which can be described as a mix of space rock, dream-prog, cosmic jazz of the Canterbury type, retro-futuristic Krautrock and magical folk. I guess this covers up very much what to expect on both albums. On Tarot Pt.1, Eva Muntada (vocals, synthesizers, mellotron, organ, piano), Xavier Sandoval (bass and guitar), Alejandro Carmona (drums) and, new member of the band, Toni Jagwar (sitar) are joined by Maya Fernandez (flute) on two songs, Glenn Brigman (vocals), Didac Fernandez (percussions) and Dominic O'Dair (voice-over). I will not go into details about each track on the album. But I can assure you that each composition is of a very high level music wise. The album has beautiful parts performed on the Mellotron and flute next to the fine guitar parts. The album contains excellent dreamy mellow parts but the more up-tempo parts are the ones that probably gave me the most pleasure of all. Tarot Pt.2 is compared to Tarot Pt.1 more mellow and cosmic/ space rock sounding. More electronic because of the use of the synthesizers. Also, the sitar is used more compared to the first tarot album which gives the music a more Eastern sound. Moreover, less up tempo pieces of music can be found on this release. Nevertheless, again a great album with compositions of a very high level. For this album Eva Muntada, Xavi Sandoval and Alejandro Carmona are again joined by Tony Jagwar on sitar (1,10,11) and lead guitar (1,9). Furthermore Maddy Gray added some spoken words (1,5), Didac Ruiz did some percussion (2) and Glen Brigman did some vocal parts (9). For those who want to have some names mentioned, which are musical references, I can come up with the following acts: Gong of course, Steve Hillage, Tangerine Dream, Øresund Space Collective, Ozric Tentacles, Pink Floyd, Gandalf and King Gizzard & The Lizard. I guess if you like any of those acts it is advisable to have a listen to both tarot albums released by Magick Brother & Mystic Sister. As for myself I enjoyed both Tarot Pt.1 and Tarot Pt.2 very much. Both are great albums to dream away while listening to the excellent compositions. Sometimes relaxing mellow music and sometimes more up tempo tunes. A fine musical mix which worked perfect for me. Hopefully you can discover this great act as well. Most of all if you are into the music of the acts mentioned above! Highly recommended! **** Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
