The Magic Bus – ‘Το Κάστρο’: Hop aboard the rock bus!
The band The Magic Bus presented its debut album, titled ‘Το Κάστρο’. The journey is just beginning! We'd gotten ready for the Magic Bus's trip! We'd bought our ticket with the single ‘Το Κάστρο’, which dropped back in August.
By Dimitris (Bari) Polyzois
Now the time has come to hit the road! The The Magic Bus presented their debut album titled ‘Το Κάστρο’. The journey kicked off on the 1st of September 2021, and it promises to be a thrilling ride!
The Magic Bus and the journey through time
First off, let's talk about the band's name. The Magic Bus… It takes you somewhere different. It combines something real, the bus, with magic. Contradicting concepts, which nevertheless fire up the imagination. It makes you wonder whether every bus we ride could potentially be magic. The obvious reference has to do with the buses bands used to go on tour with. Places where there were amazing sets and where lots of… strange things went down! That's where the magic of the whole thing comes from.
Nevertheless, the The Magic Bus seem to have another substance behind their name. In the end, this Magic Bus will play the role of a Time Machine. It will try to take us on a trip to our childhood years. We'll hear music similar to what we grew up and were raised on. This desire to travel back to our past also shows in the album's artwork. ‘Το Κάστρο’ features an adult who feels like a child. He wants to fight, but he's holding childish weapons. He's lost in a ‘magic’ city. Imprisoned by time, which, inevitably, keeps marching on relentlessly. He's waiting for his own Magic Bus, to travel to another world far from everyday life.
Let's all become children
The whole spirit of the album is about looking back. A personal review of each person's life through the eyes of childhood, which many of us seem to have lost. All this courtesy of The Magic Bus, who invite us to pass through its gates and enjoy a journey full of pure rock, distinctive themes and dynamic compositions. But don't worry! We're in good hands. The Bus set off in 2017, as a Greek-language rock band, and since then it's covered a lot of ground live, having shared the stage with some of the scene's most well-known names (such as Ενδελέχεια, Magic de Spell, Κίτρινα Ποδήλατα, Κώστας Παρίσσης and others).
Stepping onto the bus, we'll already find some passengers on board. Specifically, on vocals we'll find Βαλάντης Δάφκος (also in Redeye Caravan, Peculiar Three, Beyond this Earth), on guitars and vocals Ερμής Σουλτανόπουλος (also in Nox Die), on bass Ντίνα Αργυρίου (also in Nox Die) and on drums Paris Gatsios (also in Redeye Caravan, peculiar three, Beyond this Earth).
About the music
The band The Magic Bus moves within Greek-language rock. True to their style then, they keep their music simple and playful. Fast tempo on most tracks and distinctive riffs, that get stuck in your head. The whole style has something of the 70s – 80s about it. That doesn't mean, of course, that listening to 'Το Κάστρο', we're hearing something old. On the contrary, the feeling the record leaves you with has something fresh about it.
Rhythm Section
Starting with the rhythm section and the drums, we mostly have straight timestamps. Of course, crescendos aren't missing either, in which some tracks change completely (check out the ending of 'Κοντό Φυτίλι' and the bridge from 'Ταξίδι Εντός'). Generally speaking, the drums of Paris, keep you alert and have rhythms that are lively and full of playfulness. Moving on to the bass and the Ντίνα, his melodies carry a lot of intensity (check out 'Σπίτι του Αστερίωνα' as one example). The bass on the tracks by The Magic Bus seems to want to stay an unsung hero, but its contribution is pretty decisive.
Guitars
Moving on to the guitars, Ερμής goes for a slightly distorted sound, without going overboard. Generally speaking the guitar tone is clean, but right on the edge of 'breaking up'. The guitar's role on the record is quite distinctive. It deals in riffs and melodic lines, aiming both to keep the rhythm going and to give each track a different texture. These riffs are part of the rhythm section and end up being the ones that stick in your head. Of course there are also clean atmospheric sounds on the more mellow tracks (like in 'Παραμύθι', and also in the bridge of the title track), while there's no shortage of guitar solos that are short but punchy.
Vocals
Finally, let's talk about the voice. Βαλάντης has a heavy voice with plenty of grit. The style leans quite a bit towards Power – Epic Metal (it's got that epic quality when he cranks up the decibels). It's also very clear, which helps the lyrics stand out. I'd say his lower register has something classic about it (maybe a bit of Παπακωνσταντίνου). What's impressive is that he can move from 'soft' vocal lines to more intense ones without ever sounding strained. The role of backing vocals on the tracks is handled by the Ερμής. I'd definitely like to mention here that the elements of his voice blend really well with those of Βαλάντη, creating a beautiful mosaic of vocal lines.
On the Subject Matter
‘Το Κάστρο' has the overall aura of the music that's about to take us on a journey. It will push us to take a look back at the deeds and choices of our lives. With music and composition by Ερμής Σουλτανόπουλος and lyrics by Βαλάντη Δάφκο, there are messages trying to slip into the subconscious through the music. The initial image it creates might be the desire to become children again, but this journey will require personal change. Listening to the album, one thing is certain: the music of The Magic Bus has deeper meanings.
Editor's Choice: 'Ψυχοστασία' / 'Το Πλοίο των Τρελών'
The The Magic Bus gave us a really beautiful album. Lots of wonderful tracks with different influences. I could pick 'Ταξίδι Εντός', which gives me a bit of a Led Zeppelin and Immigrant Song vibe. Or 'Στη Γη της Επαγγελίας' which gives me a taste of Jack Black. Finally, I could dwell on 'Σπίτι του Αστερίωνα', which makes a clear reference to the poem by Παλαμά, 'Ο Γκρεμιστής' ('So many centuries here, the creature and the Builder become entangled.’).
The first of the two tracks that stood out for me is 'Ψυχοστασία'. Its soft, fast start makes me feel like I'm right there on that journey into the depths of the East that the lyrics describe. It's backed, of course, by excellent drums too. Also, halfway through, the track picks up with the help of a 'dirty' guitar riff.
'Like a forgotten Pharaoh at the edge of the Nile
I search for the lighthouse to find the end of the desert'
The track that closes the album is 'Πλοίο των Τρελών'. To be honest, if I hadn't been swept up by the shifts and intensity of 'Ψυχοστασιάς', this would be the track I'd single out from 'Το Κάστρο'. I have a special soft spot for music with country elements. And this particular song has both country and traditional touches. The rhythm and riff are pretty distinctive and have something piratical about them! The riff, in fact, is played in a way that evokes the sound of a mandolin (I was delighted to learn it's actually a bouzouki). Welcome aboard the Ship, which I'd gladly sail on!
'Dance the habit that was handed to you
Drink as the damned of the Earth taught you.
If you were looking for the cure, know it won't be long
Aboard the Ship of Fools, for reason to fade.'
In Conclusion
The The Magic Bus make a strong start right from their very first album. 'Το Κάστρο' has all the classic elements of the Greek rock scene, retouched and refreshed with plenty of modern touches. Sound-wise, the album is extremely well balanced, with really careful production. The sound is natural, and its simplicity is its greatest strength.
In terms of composition and subject matter, the album comes in with big guns, disguised as a journey into our childhood. The performances are very good across the board from all the members. Keeping up the same level of interest in live performances is a big bet, though it seems a safe one given the band's experience. 'Το Κάστρο' is an album worth listening to. It'll make you feel like the first time you laid eyes on a giant cardboard box. Back when you got it, set it up, and climbed inside to play your very first game of knights. Welcome aboard a magical journey with The Magic Bus! All aboard?!
Album's Tracklist
- Κοντό Φιτίλι
- Ταξίδι Εντός
- Το Σπίτι του Αστερίωνα
- Ψυχοστασία
- Το Κάστρο
- Παραμύθι
- Σκονισμένα Μυστικά
- Η Πράσινη Νεράιδα
- Υφαντόκοσμος
- Στη Γη της Επαγγελίας
- Το Πλοίο των Τρελών
Credits
Recording & production: Locomotive Sound studio (Lamia), by Έκτορα Σόχο
Special Guest: Μάντης Σαββίδης – Bouzouki (Το Πλοίο των Τρελών)
Artwork: Ντίνος Αδαμόπουλος
Logo & layout: Σωτήρης Κοτσώνης
Photography: Τάσος Παλαμίδας
You can follow the band through their official social media, to keep up with more news:
