New Piano Magic Album, 'Ovations.' Out Now

Piano Magic's 10th official album, 'Ovations,' is released on 12th October 2009.
Recorded through May to August this year by Gareth Parton (The Go-Team, The Breeders, Pete & The Pirates), at his petite La Planque studio and The Fortress in London, 'Ovations' is clearly the Anglo-French group's most coherent, confident and dynamic record to date.

Typically for a Piano Magic record, it's a restless beast; a record that swings wildly between Marrakesh, Eastern Europe, Sevilla and early 80's Manchester without breaking sweat.  Piano Magic have always worn their influences on their sleeves and this is no exception.  The Chameleons, Joy Division and The Cure intersect with Turkish darabuka, hammered dulcimer, viola, cello, flamenco claps.  Elsewhere, there are cold analogue synths, chiming guitars, mournful piano and industrial percussion.

Piano Magic's fascination with Eurasian percussion is, in part, much down to one of their biggest influences - the Melbourne-born, though World-wise, 4AD Records-signed group, Dead Can Dance.  And it's no small coup that 'Ovations' features not only DCD's supreme percussionist/dulcimer, Peter Ulrich but also the voice of principal songwriter, Brendan Perry on two tracks ("You Never Loved This City" and "The Nightmare Goes On").  The reclusive Perry, himself, a very recent convert to Piano Magic's music was only too happy to sing with a group that by his own admission, were making "the most beautiful music" he's heard for a long time.

'Ovations' showcases Piano Magic at the dizzy heights of their songsmithery - romantic, emotive, dynamic, anthemic.

Piano Magic, formed as far back as 1996.  Since then, they’ve released 12 long players and multiple singles and EPs on a plethora of independent labels.  For the past 6 years, the band has been made up of both English and French members, though their music has the unmistakable air of classic late 70’s/early 80’s coldwave.  In 2001, they coaxed Vashti Bunyan out of a 30 year retirement for their album, 'Writers Without Homes' before further notable collaborations with the likes of Low and Cornershop and 'Son de Mar, 'a beautiful soundtrack for Spanish film director, Bigas Luna.  Regular tours and festival headlines throughout Italy, France, Germany and Spain have paid off with a devout Continental following and magazine cover stories.  For the likes of 4AD, Morr Music, Important Records, Green Ufos and Darla, Piano Magic have made some of the most compelling, poetic, dynamic and romantic records of our time.

**** - Mojo


'Ovations' is released through Darla in North America/Asia and Make Mine Music for the Rest Of The World.  Order now from :

Norman Records (reputable UK-based mail order)

CD : http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110410

180 gm Vinyl (with download token) : http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110411

Darla (US label/distributor and mail order)

CD & LP : http://darla.com/index.php

11th October 2009