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Magic Dance: Remnants
Magic Dance - Remnants Album Art

Magic Dance: Remnants

AOR Melodic Hard Rock
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 25.11.2020 | Released: 04.12.2020

After numerous EPs and two long players, Jon Siejka's Magic Dance project caught the ears of Italy's Frontiers Music, dropping his third studio album, New Eyes, two years ago. Starting largely as an Eighties-influenced instrumental synth-pop project, Siejka and Magic Dance have evolved into a true classic AOR melodic hard rock project. New Eyes was pretty spectacular. Now Magic Dance returns, nearly two years to the date after the previous album with Remnants, once more with Frontiers Music.

Magic Dance's Jon Siejka - Click For Larger Image

Magic Dance's Jon Siejka

With a spin or two of Remnants, you'll hear that Siejka is expanding his musical turf far beyond synthwave. You'll find two musical elements taking a larger presence: the guitar lines, especially the riffs and solos, and the rhythm section. The former are thicker and sharp, the latter heavier and more forceful. We're not talking heavy metal here, but there's many guitar-forward melodic hard rock songs. Examples include I'm Still Holding On, Oh No, Long And Lonely Nights, and Zombie Breath Surprise. (Not sure what that last song is about; I really needed the lyric sheet.) Across all these songs, and more, the guitar solos are killer. Alternatively, the synth presence still remains. You'll find this notable within I Can't Be The Only One, Change Your Life, Changes, and Restless Nights. Yet all four songs can get faster and heavier as well. Even so, their sound reminds you of a John Hughes movie soundtrack. Finally, a conundrum to be mentioned. Apparently, there's a saxophone in one, or perhaps more, songs. For the life of me, and my ears, I have yet to find it. But no worries.

All in all, like the previous album, New Eyes, with Remnants Jon Siejka and Magic Dance have knocked the ball out the playing field, over the grandstand, and into the parking lot. Remnants is another fabulous and entertaining album of classic, Eighties-inspired, AOR melodic hard rock. Quite recommended.




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The Bottom Line

With Remnants, Jon Siejka and Magic Dance have knocked the ball out the playing field, over the grandstand, and into the parking lot. Remnants is another fabulous and entertaining album of classic, Eighties-inspired, AOR melodic hard rock. Quite recommended.

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