When it comes to underground music, real underground music, then there are few people who have had as much impact as Mick Magic. Not only did he have his own band in Magic Moments At Twilight Time, but he set up a cassette label which during its existence released nearly 600 albums. In recent years he has started recording again, as well as releasing material by other artists, and here we have a double CD of his latest project, Magic Bullet. In fact, this is actually a combination of two albums, ‘Solidarietas’ and ‘Curiositas’, both of which were released last year, almost by mistake. The plan was to release an album called ‘Digitalis’ as the debut, but on talking with a Russian label the decision was made instead to release the single-track hour-long album , ‘Solidarietas’ , instead.

That piece of music is now called “Lengthy Audio Work With A Pretentious Title In Russian” and is a strangely compelling piece of music. It is mostly white noise synths, yet they create something that is incredibly analogue and visual. I am sure that everyone who hears this piece of music will “see” something different, but for me it starts as a rolling sea in a moonlit night before becoming a storm. The first time I played this was on a lengthy car journey and I found it incredibly compelling, although I am fully aware it will not be for everyone, and it really does need to be played from beginning to end in one sitting otherwise all impact is lost. ‘Curiositas’ is literally that, a collection of curios and bits and bobs which Mick felt ought to be more widely available. There is a mash-up of old MMATT material, an edited version of their first ever live radio performance, “Stille Nacht” is a rather strange electronic take on the carol while “Jesus Is Dead (Let’s Eat Chocolate!)” and “Jesus Has Risen (Let’s Mow The Lawn!)” are even more weird in a somewhat techno and EBM style.

Mick produces music which is totally off the wall, yet always with a sense of humour, and it definitely resonates with me. For more information on this, and everything he has ever been involved with, then visit https://www.mickmagic.net/ which is surely one of the most detailed and informative sites around.

Rating: 7/10

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Track list:
Disc 1
01 Длинная Aудио Pабота C Претенциозным Hазванием Hа Pусском Языке (60:00)

Disc 2
01 M.M.A.T.T. 33 Mashup (9:29)
02 The A.F.C. Song (6:00)
03 Dance, Freak (6:28)
04 Stille Nacht (8:25)
05 Jesus Is Dead (Let’s Eat Chocolate!) (4:13)
06 Jesus Has Risen (Let’s Mow The Lawn!) (2:13)
07 Live In Session (On Tudno FM) (12:31)

Links:
https://www.mickmagic.net/Magic%20Bullet%20Index.htm
https://www.mickmagic.net/M&E%20Index.htm