Customer Reviews

Magic Hour

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I rate this LP up along with Echobelly's "ON", as a CD I can play from start to finish (almost) and love every track (almost). The slight duds are tracks 10 and 11, but they are more than made up for by every other track on the album. "Beat Mama" is just fantastic, and made a brilliant single which, at the time, sounded totally fresh and unlike anything else around. To me they sound Dave Clark Five-ish, and yes Beatle-ish too with Oasis melody and power. Powers has that fab sharp edged rasp to his voice so typical of the Liverpool area. The most striking and wonderful thing about these songs is that, just for a change, Powers can come up with a great melody - something that hooks you and you end up singing all day. Some melodies sound faintly reminiscent of 60's songs, but not close enough to pin down. Every song has some hook you can latch on to, and for me that's great music, and Powers shows an individual rare talent. Without doubt my favourite track is Alien, with Hideaway coming second. The beginning to Alien will rate as one of my all time greatest beginnings to songs "of all time". The guitar is so dramatic and yet understated. To some it may sound morbid, and the chorus line is a little repetitive, but the overall impression of the song is one of strong stirring emotion, and there is even a string section to add a real majestic and powerful quality. Powers's beginning vocals are superb and evocative. Alien reminds me, I guess, of the equally dramatic "Dark Therapy" on Echobelly's "On". "Hideaway" has a similarly dramatic but more powerful beginning and a fabulous high vocal from Powers. The melody jumps up and down the range in a way that surprises and keeps you guessing at where it's going next. Superb off-note chords traverse up and down the scale always ending on warm resonating notes that make you feel so good. The song builds to a high string backed crescendo and then marches off into the distance carrying you, spirits raised, and joyous up through the clouds and into the clear blue sky

ok this band totally rocks. Remind me of an Oasis mixed with The Verve with a touch of the La's. Yes good stuff. You must buy this if you're a fan of the bands I just mentioned. You won't be dissapointed. Simply Good British Rock. They throw strings in this album which gives it a full beautiful but rock sound. A definite buy.

A return to traditional territory for Cast which shows thatthey are as good as anybody around at writing great tunes. Thefantastic 'Beat Mama' has all the elements that were missing from Cast's last album 'Mother Nature Calls'. A great Brit-Pop tune. The satisfactory 'Compared To You' is followed by 'She Falls' which threatens to be a great song but is let down by the "She Falls..." refrain. The spirited Beatlesque 'Dreamer', is classic Cast and this time is backed up by a great rock middle-eight. A perfect example of timeless Liverpudlian melodic rock. 'Magic Hour' sees a change of pace and again suffers from a weak melody that plagued the previous album. The twee orchestral backing just adds to this sugary sweet song that bores after a few listenings. The average rock tune 'Company Man' sees John Power venting his anger over corprate Britain and is perhaps the right song to put before one of the album highlights 'Alien'. A beautiful song that can't help move you, though makes you which that the "Taking Over The World..." refrain could have been stronger and more fitting of its wide, emotive feel. The rocky 'Higher' again brings you back to Cast's debut album 'All Change' (though it must be said that the production is of higher quality throughout this album, due to more input from the band itself). It does suffer from making the song 2 minutes too long, something their pals Oasis are rightly criticised for. This is followed by the substandard 'Chasing The Day' which is simply not interesting enough to warrant a place on the LP, and possibly the same could be said for the repetitive average rocker 'The Feeling Remains'. 'Burn The Light' is a return to form giving Liam Tyson the chance to show his prowess on guitar over another killer Power tune. The album ends with a traditional Cast epic. This time it allows the string orchesra to shine over a basic melody. A more solid album from the Liverpool four-piece but they still need to break away from the routine melodies and chord changes to produce a great album and be worthy of a place in the same bracket as British bands like Blur, Oasis or Radiohead.

Reviewed October 30th 1999. Well, what can I say, the album picks up from where the last one left us wanting more, slaps you in the face, knocks you down, picks you up by the scruff of your neck and spins you round by your feet and sends you hurtling at 90mph into a rock'n'pop brick wall, if you already like Cast you'll love it, if you dont, go and buy it - you'll like them for ever more. Lets hope the lads release a live version of this and their past CD's, saw them in concert at the Royal Court in Liverpool last week in conjunction with BBC Radio 1 broadcast - anyone that was lucky to be there knows just HOW GOOD they are, its a breath of fresh air that a band is as good (if not better) live than from a studio proving the lads can play, one word sums up CAST and their latest masterpiece - AWESOME.

this album holds one of the best songs i've ever heard, 'Magic Hour' is a great relaxing song & the rest of the album is pretty good, take my advise & listen to it.

i think this album is good for the money...beat mama is awesome!...a bit on the poppy side, but great music and vocals just the same...

The fact that it sounds "cack-handed" to the untrained, unmusical, untallented ear, is because the boys are DARING to be different. And it's paying off. Many people are stuck in their ways about music and will not give the music a chance. Before writing reviews saying they are no better than "an outtake from Be Here Now" you are letting on that your musical knowledge is non-existant if that's what you compare it to.

Now that I've heard the entire CD, I stand by my original decision, so why hasn't anyone reviewed this damned fine album yet!?!? All the songs are superbly writen and performed in the most professional manner, I haven't got a favourite track because they are all AMAZING! If there is a human form of God, then it's got to be the boys from Cast.

BUY THIS ALBUM NOW, YOUR LIFE IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT IT.

(By PP!)

I haven't heard all the songs on this cd, but I've heard Beat Mama, and it kicks ***! You must buy everything they have ever done because they are brilliant, Mr. John Power, you are amazing.