Search - Piano Magic :: Low Birth Weight

Glen Johnson is probably a genius.

George T. Parsons | Nevada City, CA | 05/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This `99 release sounds like some lost `80's masterpiece of dark atmospherics and sweetly gloomy pop. Wonderful and eerie, experimental and dreamy, trance and organic psychedelia in a mix of male and female vocals. Bringing to mind: Deux Filles, Strawberry Switchblade, Durutti Column, Anna Domino and such contemporary outfits as; Hood, Jessamine, Current 93, Tindersticks, and Lambchop's darkest musings. Piano, not so much, Magic, much indeed. Twilight drawing room's shifting ambience and slowly emerging details, keep this sound/song tapestry consistently captivating."

Low Birth Weight Meets High Expectations

Gymlinks | Canada | 06/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Easily one of the most underratd groups in the UK Indie music scene, Glen Johnson's collective Piano Magic has produced it's share of masterpieces, but this is easily the cream of the crop. The mood throughout is sombre and depressing, but also achingly beautiful at the same time. Here Glen takes a back seat in the vocals department in favor of PM regulars such as Caroline Potter. Similar to Artists Rifles, the PM follow-up to Low Birth Weight, several of the songs are merely poetry readings over a simple guitar track. "Snow Drums" is simply a narrative about a ride home from a reahersal (I breathe a canvas on the window/ to write your name on the landscape). "Dark Sectrets Look for Light" is easily the most haunting track on the album (Get me an ugly wife/ no man will look twice/ let me fall asleep at night/ and dream of someone else . . . I went back to the flat/ and found her hanging there/ silk nightdress fallen chair/ I found her hanging there).Although PM went on to produce some great albums, this will always stand out as their best work and some of the best Indie music to ever come out of the UK"