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MG-207 The Magnificents - Year Of Explorers  Year Of Explorers, the latest from daring Scottish band The Magnificents, is an epic saga of stolen synths, left-handed guitars, trans-European expressways, covert product placement, and serious studio tomfoolery. Following months of touring, twiddling and general sonic invention, The Magnificents are finally ready to unleash their long-awaited second LP. Employing a bewildering array of dusty keyboards, wires, boxes and buttons, The Magnificents have meticulously crafted Year Of Explorers with a little help from esteemed producers Damian Taylor (Bjork, Unkle) and John Cummings (Mogwai). Whereas their eponymous debut was primarily fuelled by raw punk power and electrifying excess, the sophomore LP demonstrates a more measured method. Not to say the boys have mellowed with age… Year Of Explorers will still have the indie-disco young pretenders quaking in their Converse. |
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| Reviews Summary |
| Jaw-droppingly ace music. - NME / A f***ing brilliant follow-up to their eponymous debut. It might just be the best thing you hear all year. 5/5 - Reverb / No murky lines - they're just really f***ing good. - The Skinny / Instantly, gratifyingly catchy - The List / The Magnificents should never be allowed to slip through the fingers of those who matter - Drowned In Sound |
| Reviews | |
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| It should come as no surprise to learn that The Magnificents met at Edinburgh Art College. There seems to be something of a trend at the moment for ex-art students forming bands, and after the various outpourings of Glasgow's alumni it's only fair that the capitol's graduates should get in on the act. In many ways Year Of Explorers is typical of this brand of art school-rock, mixing odd time signatures and offbeat sounds with gay abandon. It's here that the comparisons have to stop, however, because even on the first listen it's clear that The Magnificents have something more than just art-rock sketches going for them. This is intelligent rock with punk's rebellious spirit still throbbing at its heart. Admittedly, their punk influences don't come through on every track. The synths on opener "Ring Ring Oo Oo" sound more like Simple Minds than the Sex Pistols, and there's something disturbingly New Romantic lurking around the back. With song titles like "No Dialogue With Cunts," however, it's clear that they're no Human League, and Tommy Stuart thankfully sounds more like David Burne than Simon Le Bon. Sometimes the blend of influences gets a little overwhelming, but it's hard not to like a band mix the best bits of Franz Ferdinand, the Beta Band and Talking Heads while hardly pausing for breath. Loud, raucous and yet surprisingly melodic at times, The Magnificents obviously did more at Art College than just doodle on their textbooks. - Is This Music? |
