An impressive debut ...
From a cult band, to the alias Magic Arm, Manchester resident Marc Rigelsford sure knows what he is doing. Mark has been making music for years in various guises and Magic Arm was born when he was asked to make a soundtrack for a friend's show reel. He came up with Outdoor Games and two years later began working on this debut EP. Now complete, the CD ranges from twisted psych-folk to a mix of pop and electronica. It's a charming, varied and very experimental seven-track disc recorded in his home.
The title track, a budding 60s style tune builds to a towering crescendo with the closing stages of harmonica and tapping of keys adding a very pleasurable touch. 'People need order' continues to takes the 60s harmony-pop formula and twists in an unusual backing track, like a Bollywood movie. The instrumental approach to 'I want you, you want me' is built on a casino organ beat but skilfully blended in with a banjo and church organ sounds. 'D.A.Q.' (Don't ask questions) is what Mark refers to as his 'uninformed take on electronica', but is actually a mick-taker that pokes fun at the pretensions of the genre. Love song 'You should know' has elements of 30s pastiche and is a track cut down to the basics, while the very unusual sounds of Move out boosts a looping flute over a clockwork sounding backing.
Vocals through Outdoor games are constant while the sounds are experimental and very innovative. This is just the start for Mark Rigelsford, and with such a unique take sound, there is going to be all eyes on Magic Arm.