Magnalia Christi
Atlanta, GA
“Beautifully ramshackle”
Points of light riddle the Atlanta music scene. Tracing one point back, you will find Christ, Lord as the source. With no fewer than six members, the band utilizes upright bass, violin, cello, trumpet, clarinet, accordion and drums to craft an excellent 10-song album entitled Magnalia Christi. Although they pull influence from sources such as Beirut, Tom Waits, and Man Man, Christ, Lord manages to rise above their predecessors’ weight.
Ultimately, Magnalia Christi is dark, but accessible. The record’s gypsy, vaudeville, folk, and jazz influences permeate the songs, making them a unique combination of bleak yet inviting. Drawing on some of Atlanta’s punk influence, album opener “Dhaka” brims with a kind of ramshackle energy and recklessness. While none of the following songs reach the same quick pace, they all unfold with the same earnestness. The album is planned and deliberate, but never stale or stagnant.
A good band knows what notes not to play. Christ, Lord is one of these bands. The minimal, minor key “Ondine” features only violin and piano but manages to find exactly the right notes. Despite the additional instruments and vocals on other tracks, this trend of careful choice is what defines the record. However careful in their choice, though, the band remains beautifully ramshackle. (Self-released)
Self recorded, mixed, and produced in Atlanta, GA
-Sean Zearfoss