Mellow prog rock
Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 06/27/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love the vibe Bo Hansson gets on his albums - they are all very intimate, friendly and inviting. This 1972 album is no different, although musically it finds him exploring jazzier styles a bit more than on his debut album Lord of the Rings (1970). The jazzy styles are featured a tiny bit on the lengthy opening track Big City. For those of you that do not like the sound of jazz on a Bo Hansson album - fear not. In large part, the music on Magician's Hat is mellow prog rock that mixes Swedish folk styles and European classical music and features Bo's excellent spacey organ, mini-moog, and mellotron playing. Although Bo is a multi-instrumentalist, he is supported on Magician's Hat by a flute/sax player, guitarist, and drummer. There is some great ensemble work along with good playing by all members. This remastered album is very nice and features restored cover art, great sound quality, and lots of informative liner notes. Recommended along with Lord of the Rings (1970), Attic Thoughts (1975), and Watership Down (1977)."