The Smallest Creature “Magic Beans” Album Release

10/09/2020

This band is a fusion of style and place. From Larnaca, Cyprus, a place I had the opportunity to visit a few years ago, the songs feel drawn directly from the wild, extreme and beautiful landscape, the depth and kindness of its people and the still visible echos of the Turkish occupation.

Buildings abandoned, riddled with bullet holes and entire stretches of the landscape eerily empty. Ancient ruins scattered about, mountains, desert, gorgeous rugged beaches, Othello’s castle, a tragic and glorious mix of cultures all baking in the heat.

It’s a poet’s land, Cyprus, and full of magic. So this music is particularly powerful originating there. “Magic Beans” is contemporary, bold, exquisitely performed, passionate and not at all what you might expect. Stories full of what matters most in life – love, compassion, man’s struggle to be recognized, valued, admired, and to find meaning. It’s all here. I can hear Radiohead and Stone Temple Pilots, but also Pink Floyd and Nirvana. But with the voices of Stefanos Marnerides and Andreas Matheou and the gorgeous echoing, spirally guitars lifting the beautiful sounds to spiritual heights, they have a sound all their own and well earned I think.

It’s an anthemic album, so full of purposeful, reasoned poetic music. The haunting and relentless drums lead us through their universe, giving a center around which everything orbits. The whole album is a vivid and cinematic journey. Someone shoot an epic movie in Cyrpus please, so this amazing music can be the soundtrack. Maybe these guys can make their own, they have the heart, the force of nature and the sheer talent too, that’s for sure. Absolutely loved it!!!!!!

Favorite track and this is a tough task…”You Are Ready.”