Label: InsideOut Music

Tracks:

1. Gorilla With A Pitchfork (1.24)
2. Killer Of Hope (10.03)
3. Bach 16 (2.46)
4. Late For Church (6.15)
5. Confessor's Overture (2.24)
6. Hymn For A Heathen (3.15)
7. A World Groove (6.30)
8. Counterpoints (5.59)
9. Feel The Cross (6.36)
10. (bonus track) Hallucination (5.11)

Musicians:

• Trent Gardner - Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Trombone
• Wayne Gardner - Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals

Guest musicians:

• Jason Gianni - Drums
• Stephen Imbler- Piano on Bach 16
• Jeff Curtis - Brass Arrangement on Bach 16

The Gardner brothers attack again with "Impossible Figures", fifth long play of Magellan's discography.

Frankly it turns out easy to identify this band by just listening to a few notes of any of their tracks. It's undoubtedly that Trent Gardner has his own and peculiar way of creating music, and a good proof of it is soon found in "Killer of Hope", the second cut (after a brief prelude) of this new work. This hypothetical meeting between Yes and Dream Theater, this kind of constant climax without any possibility of breathing, this excessive concentration of instrumental and vocal activity eventually gets anyone tired of Trent's voice.

The Gardner brothers are purifying their style in every new work. Every new album seems to me to be technically more perfect than the previous one, at least regarding the topics that characterize their own style. Anyway, this doesn't mean that I have liked this new work. I think the problem with this "Impossible Figures" lies in the fact that it insists on the same issue again and again. Most of the album supposes an overdose of instrumental/vocal density "Gardner"-style. If they had made a more varied album, with more contrasts, where the typical musical trends of the band were alternating with other type of structures, the result would improve dramatically. But, as I have said, I suppose that this one is the particular way to feel the music that Trent Gardner has, and for no doubt there are many listeners satisfied with his way of proceeding, though it is not my case.

In conclusion. Most of the album tracks represent, under my point of view, the same old story, although brief instrumental pieces of classical music style appear scattered. The only track that has certain freshness is "Feel the Cross", thanks to its certainly modern and different sonority, though neither escapes from the sonorous density hammer, that the rest of the album is plenty of. The bonus track is a different thing as well, but with an unnecessary drum solo included. A solo that, moreover, is utilized to end the album (?).

Finishing, monotonous is the word, but I suppose that the band's always fans will be satisfied.

Rating: 4.5/10

Ferran Lizana