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Impossible Figures

by Magellan

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1.
Instrumental.
2.
Killer Of Hope Swear I'm gonna break free From the grip of sin From that killer of hope... 'cause all I see is that killer of hope. Well, did I ever think to think? I didn't even try I should have listened to the wise Now its too late - I knew better There's nothing good here And it's time that I put this out- All I am to you is another doubt I don't believe in nothing I don't believe that I care Don't try to make me do it All I need is just a little push, not a shove And I'll get off the fence in a while... She's the killer of hope With a conscience that is clear She understands I'm just a man With a common fear She's just what I need to forsake But it's not that easy [x1 How much more can I take?] [x2... not supposed to be] Now that I know her I am never looking back I've been beat up, I've been spit out, I know shit, jack... She may be my killer of hope But if she calls my name now I ain't going back So now it's up to me The future that I see My spirit growing dark And I fear (Oh God, I fear) The moment that I try My moment wants to die Swear I'm gonna break free From the grip of sin- From that killer of hope.
3.
Bach 16 02:46
Instrumental.
4.
Late For Church Tendencies that bring us To our knees See, there's no unity Just a thousand different ways Time for church Oh really, let's see Do the Jew and Gentile Really need to agree? What 'cha reading? Did you think I'd be surprised? You're the pastor's cash cow But the good book still survives But I'm late for church I'm really late for church... I don't want to dress up nice I just want to stay home I feel like watching big screen TV With NFL on the VCR And Pink Floyd on the DVD I'm late for church - late for church I'm late for church. Now get in the car Or there could be trouble Why can't I just go back to sleep It's long past 10 am... From the Vatican To the Rio Grande Everything is dying But I ain't weeping no more In my school of thought Religion reaping naught It must be what I've bought And they ain't selling any more I don't want to dress up nice I just want to stay home I feel like watching big screen TV With NFL on the VCR And Pink Floyd on the DVD I'm late for church - late for church I'm late for church. I'll get in the car If you answer my question Why so many churches here? I thought there was only one God.
5.
6.
Hymn For A Heathen Ritual of mourning No praying in his faith A heathen is rejoicing No God, so there's no grace How can he understand this When war is at each hand? Rejecting all mysteries He just won't see... That saved, he can be Forgive the heathen -he's asleep now All that he can do Of him I'll ask- Is your soul worth the price to pay? Well, finally discovered When he looked upon your face The melodies that kept him From dying in this place (more and more) What it really comes to Is the passion that we shared In this fight I gave everything And I never held anything back But by the time he found this out I had walked away I had moved on to another place And another day - it was too late. What are his chances now? What can I do? I'm confessing here As I'm waiting for you - Yes, I'm waiting for you... With this hymn for a heathen. Can you hear me now? Won't you please hear me now? All I'm praying for is a heathen. Lord, he's not the same man now He can't hear you anymore... 'cause his old ways - His old ways are gone...
7.
A World Groove From Madagascar to Mozambique Washington to Oman The drums of war still beat Business was booming Now your stocks in the can Because New York City Was the promised land Conflict of culture Open season on the free world Now it's North Korea But are bigger flags unfurled? Let's stand tall in uncertain times A world groove is spinning No sense to the signs It's a new world order in infancy here We're losing generations to chaos We're not evolving - we are history now. Fashion is sexy And the catwalk rules No winter collections this year 'cause a slowdown brews Wagner in Israel But hey, Armstrong - now HE was really King Well the Beatles to Ellington kick ass Ya, they're musical genius still sings. I stand in this holy land Divided by only man Jerusalem cries for a better day Fly over oceans far away Human rights in the light of day Reflect a much different world America - call it Disneyland I can't even think about it On and on it goes Its best not to think at all... Earthquake and flood Tornados touching down We've got super bowl action here While aids is killing half the town Health and disease in Africa Don't you forget about the acid rain Burning our countryside (down) In money's name Lincoln - Jefferson Rolling over in their graves See modern politicians shrink From making costly waves Can you feel the world groove? Smart bombs and Presidents United Nations - Refugees, mercenaries, bankers, Terrorist stations - Cadillacs, Cartiers Reservations for two - Kids are starving with gluttony In plain view Well, I think I've made my point here That's all for today All I want is one more shot For the epitaph to say: "All they tried to do is make a difference here - that's it."
8.
Counterpoints Overplayed and understated Maximized and underrated Overdrawn and overstated What about the truth -what about it? Minimized, overemphasized Exaggerated just to dramatize There's a whole lot more than fame here And a whole lot more to money Ok, I've made my point now speak up Let's hear what you have to say Just give it to me hard - give it to me straight Tell me I'm wrong about everything Overblown and sinking fast Underfoot and overcast Make a future with the past What am I to do -what about it? Overgrown, contemplated Overloaded, captivated In a deadly serious game With a healthy dose of overkill Whoever said the best things are free Wasn't around -That never made sense to me - 'Cause after living... In a way, I'd have to say nothing ever came cheap So that just can't be... I am not the only one that lost it Some things just have to be said Now I'd like to make it up to you Pick up the pieces... if you'll let me Ok, I've made my point now speak up Let's hear what you have to say Just give it to me hard - give it to me straight Tell me I'm wrong about everything... No time for introductions -no time at all Listen... Undermanned and overcharged Understood and over farmed Under where? Undertaker. - Bet he knows the truth, he'll tell you "Underground, underhanded Only so much time is granted" I never said that I had the answers I never said I knew the truth But I know if you're gonna die You might as well - you might as well Really try and live Well, maybe that's all there is to it. Whoever said the best things are free Wasn't around -That never made sense to me - 'Cause after living... In a way, I'd have to say nothing ever came cheap So that just can't be... I am not the only one that lost it Some things just have to be said Now I'd like to make it up to you Pick up the pieces... if you'll let me Ok, I've made my point now speak up Let's hear what you have to say Just give it to me hard - give it to me straight Tell me I'm wrong... I am not the only one that lost it Some things just have to be said Now I'd like to make it up to you Pick up the pieces... if you'll let me try. How can we replace what we had at home? Fame will not love you the way I do... When it's gone.
9.
Feel The Cross Evangelists - praise the divine Cardinals - shift on the mainline Cause and effect - rule at the same time Absolution stopped - right at the bloodline Heretics scream - "no prophets" Zealots all walk a gauntlet Spread the word - drink from the goblet Native nations bleed in scarlet Problematic - my tension Ease the guilt with confession So pray the angels are all Christian Will the heathen find redemption? Feel the cross Is it burning deep in you? Are you searching? Love - mysterious expression Spirit dwarfs in regression... Know the cross Know the passion A final trial of oppression Kingdom come in restoration Martyrdom then salvation. Feel the cross... Hear it calling out?
10.

about

With 2003's Impossible Figures, Magellan remain one of the most died-in-the-wool and compelling prog rock bands. Given their embrace of technology -- endless layers of keyboards and drum machines -- and their insistence of the "rock" side of prog with big churning guitars and fat, muddy basslines, they are an anomaly. While they are a truly original act, their roots lie somewhere between Volume IV-period Black Sabbath, King Crimson's Larks' Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black, and Genesis' Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

There is so much bombast in their music -- including the tympani sound from 2001: A Space Odyssey -- that helps to introduce the album's opener, "Gorilla With Pitchfork." But never has a band put this kind of symphonic rock excess to such fine use. When "Killer of Hope" commences with its distorted vocals and blazing power chords caught in riff battle with a wall of keyboards, all bets are off. There isn't anything previous about Magellan's use of volume and overdrive. Lyrically, their themes are of the classic human condition and the irony of living in the 21st century.

There are spiritual battles, emotional conflicts, sexual ambiguities, levels of battle with darkness, and more, all of it dealt with expertly and passionately. And that is the other difference between Magellan and their contemporaries: there is no academic distance between their compositions and their performance of them. Irony is black and biting, romance is lush and sincere, and struggle is paramount -- it is not detached.

There is true high conceptualism on Impossible Figures, but that is for the listener to discover, because to write about it here would only be pretentious. This is an amazing record, and one that will challenge and delight anyone who encounters it with an open mind. -THOM JUREK

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released November 15, 2014

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Magellan San Francisco, California

Magellan is a rock band from the SF Bay area, formed in 1985. Trent Gardner, the main songwriter is known for composing "Leonardo The Absolute Man" a rock opera based upon the life of Leonardo da Vinci. Lyrically,Magellan's themes are of the classic human condition and irony of living in the 21st century. There are spiritual battles, emotional conflicts,levels of battle with darkness, and more. ... more

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