SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STRAWBS – THE MAGIC OF IT ALL

Strawbs
The Magic Of It All
Esoteric Recordings

The Magic Of It All is the first Strawbs album since 2021’s Settlement, and their 24th studio recording since their 1969 self-titled debut. It is full of great classic Strawbs songs. Listen to the very moving and beautiful “Everybody Means Something To Somebody”. “Think of all the friends, you knew way back when/ I bet you’ve lost touch with nine out of ten,” sings Cousins. “Just take a moment to send them a note/ It’s not what you say, it’s the fact that you wrote.”  The gentle guitar and backing vocals make this an instant classic that should have the listener pausing and reflecting. It is a reflective and peaceful album full of incredible moments. There are a couple of surprises here, such as the French-influenced “Paris Nights” and the jazz-influenced “All Along The Bay”. Some new musical territory for Strawbs but it all fits together.

Lead singer/songwriter Dave Cousins sounds great here and his voice is still strong and full of emotion. “The Time Has Come (For Giving Back)”, which is a much more straightforward rock song, demonstrates his ability to give it his all. He does not pull any punches. The album ends with a wonderful Christmas song, “Christmas Ghosts”.

While the album was being recorded, the sessions were recorded by filmmaker Niel van Deventer and the footage will be included in a new documentary. It will be interesting to see Cousins and company hard at work in the studio and will be an opportunity to catch up on this incredible band. While Cousins has written his memoirs, it will be interesting to see behind the curtain and how magic was created today and over the years.

The Magic Of It All shows a much more mature and reflective side of Dave Cousins and the Strawbs. Certainly working in a different studio with engineer Peter Pearlson of Paul Simon’s Graceland fame may have opened new doors for this band, but in the end it still sounds like classic, top-notch Strawbs. And that is a very good thing.

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