El Magnifico

Description

Ed Harcourt returns to his roots in El Magnifico, an album that reflects his emotional and musical evolution. The first single, Strange Beauty, and the title track of the album illustrate the impressive range of El Magnifico, allowing Harcourt to skillfully transition from bursts of pure euphoria to moments of intimate and sincere introspection, with true coherence. The first four songs of the album, which cover his autobiographical ode to life in the face of death, impose a striking emotional rhythm. "There is really a common thread in this album," Harcourt confirms about this project that he produced in his studio at the back of his garden, while using the natural resonance of his local church to capture the album's string range. With songs like Ghost Ship and Anvils & Hammers, Harcourt pours out his experiences through the simple honesty of a man sitting at a piano. The tender moments of El Magnifico are of a moving rawness. These beautifully contrast with the musical gems that adorn the album's grander expressions, such as Deathless, My Heart Can't Keep Up With My Mind, and The Dead Of The World. These bolder moments allow Harcourt to push the music and lyrics further, in an atmosphere that somewhat recalls his first album, but with more depth and new perspectives, as he presents an overview of his musical universe.