MAGNET: HOLD ON
The things that immediately struck me about ‘HOLD ON’ was the brushed snare drums exactly like Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘60 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER’ and how much he sounds like Burke Shelley from Budgie (when they’re doing one of their quiet ones, obviously). It’s all incredibly mellow and relaxing. After a hard day slogging your guts out, sit in a bath or put your feet in a nice bowl of hot water and washing up liquid and listen.
Even Johansen, the bod behind Magnet is Norwegian. It probably explains a lot, Scandanavians tend to be a bit off kilter. There’s a few quirky noises in there. Is that a banjo? Sounds like it. It’s all held together with some soft electronic weirdness, snatches of nice strings and Beachboys vocal harmonies.
Wonderfully orchestrated and increasingly playable at each listen.
It follows on well from his previous albums, fans will love it. Virgins may well be converted.